The Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir el-Rufai, said he has never stolen government money and challenged his predecessors to come out to say the same thing.
He said in an interview conducted in Hausa language.
El-Rufai said that his government has focused on the infrastructural development of the state.
The governor added that even when available resources were inadequate for project execution, his administration took loans that were strictly used for the purposes for which they were taken.
El-Rufai said that he has not engaged in primitive wealth accumulation and acquiring choice properties everywhere like some of his critics.
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“I’m happy that we constructed qualitative roads that would last for years. Not those kinds of roads they’ve constructed in the past which after 2 years, after 2 rainy seasons the roads would be bad.
“We still have work to do…our plan is that we want all roads in Kaduna to be tarred. Anyone who comes to Kaduna would not see a muddy road. Every part of the town you visit will have tarred roads and solar-powered street lights. That’s what we envisaged everywhere in Kaduna, in Kafanchan, in Zaria and in all Local Government Areas such as Soba, everywhere. That is what we want to see.
“However, we couldn’t realise all our development plans because of the situation this government met. In fact, we had to seek for loans to execute those projects.
“The people can see that we executed those projects with the loan we secured. We did not siphon the money to Dubai and buy houses or go to Jabi Road and build a mansion.
“We are not like such people. I became the Governor of Kaduna state with only one house located at Danja Street in Unguwan Sarki Kaduna..I’ve completed my tenure, Alhamdulillah…that is my only house. I don’t have any other house. I didn’t build a mansion. I don’t even need it,” El-Rufai said.
He added, “I did not steal anybody’s money and I am challenging those who governed Kaduna to come out and swear that they’ve never stolen money. They should swear that they’ve not taken a kobo from Kaduna State.
“Wallahi, l am ready to swear. I am challenging them (former Governors) to come out, face the people of Kaduna State and swear that they’ve never stolen the people’s money.
“We know them; they are neither the children of Dantata( legendary Kano billionaire) nor the children of Dangote. We know them right from our school days. Where do they get the money to build those houses? What was their profession?”