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Kaduna: Nigerians Think Governors Are Thieves – El-Rufai

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El-Rufai

According to Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State on Monday, September 21, while speaking in a live chat aired on Channels Television, many citizens of Nigeria have this belief that all governors are corrupt.

The governor while explaining a few of the challenges been faced by most state governors in their respective states noted that they (the governors) have a very negative image out there.

El-Rufai said that governors are the most suspected elected government officials in the country, adding that they also have the most difficult jobs in the world.

The governor whose state has been labelled as the home of bandits and incessant killings lamented that many governors came into power at a period when oil prices had crashed.

“In terms of economic viability, we came in when oil prices were crashing to the 20s and we had inherited wages,” ‘said El-Rufai on KadInvest 5.0′ chat on Monday.

He added, “All of a sudden, Nigeria went into recession. President (Muhammadu) Buhari had to bail 27 out of 36 states that could not pay salaries.

“Meanwhile, while we are facing that, the expectations of people were on the high side because of our change campaign. So, people expected the change overnight.

“Thirdly, governors are the most suspected elected officials. Everyone thinks governors are thieves and we are wasting the government’s resources, we are not doing anything, and so on.”

El-Rufai continued saying, “Governors are assumed to be taking security votes. When they (Nigerians) hear security votes, they think it is a slush fund for governors.

“So, we have a very negative image out there; whereas we have the most difficult jobs in the world.

“We are sub-national, so our capacity to borrow is limited. The FG can borrow, they are a sovereign. A sovereign is not expected to go bankrupt, so they can issue bonds, and get loans from abroad. They get loans from the World Bank, we cannot,” the governor added.

In a report earlier, Governor Nasir El-Rufai explained why the All Progressives Congress lost in the Edo State governorship election.