2027: Kebbi Pushes Back, Criticizes Malami's Allegations on Governance Performance

The Kebbi State Government has taken issue with former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, over his decision to enter the 2027 governorship race, claiming that he has distorted the facts about the state's condition and is attempting to shift the blame for past governance failures.

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According to a statement issued on Sunday by Yahaya Sarki, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to Governor Nasir Idris, Malami's entry into the race would not normally elicit a response, but his claims cannot be ignored due to their inaccuracy.

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The government acknowledged that Malami has the right to contest for office, even welcoming his ambition as it has some nuisance value, but took issue with the "litany of falsehoods" he used to justify his candidacy.

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Malami had cited insecurity, poverty, poor education, and economic hardship as reasons for joining the race, but the government pointed out that he conveniently forgot that individuals like him, who held power in Abuja until three years ago, bear direct responsibility for many of the problems affecting not just Kebbi State, but Nigeria as a whole.

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The government alleged that Malami and others like him were more interested in personal gain than in contributing to the improvement of the system during their time in office, leading to the mismanagement and misguided priorities that have caused widespread problems.

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It was claimed that during Malami's years in power, he and his associates exploited the trust placed in them, transforming themselves into multibillionaires and leaving Nigeria to grapple with severe humanitarian and governance crises by the time they left office.

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The government responded directly to Malami's claims on education, poverty, and insecurity, stating that the indicators he cited had reached alarming levels by the time power changed hands in 2023, and that failure to act earlier had worsened the situation.

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Malami's promise to declare a state of emergency on governance if elected was described as contradictory, with the government asking how one of the principal architects of the current misfortune could credibly present himself as the solution.

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The state government defended its record under Governor Nasir Idris, highlighting wide-ranging interventions across key sectors, including education, health, roads, agriculture, and security.

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According to the government, thousands of classrooms have been constructed, new schools built, and teaching materials supplied, while 2,000 new teachers were recruited in a single exercise, alongside capacity-building programmes for staff.

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In the health sector, all 31 general hospitals are undergoing rehabilitation, with several at advanced stages of completion, while 21 primary healthcare centres are also being upgraded, and modern medical equipment is being deployed across facilities.

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The government cited the Sir Yahaya Memorial Hospital in Birnin Kebbi as an example of the ongoing transformation in the health sector, and claimed that disparities in medical personnel remuneration have been addressed, leading to the return of many doctors who had previously left the state.

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On security, the government accused Malami of failing to speak out during his tenure as Attorney-General, allowing criminality, banditry, and terrorism to flourish, and stated that the current administration inherited a "battered system" that was mismanaged by past leaders.

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The government maintained that a system cannot function effectively when resources intended for all are stolen, and concluded that individuals linked to past governance failures should be held accountable rather than seeking elective office.

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The statement ended by stating that Kebbi State is currently focused on reforms under Governor Idris, implying that the state is moving forward despite the challenges posed by past governance failures.