23rd July, 2024
By Maduabuchi Nmeribeh/Kano
Katsina State Forum of Elders (KFE) has alleged that the decision of Minister of Works, Mr. David Umahi to revoke the contract for the construction of Katsina/Dutsinma, Marrarbar Kankara roads was motivated by nepotism.
They also advised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to be wary of the Minister.
KFE insisted that the actions of Umahi were designed to negate President Tinubu’s hard-earned good image in the North.
KFE made the claims in a statement by its spokesperson, Dr. Namanga Danmajiya made available to journalists in Kano on Tuesday.
Danmajiya in the statement aid, “the road contract which was awarded by the same Government of Tinubu sometimes in April 2024, was cherished and welcomed by the overwhelming population of Katsina citizens.
“Because of the awards of the Contract by President Tinubu, his popularity and supports swelled like wild fire among the citizens of Katsina and many welcomed it with a bang of happiness, because it will help in the transportation of goods from across the Federation”.
Dr. Danmajiya, further stated that, “after the awards of the road contract, a Special Monitoring and Supervision committee was created by the Katsina People who, inch-by-inch was monitoring how it was being carried out; and they commended the contractor whom they believed was doing a good job.”
The Elders, who said their intention was not to attack the personality of Umahi, insisted that his body language in the whole drama exemplified nepotism.
KFE also held that information available to their disposal, indicated that Umahi was preserving the contract for his cronies.
“We don’t want to believe and work on the allegations against the Minister that he revoked the Contract because he has personal interest in them and the allegations further says that one of the Contracting Companies has his biological son as a Director.”
KFE called on President Tinubu to quickly intervene on the revocation to safeguard his already rooted supports in the North.
They further reminded President Tinubu that, “the road project which transcend to Niger Republic would help in inter-continental movement of goods and in the end, Nigeria would be the greatest beneficiary of the whole project.
“We are alerting President Tinubu that the interest of the people is being manipulated on the revocation of the Contract. We know that it is not President Tinubu’s personal idea, because to everybody, the President is a nationalist who believes in the good of every section of the nation. We want him to listen and do the needful by allowing the contract and contractor to continue their jobs.”
