Thursday, March 30, 2023

My bribe-seeking father one of few performing governors: Fatima Ganduje

The corruption-plagued Kano governor has relied on family support since he was filmed receiving bribes from a public works contractor.

• September 21, 2020
Ganduje dollar bribery
Ganduje dollar bribery (Photo Credit: Daily Nigerian)

Fatima Ganduje-Ajimobi, daughter of controversial Kano State governor Abdullahi Ganduje has praised her father as one of the few governors “implementing projects” in the country.

Mrs. Ganduje-Ajimobi’s claim on Twitter Sunday night came as the widely publicised footage of her father concealing wads of American dollars in his native attire was being recirculated on social media. 

The video, which came in a series released by Daily Nigerian in 2018, was re-shared by PDP supporters after the APC named Mr. Ganduje as its campaign lead for the just-concluded guber election in Edo State.

“I am from Kano state and Oyo state and no matter what you say or think of Ganduje, he is one of the few elected officers who are actually implementing projects”, Mrs. Ganduje-Ajimobi said, admonishing people to “Go to KANO STATE and see for themselves.”

Mr. Ganduje has become a rich staple for online ridicule since his bribery video was seen by millions across the country, but he has continued to enjoy support of both his family and the Nigerian government.

He is widely seen as an ally of President Muhammadu Buhari, who has cast doubt over the authenticity of the video despite overwhelming evidence that it was genuine. Neither the president nor his backers have been able to disprove the series as fake.

The EFCC also sidestepped widespread outcry for Mr. Ganduje to be investigated for receiving what was believed to be millions of dollars in bribes from a public projects contractor in Kano.

EFCC Operatives (Photo Credit: The Cable)

The anti-graft office said it was handicapped by Mr. Ganduje’s constitutional immunity from prosecution as a serving governor, but critics believed its reluctance was hinged largely on 

Mr. Ganduje, who won his reelection last year while the scandal raged, is not the only ally of Mr. Buhari who has been shielded from facing charges for potentially criminal activities. 

Ibikunle Amosun, another ally of the president, was exposed as a gunrunner in a series of articles last year, but law enforcement agencies have been too timid to call him in for questioning, much less commence prosecution.

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