As some state governors investigate their predecessors for alleged financial impropriety, the former Governor of Niger state, Babangida Aliyu, has confirmed he is being investigated, saying it is in order.
The former ‘Comrade Governor’ made this known to journalists on Monday in Abuja that quite contrary to reports in some quarters he is being investigated.
“I am under investigation. For me, it is a normal process of balancing facts on documents with reality on ground” and investigations into the financial activities of his administration by the Governor Abu Sani Bello-led government is necessary to keep the records straight.
Recall it was reported last week that the financial activities of the former Governor, while he was in office, were been investigated by his successor. The response in some quarters, especially Aliyu’s political allies, implied that the inquiry was politically motivated and smacks of a witch-hunt.
But Aliyu said “I did it to my predecessor and that helped in projecting achievements of the government I took over from. It is indeed interesting to intimate that investigations present scorecards and not necessarily what people misunderstand as confirmation of crime committed by past administrations.
“Records are available for vetting and every detail of government activities during my eight years as governor has been documented for scrutiny. I will continue to support his administration to succeed.”
He said his relationship with the incumbent is cordial and the investigation would not affect that relationship.
“I will always avail myself anytime he needs my input. All I want is the success of my dear state,” he said.
While noting that the present economic realities in the country are a challenge to most states Niger inclusive, Aliyu said the former Governor admitted that the cash crunch that has led to the inability of states to pay salaries started even while he was still in office.
“I can understand what my successor is passing through especially on the issue of payment of salaries. When I was finding it difficult to pay workers salaries at the close of my administration, not many people saw reasons why I had to take loans to augment what we got from the Federal Government.”
He said: “When my governor said he was finding it difficult to pay salaries, some people misunderstood him. I know he was telling the honest truth.
“The allocation to Niger state has plummeted to N600m. Niger is a state that depends largely on handouts from the center and the only option left is to borrow pending when the present economic challenges normalize”, he said.
