Following allegation that his administration spent a sum of N2.3 billion for burial materials at the Muslim cemetery, the immediate past Governor of Bauchi State, Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar, has said that he only spent a sum of N1.2 billion for the purpose.
The former Governor who reacted to the allegation through one of his Social Media aides, Muktar Jibril, debunked the allegation made by the present administration saying that the amount was spent for the purchase of woods and shrouds for burial of dead bodies at the Bauchi Muslims cemetery.
According to a press statement he issued to Journalists in Bauchi , Mukhtar Jibril claimed that the ex-governor inherited the practice of purchasing the burial materials for the Muslim graveyard from his predecessors, stating that according to his findings, a total sum of N1.2 billion and not N2.3 billion was expended as alleged by the incumbent governor.
The media aide stated that, “In response to the media activists on the issue of mahogany and shrouds procured for burials, we want to state that, this is a practice inherited by the government of M.A Abubakar from its predecessors. Realing its significance and impacts on the people especially the bereaved ones, it decided to continue with it.”
He added that, “However, the project like any other one of same magnitude, was awarded to qualified contractors. Based on the available verifiable record, a total sum of N1,270,743,520 had been expended since its inception and not the exaggerated figure of 2.3 billion mischieviously posted on the social media by critics.”
Mukhtar Jibril added that, “We urge the good people of the state to disregard this insinuation and an act of desperation by elements of retrogression. Besides, every contract awarded was subjected to the scrutiny and appraisal of due process agency in accordance with public procurement law, contract agreement, payment of tax due on such contracts and other requirements.”
“Therefore, the figure posted was maliciously misquoted hence blatant lies, misleading and bunkum calculated to portray the previous government in bad light to the innocent people of the state.” He stated.
He then alleged that the allegation story was intended to distract peoples’ attention from the poor start of the present PDP administration marked by brigandage and affront to the rule of law and basic tenets of democracy.