…..Sokoto PDP accuses govt of inflating contracts, neglecting due process
ASHENEWS reports that the People’s Democratic Party in Sokoto State has accused the present administration in the state led by Ahmed Aliyu of awarding inflated contracts.
The PDP also accused the government of not following due process and other standard financial processes as regards contract agreements.
The PDP, in a statement issued by its Publicity Secretary, Hassan Sahabi Sanyinnawal urged the government to be prudent in the management of the state resources.
According to the statement, “We view these projects as white elephant, against the background of the serious security situation in the state, in which lives are lost, hostages are being taken daily, about which the Government is taking no action.
“This extravaganza is also taking place, even as Ahmed Aliyu has failed to pay and expressed unwillingness to settle tuition fees for the state’s students in higher learning institutions and fees for WAEC and NECO.”
It advised the state government to use the available finances towards solving the scarcity of drinking water in Sokoto metropolitan and address the bad condition of health facilities in the state.
“We feel there is need for Ahmed Aliyu to inspire trust in the state and beyond that contrary to a widely-held impression, the ostentatious conduct of his government has nothing to do with a desperate search for funds to finance the ongoing legal processes against his election or a bid to reap as much as he can from the state before any eventuality.
“While governor Ahmed Aliyu has on the inception of his government, unilaterally awarded huge contracts with neither the approval of the Executive Council nor the participation of statutory Ministries and Departments, the costs of completed, ongoing, and proposed projects are a clear indication of gross misappropriation of state resources.
“It is inexcusable that the lighting of a few streets in Sokoto Metropolis is costing the people about N2 billion, even as the poles, are the existing ones being repainted. The construction of urban streets in two neighborhoods is put at an unprecedented cost of N40 billion, even though none of the roads is up to two kilometers long.
“Our party views as ridiculous, the spending of N292 million on the redecoration of three roundabouts in Sokoto, which have already been carried by private companies in the state. So is the allocation of a whopping N1 billion to the purchase of a new fleet of limousines for Governor Ahmed Aliyu.
“We wish to call on Ahmed Aliyu to reconsider the most reckless aspect of his wasteful and questionable intention of spending N800 million on the reconstruction of the Maiduguri Road by Eastern Byepass Road, which is barely two kilometers in length, while the project does not involve any clearing or compensations.”
…..Sokoto PDP accuses govt of inflating contracts, neglecting due process