From Olanrewaju Lawal Birnin Kebbi
The All Progressives Congress (APC) and main opposition party in Kebbi state, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have expressed divergent views over detected of fraudulent acts in the processes of the disbursement of money under ‘Kaura Cares’ to the people of the state.
It could be recalled that the Commissioner of Information and Cultures, Alhaji Yakubu Ahmed Birnin Kebbi had issued a statement to raise an alarm to the public that Kebbi State Government has discovered ‘unscrupulous individuals with ulterior motives are using criminal means to fleece and defraud members of the public, exploiting the Kaura Cares disbursement of N100,000 each to 65,000 people across the state’.
In the statement ,he said that, “Information available to the government reveals that these fraudsters have, in their nefarious and corruption intent, convinced some individuals to part with their hard-earned money under the guise of assisting them to access the Kaura Cares cash disbursement program”,.
While reacting to the revelations, PDP, through its State Secretary,Hon. Abubakar Bawa Kalgo agitated for investigation into the alleged frauds discovered in the processes of the money disbushment.
According to him, “the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Kebbi State Chapter is calling for a thorough investigation into the alleged fraudulent activities in the disbursement of NG Cares, known as Kaura Cares as initially disclosed by the Commissioner of Information in a statement issued on September 4th, 2024.
“The PDP urges the Kebbi State Government and Anti-Corruption Agencies to publicly reveal the individuals involved in these fraudulent actions expressing dismay at the government’s failure to take action against the identified fraudsters or disclose their identities to the public.
“The Party emphasizes the need for an internal investigation, as only officials involved in the disbursement have access to the accounts and bank details of the 65,000 registered beneficiaries. The PDP questions the Commissioner’s statement and suspects a possible cover-up of top administration’s officials involved in the fraud”.
Reacting to the PDP calling for the investigation, APC through its State Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Issa Asalafi noted that the main opposition party was trying to play into gallary on the issue the state have already kicked off its own investigation.
According to him, “for the PDP to ask for investigation in an environment where investigations have already been initiated, is to say the least, uncalled for. It is akin to playing to the gallery. It also beggars belief that the same party calling for an investigation, is in the same breath, asking for the individuals to be dealt with. How, on earth do you deal with unidentified culprits when investigation to identify them has just began?
“It is important to understand that the Kebbi state government, without any prodding from any quarters, acted with dispatch when fleeting allegations were made, warned culprits to desist and directed security agencies to promptly investigate and make arrests for prompt prosecution.
“It is therefore surprising that an opposition political party, instead of commending the government for, firstly initiating such a people-centered program and secondly, for targeting such an unprecedented number of people to benefit across the state would, for the sake of being noticed, look away and start pointing fingers at shadows without any iota of decorum to be circumspect in order not to make mockery of itself.
“When an investigation is initiated, the process needs to identify culprits before guilt is established and sanctions are applied. This is a process and in the fullness of time, the truth about the allegations would be established, sanctions applied and corrective measures taken to remedy the situation and lessons would be learnt to avert future occurrence”, he said.
