By Samaila Bayo, Birnin kebbi
The Kebbi State Government has accused the governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and former minister of Justice Abubakar Malami over the United Nations' Development Program's (UNDP) poverty index report which classified the state as one of the poorest states in the country.
While rejecting the UNDP data on Kebbi State, it the State Commissioner of Information and Culture, Alhaji Yakubu Ahmed-BK said the economic data available in the state's bureau of statistics differ from the UNDP report, it was exploited by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to advance a narrative aimed at scoring political points as the general elections approach.
He added that while the state acknowledge that these are challenging times for Nigeria and many other countries in terms of insecurity and economic pressures, the Kebbi State Government finds it difficult to accept the data on poverty in the state.
"We don't even understand why a Nigerian, and a Kebbi indigene for that matter, appears to take delight in the misfortune of his own people, politicising their hardship for personal advantage.This person is Abubakar Malami", he said.
It added that Malami, who was one of the most powerful ministers in the administration of the late President Muhammadu Buhari, makes the situation even more astonishing by taking advantage of the UNDP report to play politics.
The commissioner said the investment in solid minerals development by Governor Idris administration was intended not merely to identify more minerals but to regulate the sector in a way that benefits the state and its people.
He said, as a result, the Kebbi State Government is in advanced talks with a number of foreign and local investors. Papers have been signed, and credit lines advanced. Investments of the scale under discussion naturally take time, and we remain firmly on course to realise our goals in this regard. "We are already beginning to see glimpses of improvement in the quality of life of our people, these policies will continue to yield results until they begin to produce the fruits of contentment for all to benefit", the Commissioner said.
