Kaduna:�$600m debt profile sparks crisis between Gov. Uba Sani, el-Rufa’i

A crisis has emerged between the former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir el-Rufa’i and his political godson, Uba Sani, following the discovery that the State was hugely indebted to a whooping sum of $600 million foreign debt.

It was gathered at the weekend that Uba Sani, who had been an aide to el-Rufa’i for years before he became a Senator representing Kaduna-Central senatorial district in the 9th National Assembly, replacing Shehu Sani, the activist.

Despite the anomaly and other decision taken by the former governor el-Rufa’i that left bitter taste in mouths of APC members and supporters during his tenure, he had yet again opted for Senator Uba Sani as his choice of successor in the 2023 general election.

El-Rufa’i�s preference for Uba Sani, it was learnt, was due to his facilitation of foreign and domestic loans for the erstwhile governor�s administration when he was the Chairman on Banking, Insurance and Financial Institutions in the 9th Senate.

Unfortunately, an empty treasury was said to have been handed over to Uba Sani on May 29, 2023, as the State was discovered to be under foreign and domestic financial liability such that governance has been completely crippled, with nothing happening in the past seven months.

Notwithstanding Uba Sani�s claims that el-Rufa’i left empty an treasury for him which he was unable to initiate fresh projects, even as over 40 uncompleted projects by the immediate-past administration littered all over Kaduna State, well-meaning individuals have accused Uba Sani of being part of the problem for facilitating loans for El-Rufa’i when he was in the 9th Senate.

El-Rufa’i, in his bid for a continuous influence in Uba�s government, suggested his former Deputy Governor of eight years, Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe, to yet again deputise for Uba Sani. Some Commissioners, Special Advisers and Aides were also handed over to Uba Sani for appointment. 

However, the last straw that break the camel’s back was when Uba Sani allegedly resisted el-Rufa�i’s preference of Hafiz Bayero as Secretary to the State Government, SSG and appointed AbdulKadir Mayere, a development that infuriated el-Rufa’i, which he�reportedly�disclosed to those close to him.

The source close to Kaduna State government further revealed that when Senate rejected el-Rufa’i nomination as Minister over security concerns, which was contained in the DSS report to the Upper Chamber, el-Rufa’i had recommended Muhammad Sani Dattijo as replacement, but which reportedly, Governor Uba Sani staunchly opposed, and rather recommended Balarabe Abbas Lawal.