The Forum of Kano Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) Against Corruption yesterday staged a solidarity walk in Kano to protest the alleged diversion of N6.5 billion by the Director General of Protocol in the Kano State Government, Abdullahi Rogo, alongside other scandals under the present administration.
The protest was aimed at showing support for anti-graft agencies and demanding justice, accountability and transparency in the management of public resources.
The CSOs said corruption has betrayed public trust, siphoned billions of naira and left the people of Kano in worsening poverty. They accused the state government of engaging in propaganda and denial to downplay the scandal despite evidence from investigations by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
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According to the group, the ICPC had already recovered N1.2 billion of the diverted funds, while the EFCC and ICPC continued probing. They also listed other alleged scandals, including diversion of federal government palliatives into private warehouses, the Novomed drug contract in which billions were paid but no drugs delivered, mismanagement of agricultural funds under the ACRESAL project, diversion of women’s N50,000 cash support scheme, inflated metropolitan road contracts and the hoarding and rebranding of food relief items.
The CSOs argued that if the N6.5 billion was properly utilised, it could have provided clean water to communities, rehabilitated schools, funded WAEC, NECO and JAMB exams, reopened technical colleges, built and equipped hospitals, upgraded roads and enhanced security infrastructure across the state.
They called on the EFCC and ICPC to remain resolute and pursue the cases without fear or favour, urged the Kano State House of Assembly to set up a committee to investigate the scandals and asked the judiciary to resist compromise in handling corruption cases. They also condemned harassment of journalists and civil society groups by the state government.
The forum urged Kano residents to rise beyond political differences and join the fight against corruption, stressing that the resources of the state must serve the people, not a few individuals.
