BAUCHI: N1.2bn, not N2.3bn was spent on burials, ex-Gov Abubakar counters Gov Bala Mohammed

Mukhtar Jibril, social media aide to the former Bauchi state Governor, Mohammed Abubakar, has stated that N1.2 billion was the actual amount spent by the Abubakar on funeral materials and burials between January and May.

This statement is in reaction to allegations by the spokesperson to the current governor, who claimed that the former governor spent N2.3 billion on funeral materials and burials.

The spokesperson, Ladan Salihu, had on also stated that the government is ready to recover every kobo spent illegally by the immediate past administration.

However, in a press statement issued to journalists on Tuesday, Jibril said the claims were untrue, explaining that the ex-governor inherited the practice of purchasing the burial materials for the graveyard from his predecessors.

READ ALSO: Bauchi gov, Mohammed, to petition EFCC over N2.3bn spent on burials by ex-gov Abubakar

He said: “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. Reeling its significance and impacts on the people especially the bereaved ones, it decided to continue with it.”

“However, the project like any other one of the 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 practice and not the exaggerated figure of 2.3bn mischievously posted on the social media by critics.”

“We urge the good people of Bauchi state to disregard this insinuation and act of desperation by elements of retrogression.”

“Besides, every contract awarded was subjected to the scrutiny and appraisal of the 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 said.

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