By Fadhlillah Abdallah
ASHENEWS reports that the Sokoto chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described as unconstitutional, the state governor, Ahmed Aliyu’s execution of capital projects, allegedly without appropriation by the state House of Assembly as well as the state executive council resolution.
The state government, in a statement by Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Abubakar Bawa, had announced the commencement of projects including 287 meters Abarshi Road at Rijiyar Dorowa; 220 meters Hospital Road, and Isa Road at Gawon Nama area.
However, the PDP state chairman, Muhammadu Bello Aliyu Goronyo, in a letter to the state governor, a copy of which was cited by ASHENEWS on Tuesday, said the projects were unconstitutional because they were not appropriated for in the 2023 budget, and not approved by the state executive council.
“We are aware that work has already commenced at the sites of these projects.
“We wish to however, draw the attention of the Governor that these projects are against the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for the following reasons:
- Capital projects can only be executed after the resolution of the State Executive Council, which the current Administration has not yet constituted.
- Such projects are also subject to the approval of the State House of Assembly, which as at now are not included in the 2023 Appropriation Law signed by the immediate past Governor Amiu Waziri Tambuwal, CFR. Neither was the supplementary budget carried out by the present administration under Your leadership.
- The contractor(s) carrying out the projects have not been made public for the knowledge of all.
- The costs of the projects have not been made to the public, as required by law, neither has due process established at the Public Procurement and State Tenders Board entities (as such body is also not put in place) before the commencement of the projects.
“Granted Your Excellency, that the Public Procured law in the state provides carrying out emergency procurements of goods and services in the event of utmost necessities. The current projects has not fallen under such categorisation.
“In furtherance to the above therefore, such efforts are at variance and grievous breach of due process and constitutional demands on the execution of government projects and appropriation of public funds.
“With due respect, Your Excellency should understand that your function as State Governor, as any other function in our democratic order, is to discharged under the strict guidance of rules that are enshrined in the Constitution of our country.
“But actions such as the recent projects you have started and other concurrent decisions of your government have clearly indicated a deliberate neglect of the rule of law and due process in your running of state affairs.
“The PDP, as a major stakeholder in the democratic system, is constrained to caution Your Excellency on this and other direct negations of the laws, as we cannot stand aside, as the rules and tenets of our cherished democratic principles are abused by those sworn to uphold them.
“Concerning the projects in question and similar actions of your administration, we therefore, demand that your government reverts to the provisions of the Constitution and the Law or we would be constrained to pursue legal means of ensuring adherence to due process and the demand for transparency and accountability,” part of the letter reads.
