The Sokoto Youth Emancipation Front (SYEF), has tackled the Governorship Candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Manir Dan Iya, over his recent attacks on the Sokoto State Government.
The group was reacting to Dan Iya’s challenge to the state government to disclose the amount it has received from the Federation Account from 2023 to date, as well as his rejection of the INEC Commissioner.
In a statement on Monday, SYEF said Dan Iya should stop crying foul and face his campaign with clear plans for the state instead of what it described as a campaign of calumny against the present administration.
According to the group, FAAC allocations are public knowledge and the era of asking states what they receive monthly is gone.
“Allocations to states from the Federation Account are publicly reported through relevant official channels. Thanks to technology, information is readily accessible.
“Asking the Sokoto State Government to disclose what is already in the public domain is unnecessary and laughable,” the group said.
SYEF said the administration of Governor Ahmed Aliyu operates on prudence, accountability and transparency, with transactions and decisions taken at State Executive Council meetings made public, including amounts approved for projects.
The group contrasted this with the administration in which Dan Iya served as Deputy Governor under former Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, which it accused of leaving Sokoto without commensurate development despite receiving billions in monthly allocations, bailouts and other intervention funds.
It alleged that the previous administration left pensioners waiting for six years for their gratuities, denied MDAs their monthly imprest, left the state burdened with debts, and delayed payment of workers’ salaries until the 15th of the following month with complaints of shortfalls.
“When Governor Aliyu assumed office in May 2023, all educational institutions and Government House were plunged into darkness due to electricity bills running into billions of naira.
“There were outstanding student registration and tuition fees within and outside Nigeria amounting to over N5 billion, as well as unpaid sabbatical allowances for visiting lecturers. This administration has cleared all those liabilities,” SYEF stated.
The group noted that the present government has implemented the new minimum wage for state and local government workers including LGEA staff, recruited 3,100 workers deployed to MDAs, 2,400 health workers and 1,550 Sokoto Marshall personnel, in addition to projects across road infrastructure, security, water supply, religious affairs, education, rural transformation and healthcare.
SYEF added that abandoned projects such as the Rijiya Flyover and Tashar Illela Road have either been completed or are at various stages of completion under Governor Aliyu.
The Front also faulted Dan Iya for rejecting the INEC Commissioner, saying it was part of his campaign of calumny instead of presenting his clear plans for the state.
It said the APC-led administration will campaign based on its record of achievements and challenged Dan Iya to tell the people of Sokoto what the Tambuwal administration, in which he served as Deputy Governor, achieved to deserve another opportunity.