A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kaduna State and Renewed Hope ambassador, Jada Garki, has expressed strong support for the ongoing investigation into the administration of former governor Nasir El-Rufai, saying it is a necessary step toward accountability and good governance.
Garki made this known while reacting to recent political tensions surrounding the Kaduna State House of Assembly’s probe into El-Rufai’s handling of state finances during his tenure as governor.
According to Garki, the investigation should not be seen as a witch-hunt or political betrayal, but as a constitutional process aimed at ensuring transparency. He stressed that every public officeholder, no matter how highly placed, must account for their stewardship after leaving office.
“Any former governor or president is obliged to give an account. Taking offence at such scrutiny is unjust, and anyone supporting them based on that is also unjust,” Garki stated.
The probe, which was initiated by the Kaduna State House of Assembly, aims to review financial decisions, contracts, and debts incurred during El-Rufai’s administration. The Assembly recently revealed that the state is burdened with a large debt profile, some of which allegedly lack clear documentation.
Garki was quick to clarify that the probe was not initiated by Governor Uba Sani, but by the legislature itself, which includes members from different political parties.
“This call did not come from Governor Uba Sani. It came from the Assembly, whose members belong to various parties. Do you think lawmakers would unite just to satisfy one man’s interest? No. The issue here is the wealth of Kaduna people,” he said.
Garki also criticised El-Rufai’s past remarks on national security and banditry, particularly his claim of having a private security network “bigger than the police.”
He said such statements were irresponsible and not fitting for a former governor who should be working toward building trust and providing real solutions to the country’s security challenges.
“You cannot claim to want to solve insecurity while boasting about a private army. That’s hypocrisy and not the kind of leadership Nigeria needs,” Garki said.
Former Governor El-Rufai, who led Kaduna State between 2015 and 2023, was known for his bold policies and sometimes controversial decisions. His administration embarked on several infrastructure projects and reforms, but has also been criticised for high debt accumulation and unresolved security challenges.
The current probe has sparked political debate, with some seeing it as a power struggle between El-Rufai’s camp and that of Governor Uba Sani, who succeeded him in 2023. However, voices like Garki’s are pushing for a broader view — that accountability should be non-negotiable, regardless of party affiliation or past achievements.
The Kaduna State House of Assembly has promised to carry out the investigation transparently and make its findings public in due course.
