GOV. EL RUFAI DENIES BRIBING IMAMS WITH OVER N20M
Read Time:2 Minute, 26 Second
Joseph Omoniyi
Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El Rufai has denied a report making rounds that his administration bribed Muslim clerics in the state with over N20 million naira for them to influence their congregations in his favour ahead of the Saturday gubernatorial election.
A leaked memo alleged to have originated from the office of the director-general of the secretary to the State government, Musa showed the disbursement of N7 million to some Imams and another N20million to Islamic heads in the state, for them to preach the political cause of the sitting government to their followers.
However, spokesperson to the governor, Samuel Aruwan and the director-general, Mr Musa have both denied the allegations, describing it as fake and mischivous.
“Musa said, “I saw the document too but let me tell you clear and straight that at no point in time did I write such a letter detailing how monies should be shared to some Islamic Imams in Kaduna.
“I never authored it. in fact, the signature forgery was not done perfectly. My signature ends with Mohammad, not Musa as written on the letter and all our memo going out must be written on a letterhead which is not the case in this document.
“We have some SA’s (special assistants) to the governor on the list that could have gotten their share directly and not from me if that really happened. I wouldn’t have to be the one to give it to them. They are Sheikh Khamis Almisiri and Sheikh Albani Samaru Zaria.
“I am calling on Sheikh Tukur Almannar, Sheikh Murtala Shanono, Sheikh Aminu Kuwait, Sheikh Saidu Abubakar, Sheikh Balau and Sheikh Kabiru Gombe to please accept my apology for appearing on the list, Allah will judge those who did this,” Mr Musa said.
Aruwan also stated, “The PDP has repeatedly exposed itself as the party of violence, rigging and division. Their latest gimmick of circulating a fake memo alleging payments to certain Imams is part of their addiction to everything unholy.
“The memo attributed to the Director-General (Interfaith) is not only fake but laughable. We pity a party that is so short of ideas that they have adopted fake news and forgery as their manifesto. This will fail because Kaduna people have rejected the poor legacy of the PDP’s 16 years in power.
A resident who spoke to PREMIUM TIMES, Ahmed Umaru, said there is heightened tension in the state with the political parties rounding up their campaigns.
“Yes, some cleric where preaching that their followers should vote for a specific candidate. There is that rumour that some of them were paid. The call is for Muslims to vote for incumbent governor with a Muslim deputy governor.”
Governor Nasir El-Rufai of the APC is seeking reelection but faces a tough challenge from a former member of the House of Representatives, Isah Ashiru, who is the candidate of the PDP.
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