Gov Masari Approves N500m From Treasury For Mobilization To Welcome Buhari, Tinubu For Katsina Campaign

Katsina State Governor, Aminu Bello Masari, has approved the withdrawal of N499,650,000 from the state’s joint account for the mobilisation of supporters to receive President Muhammadu Buhari in the state for the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign.

Newsflash Nigeria understands that Buhari is expected in the state to campaign for Bola Tinubu, the presidential candidate of the APC, between Friday and Saturday, 26 and 27 January 2023.

According to the letter of approval dated January 18, 2023, addressed to the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and signed by the Permanent Secretary in charge of the government house, the money is expected to be sourced from the Local Government Joint Account.

 “I am directed to refer to your letter No. S/MLGCA/GEN/259/C/IV of 17″ January 2023 and to convey the approval of His Excellency, the Governor for the release of N14,695,588.00 to each of the 34 LGCs totalling N499,650,000.00 (Four Hundred and Ninety-Nine Million, Six Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira Only) from the available balance of the 34 LGCs in the Local Government Joint Account to enable the LGCs to cater for adequate and effective mobilisation of citizens to receive President during an official visit to Katsina State from 26 to 27 January 2023,” the letter signed by the Katsina Government House Permanent Secretary dated January 18, 2023, reads.

“Attached herewith is a photocopy of the approval for your guidance. This letter is copied to the Accountant General, Ministry of Finance and Auditor General for Local Government for awareness, please,” the letter added.

Recall that the APC presidential campaign council had earlier announced that President Buhari will lead party supporters in the campaign for Tinubu across 10 states of the federation.

The states include Adamawa, Yobe, Sokoto, Kwara, Ogun, Cross River, Nasarawa, Katsina and Imo, as well as the grand finale slated for Lagos State.

The President had said at different fora that local government administration in the country had been emasculated by governors, who he often accused of diverting allocations to them from the federation account.

Buhari re-echoed the accusation on December 1, 2022, at an event hosted for members of the Senior Executive Course 44 (2022) of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, NIPSS, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He had said, “I found it necessary to digress after reading my speech and this digression is a result of my personal experience.

“This is my personal experience. If the money from the Federation Account to the state is about N100 million, N50 million will be sent to the chairman, but he will sign that he received N100 million. The governor will pocket the balance and share it with whoever he wants to share it with. He will pay salaries and say to hell with development. When he pays salaries, the balance he will put in his pocket.

“This is what’s happening. This is Nigeria. It’s a terrible thing; you cannot say the person who is doing this is not educated. He is a qualified lawyer and experienced and yet he participated in this type of corruption.

“So, it’s a matter of conscience, whichever level we found ourselves. As a leader, you sit here, with all the sacrifices the country is making by putting you through institutions and getting you ready to lead. The fundamental thing is personal integrity. May God help us.”

Katsina, despite being the home state of President Muhammadu Buhari, has in the last few months witnessed sporadic attacks by bandits and kidnappers that have claimed the lives of many.

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