APC criticize Sen. Kaita over N1.1bn allegation against Katsina govt

Sen. Ahmed Babba-Kaita (PDP-Katsina North) has come under fire from the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Katsina State for claiming that the state government intends to utilize N1.1 billion in public funds to support the party.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Kaita was elected in 2019 on the APC platform; however, he recently switched parties to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

At a recent campaign event in Daura Local Government, Kaita claimed that the state government intended to utilize more than N1.1 billion in taxpayer money to support the APC candidates.

Alhaji Bala Musawa, the state’s vice chairman of the APC, responded to the claims on Friday in Katsina by saying: “It was unexpected to hear such from the Senator.

“Himself and the PDP governorship candidate, Sen. Yakubu Lado, had tasted government and they know what is possible.

“If it was someone else that made such an allegation, I won’t be surprised. Sen. Kaita was from our party. He became a member of the House of Representatives and later became a Senator.

“I was among those that facilitated for him to secure the APC senatorial ticket. We spent about three days in Daura to ensure his success under this government.

“During the primary election, how much did he come with when he was contesting that all these allegations can come from him?. It’s surprising. I never thought he could make such an allegation.

“Whenever these issues are being discussed, as an APC member, we are expecting it was a mistake he made to leave the party, we are hoping he’s coming back. I think he still has the opportunity to reconcile.”

While asserting that Gov. Aminu Masari had made significant contributions to Kaita’s development, Musawa added: “But, as a human being, he can make mistakes.

“If we are to start exposing things, I can remind him when he joined the party, how he contested, how he secured the ticket and which money was used for his election.”

“As a senator, he is expected to be talking in a mature way because he represents 12 local governments,” Musawa said, pleading with Katia to respect his authority.