The Kwara State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has faulted Gov Abdulrahaman Abdulrazaq’s constitution of a panel to probe allegations of corruption in the management of councils' funds since the beginning of his administration.
The state government on Monday, announced that it has set up an eight-person panel of inquiry to investigate the federal allocations accruing to the 16 local government areas of the state as well as their share of the internally generated revenue from May 29, 2019 to date.The panel is chaired by retired Justice Mathew Olabamiji Adewara.
The PDP in reaction, noted that the government erred by trying to act as a judge in its own case.
In a statement signed by the party’s state Publicity Secretary, Tunde Ashaolu, the party averred that government should have allowed “anti-graft agencies charged with such responsibility to do their job”
According to the release, “Kwara PDP holds that Abdulrazaq's constitution of this 'Kangaroo probe Panel' is an attempt to hoodwink Kwarans and divert attention of the public away from the huge financial corruption being perpetrated by his kitchen cabinet members and use the stage-managed panel as a siege to cover up the government officials who are at the centre of this case.
“It is strange that the All Progressives Congress, APC-led administration in the State is setting up investigation panel to investigate officials of Government accused of corruption rather than allowing statutory anti-graft Agencies to carry out their responsibilities.
“Our party is concerned that such approach will cover the already exposed shame of the Abdulrazaq administration, as the panel will attempt to shield top officials of the government from prosecution, which will further embolden other government officials to pilfer the state resources.
“Our party takes exception to the procedure under which committee members were solely appointed by the Governor as well as the calibre of people that make up the panel.
The party believes that “Rather than forming a pretentious simulated Panel on this matter, the Governor, if truly he is ready to pursue this matter with all sincerity, ought to have suspended all concerned government officials and allow the EFCC and ICPC that have the mandate by law to investigate and prosecute corruption cases, do their job.
“ Kwarans have regrettably come to realise that the Governor Abdulrazaq's APC government thrives on corruption, deceit and propaganda” The statement said.
Gov AbdulRazaq had recently invited the anti-graft body EFCC and the House of Assembly to investigate the finances of the local councils and especially the veracity of the claim of N300m monthly deduction by the Kwara State Government from the local government funds from May 29 2019 to date.
While announcing the constitution of the panel, Rafiu Ajakaye, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor reiterated the Governor’s avowal to remain true to ”his electoral promise not to touch a kobo of local government funds in compliance with not just the NFIU guidelines but his longstanding belief in the local government autonomy for grassroots development”
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