By; MOHAMMED KAWU, Bauchi
ZAAR Youths Development Association [ZAYODA] in Bauchi State has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission [EFCC] to probe the House of Representatives former appropriation committee chairman, Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin over alleged budget padding scandal.
Addressing Journalists weekend in Bauchi, the President of the association, Comrade Nehemiah Zakka recalled that Jibrin had confessed in a media interview to have inserted the sum of N4.6 billion in the 2016 federal budget in favour of his constituency.
Zakka, who heads a strong Sayawa Youth Development Association, the tribe from which speaker DogaraYakubu hailed, alleged that Jibrin’s action was not only undemocratic, but also a breach of trust and abuse of office.
The youth association chairman opined that it is only when public office holders accused of corrupt practices are thoroughly investigated, arraigned and punished accordingly that the country can win the war against corruption.
He explained that the recent media outburst by the sacked appropriation committee chairman was orchestrated to attract public sympathy for himself so as to prevent his possible break from the House.
”We implore upon the anti-graft agency not to hesitate probing Hon. Jibrin’s undemocratic pasture to have altered the 2016 budget apparently to establish a film village in respect of President Buhari whose consent was not even sought”, Zakka frowned.
Comrade Nehemiah Zakka described as negation of northern norms, values, culture and religion, the planned establishment of Film Village in Kano.
ZAYODA also described the alleged budget padding by Hon. Jibrin as a disgrace not only to Nigerians but the international community aimed at frustrating President Buhari’s current war against corruption.
The association however expressed satisfaction with Speaker Yakubu Dogara’s representation of Bauchi State at the National Assembly, absolving the lawmaker from any financial crime against the country.
Mr. Zakka stated that it was Dogara’s demonstrated honesty, transparency and accountability that earned him the love of his Dass, Tafawa Balewa and Bogoro Federal Constituency that duly elected him three times into the National Assembly.
