Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, has reaffirmed his dedication to governance, emphasising that his priority is delivering on his mandate rather than engaging in unnecessary political debates.
The governor made this statement during an Iftar dinner with Kaduna Social Media Influencers at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim House on Saturday.
While he did not directly address the controversy, his remarks follow recent allegations from his predecessor, Nasir El-Rufai, who accused him of using security agencies to target his loyalists.
El-Rufai made the claims last week after the arrest of his supporter, Jafaru Sani, a former Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources under his administration.
In what appeared to be a subtle response, Governor Sani said on Sunday:
“My preoccupation is to serve the people of Kaduna State, who elected me. I am not bothered by baseless and idle talks, which will add no value to governance.”
Achievements in Security, Agriculture, and Infrastructure
Governor Sani highlighted his administration’s progress over the past 22 months, particularly in tackling insecurity, boosting agriculture, and improving infrastructure.
He noted that security interventions in Birnin Gwari and Giwa local government areas have yielded positive results.
“We have made significant strides in addressing security challenges in Birnin Gwari and Giwa. The Birnin Gwari cattle market, which had been closed for over 10 years due to security issues, was reopened last November, and business is now thriving,” he added.
Water Sector Reforms and Salary Backlog Settlement
Addressing the water scarcity crisis, Governor Sani revealed that his administration declared a state of emergency in the water sector upon taking office.
He explained that capacity utilization of the Kaduna State Water Corporation was below 5%, but his government has now increased it to 30%, with a 100% target set for year-end.
Additionally, the state government has:
- Cleared N800 million in unpaid salaries for Kaduna State Water Corporation staff.
- Settled N1.3 billion in electricity debts.
- Retrofitted water supply schemes across all 23 local governments.
Engagement with Kaduna Social Media Influencers
Governor Sani also expressed gratitude to social media influencers for their role in promoting government initiatives.
“I want to thank you for highlighting the achievements of our administration. We will continue to support you in your efforts to promote the good works of our government,” he said.
In response, Malam Adam Garba, Chairman of Kaduna Social Media Influencers, commended the governor for his support.
“This is the first time any governor has hosted us for Iftar. We appreciate your support and look forward to continuing to work with you to promote the good works of your administration,” he said.