By: Joy Odor/Kaduna
Coalition of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) have alleged that the Chairman, Senate Committee on Foreign and Domestic Debt, Senator Shehu Sani is corruptly collecting monies from States that got approval to access World Bank loan without meeting the required standard.
The group stated this to newsmen during a press briefing: “Re-Seven Days Ultimatum on the $350 Million Dollars Loan Request by Kaduna State Government” through its Chairman, Comrade Zubairu Mukhtar and the Secretary, Richard Augustine in Kaduna on Wednesday.
The leaders of the group, claimed to have evidence to nail Shehu Sani taking bribes to approve foreign loans, saying since the issuance of the 7-days ultimatum last week, the Group have received series of death threats and the lives of their loved ones are being threatened by the Senator and his machineries.
They also mentioned that security report reaching them indicates that the Senator is hell bent on sabotaging the efforts for them to fight for the masses of Kaduna State and they cannot neither be intimidated nor cajoled to change their course as posterity will never forgive them.
“Democracy is built on the very foundation of struggles like ours, therefore, we are informing the general public that whatever happens to any member of the coalition, Shehu Sani should be held responsible.
“As the voices of the people, we cannot be as dubious as Shehu Sani or his style of leadership that claims he is for the talakawas, yet he sends them into oblivion.
“So, today’s press conference is necessitated on the basis that we have embarked on an in-depth research on the criteria for qualification to access the grant from the World Bank and from our findings, Kaduna State is seen to be the most qualified among States to access this loan.
“We have also identified some States that got approval and those that are yet to get theirs.
“Furthermore, from our findings and contacts, there is the growing suspicion by many stakeholders about Sen Shehu Sani collecting monies from some States that got approval to access the World Bank loan and unlike Kaduna State; those states did not satisfactorily meet the required standard for acquiring it.
“We also want to state that because Mal. Nasir Ahmed El-Rufai is a fore runner to the President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-corruption war, he has refused to give any form of bribe to anybody.
“Senator Shehu Sani would stop at nothing other than cheap blackmail, criticism that does not make any sense.
“We don’t give a damn about all his antics because we know it is not in the interest of the common man of Kaduna State.
“Shehu Sani has since deviated from his legislative duties to venture into cheap propaganda because he has nothing to show to his constituents” the group said.
The Group however informed that for the Senator to begin to look for a bargain for 2019 seat as Senator representing Kaduna Central is like using basket to fetch water from an ocean and needed to re-examination himself and his consciousness.
They advised Shehu Sani to stop diverting to his personal pocket all the constituency allowances that are meant for the people of Kaduna Central Senatorial District and development of the area but focus on bettering the lives of the people of his constituency like his other colleagues in the senate.
