Ahead of the 2023 Kebbi State gubernatorial elections in Nigeria, the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami has reportedly shared exotic cars to the All Progressives Congress (APC) delegates in the State.
It’s noteworthy that Mr Malami had on Thursday, 28th April 2022 declared interest in the Kebbi State governorship race come 2023.
These gifts to the APC delegates may not be unconnected with securing their support, loyalty, and votes for the governorship primary elections slated for May 23, 2022.
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The 200 vehicles include 60 Toyota Prado SUVs, 65 Toyota RAV4 SUVs, 35 Mercedes Benz GLK, 350 SUVs and 40 Lexus LX SUVs, based on the report given by a certain politician from the State who was reportedly present at the distribution ceremony, after photos of the vehicles were shared on the social media.
The politician, who pleaded anonymity because of his closeness to Mr Malami’s campaign team, said more vehicles were expected from Lagos to be distributed to politicians across the state before and after the primaries.
The AGF actively pursuing his political ambition alongside his ministerial position has stirred controversy and raised questions about his eligibility to run. However, Mr Malami has defended his refusal to resign.
It’s worth noting that the Section 84(12) of the newly enacted Electoral Act, 2022, states that “no political appointee at any level shall be a voting delegate or be voted for at the convention or congress of any political party for the purpose of the nomination of candidates for any election.”
Subsequently, upon the request of the Nigeria’s government through the AGF, a High Court expunged the said section, citing its confliction with certain sections of the Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution, as amended.
According to Mr Malami, the aforementioned section ‘no longer exist’ until an appellate court restores the expunged it. He’s therefore of the view that he can hold onto his position as AGF and Justice Minister while chasing his political ambition.
Penultimate week, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila warned that such obstinate behaviour might result in the nullification of political parties’ primaries.
If the news about Mr Malami is anything to go by, or holds water, then there’s really trouble in the land. A sane Nigerian would rather consider such news as rumour, knowing full well that the politician in question is in charge of the position that’s championing the seeming ongoing anti-graft war in the country.
Let’s assume it’s true. One may wonder how a country’s AGF would be publicly encouraging corruption when he’s expected to be deeply involved in the fight towards its eradication. Does it imply Nigeria is truly a ruse?
Just to clinch the gubernatorial ticket of the APC, he’s sharing exotic cars. That means, if he eventually secured the ticket or emerged as the party’s flag-bearer, he would share jets among the party bigwigs towards the main elections.
We are not unaware that they can never share such items among the electorate, having considered them as gullible. According to them, the voters’ conscience can be purchased with just a N1000 note.
The paramount question remains, how did we really get here? How do we get out of it? Surely, the awaited 2023 polls is the only and apt answer to the inquiries.
(This piece is updated with more info below)
It was earlier reported that the Nigeria’s Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami shared exotic cars among the delegates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kebbi State, ahead of the party’s gubernatorial primary in the State, in respect of his governorship aspiration.
Consequently, the aide of the AGF, Umar Gwandu has refuted the report, saying the friends and associates of his boss donated the exotic vehicles of assorted brands to loyalists in Kebbi State.
In a statement released to newsmen on Tuesday, 3rd April 2022, Gwandu said the minister’s friends also supported his governorship ambition with N135m.
He stated that the friends of his principal gifted the vehicles to “long-term workers in the Khadimiyya Foundation”.
Malami is reported to be one of the stakeholders of a non-governmental organisation known as the Khadimiyya Foundation for Social Justice and Development Initiative which is based in Kebbi.
It’s noteworthy that Malami, who hails from Kebbi State, is a two-term member of the cabinet of the President Muhammadu Buhari and an APC chieftain. He was recently reported to have declared his intention to succeed Governor Atiku Bagudu of the North-West state in May 2023.
In the statement, Gwandu stated, “It is abundantly clear that the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN has teaming supporters from home and beyond.
“This has been demonstrated not only by the calls from far and near for him to vie for Kebbi gubernatorial seat in the forthcoming election but also by donations from friends, associates and supporters of N135m.
“The recent donation of N135m has opened doors for donations and supports of many items including vehicles by well-wishers.
“The story attributing vehicle distribution to Malami was mischievous and misconstrued information. It was friends and associates of Malami who donated and distributed vehicles to long-term workers in the Khadimiyya Foundation.
“The occasion was not for distribution of vehicles to any APC stakeholder. None of the APC stakeholders or delegates in Kebbi State was given any vehicle by Malami.
“You can contact the National Secretariat of the APC, get the lists of all the APC stakeholders and delegates in Kebbi State. Do an investigative story to reach out to them, then you would realize how fictitious is the claim.
“Comparing the names of APC stakeholders and the beneficiaries of the vehicle will reveal to you that there is no connection between the two and the two are not connected whatsoever.”
Nigerian politicians and their ceaseless cock and bull stories. Does this story, as purportedly presented by Malami’s aide, make sense in any way? I’m just thinking aloud.
They would have rather consulted great thinkers to create a better story that could be used to support the disclaimer, instead of coming up with this very one that ended up ridiculing the AGF’s image.
You gifted exotic cars to ‘long-term workers’ of a certain foundation. Imagine the affront meted out to the discerning electorate. So, all these past years, Malami or his associates never thought it wise to gift exotic cars to ‘workers of an NGO’ until the moment he was about contesting for his State’s gubernatorial seat?
Let’s assume the vehicles were actually gifted to workers of an NGO as being claimed; why would they be of exotic brands; and why would it be now? Besides, Nigerians would like to know the real names of the donors.
I pray the electorate would be much wiser this time, so they could make sound decisions for their future’s sake.