By Mohammed Suleiman, DUTSE
A politician in Jigawa state, northern Nigeria, Sale Yahaya Taki, has called on his fellow citizens to hold outgoing Governors and Members of both National and State Houses of Assemblies responsible for all the woes and setbacks witnessed recently in the country.
According to him, most of the predicaments befalling Nigeria were due to the politicians’ focus on “looting public funds from the treasuries” to suit their personal interests to the detriment of the citizens.
He was emphatic in condemning governors for looting and diverting monies meant for essential services to their personal pockets at the state level, while at the federal level, the National Assembly Members’ failure to ensure implementation of constituency projects to their electorates.
Mr. Taki, a former chairman of the Kazaure local government council was speaking with our correspondent while accessing outgoing Governors’ performances in their respective states, and the challenges lying before the incoming ones.
He lamented that the governors had nothing to show despite monies that came to them from the federal government for intervention on different occasions, including monies meant for payment of monthly wage bills to workers and pensioners, and monies to execute projects that have a direct bearing on the populace.
According to Taki, the looting actions of the politicians have left many of the states to move backward in terms of infrastructural development, coupled with the collapse of public Institutions, poverty, unemployment, and the devastation of the security system.
“Most of the predicaments we are passing through ….are caused by the outgoing Governors since they squander the resources meant to cater for social services to their private pockets leaving the majority to suffer in silence, a situation which calls for review, and prosecution,” he said.
Furthermore, he called on the incoming president, as well as governors of each state in the federation to probe all the outgoing elected leaders and political appointees
“It is high time we set precedence in trying all corrupt public office holders who are found wanting in breaching the oath of allegiance in public service,” he added.