By Hussaini Ibrahim Sulaiman
Kano State Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Abdullahi Abbas, has declared that if the party wins the 2003 governorship election, there will be a probe into the scholarship scheme of the past administration of Engr. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso.
Alhaji Abbas has alleged that administration of former governor of the state, Engr. Kwankwaso had embezzled funds under the guise of sponsoring various categories of students for abroad studies.
Our correspondent reports that Kwankwaso is currently the presidential candidate for the New Nigerian Political Party (NNPP).
The chairman dropped the hint at an interactive session with coalition of youths and students’ associations, who paid him a solidarity visit in support of the party’s gubernatorial flag-bearer, Alhaji Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna.
The chairman further disclosed that himself and Gawuna were both commissioners under the Kwankwaso administration when the scholarship programme was unveiled.
He, however, alleged that the entire project was shrouded with secrecy, resulting from dubious and questionable financial expenditures. “Kwankwaso’s regime appropriated billions of Naira for the successful and hitchfree take-off of the programme, but unfortunately, he engaged the services of some ‘dubious’ as a pipeline, to siphon the funds and diverted it for personal use,” he alleged.
Alhaji Abbas, equally accused some closed cabinet members of the former regime of conniving with the consultants and diverting the scholarship funds for self-enrichment.
“I still maintain my position and insist that whosoever is involved in embezzlement of the funds directly or indirectly, will surely be probed, if Gawuna eventually emerges victorious in the 2023 governorship election,” the chairman vowed.
“Similarly, anyone found wanting in the scandal, will face justice and be compelled to return whatever he benefitted into government treasury,” he further disclosed.
He also alleged that the entire scheme was a mere strategy and cover up to siphon public funds.
“The so-called scholarship initiative was nothing far from a naked display of propaganda, fraud and disguise for financial misappropriation,” he added.
According to him, most of the students deployed abroad for the studies, were stranded in various countries and unable to return home because funds meant for the project were looted by some corrupt government officials.
