Former Kano State Governor Malam Ibrahim Shekarau has denied allegations that he accepted bribes from contractors during his time in office, the News Agency of Nigeria reported.
Speaking at a news briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, Shekarau, who also served as a Senator and Education Minister, stated that he maintained integrity throughout his public service career.
Shekarau asserted that during his eight-year tenure as governor, he did not misuse any local government funds, attributing this to the moral principles he followed.
“In my administration, I have consistently declared, even publicly, that I did not touch any local government funds. I may not be the only one, but I am confident that I am among the very few governors who, for eight years, never diverted any local government money,” he stated.
He further added, “In my 44 years of public service, I have never engaged in negotiations with contractors. I have never taken money from any contractor. They can all attest to this. The only property I own today is my house in Kano. I still live in a rented house in Abuja.”
As the Deputy Chairman of the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN) Board of Trustees, Shekarau emphasized the society’s efforts to strengthen the Muslim community educationally, economically, spiritually, and politically. He mentioned that these goals would be pursued through various activities in schools and society at large, in collaboration with like-minded organizations.
“While we may not have the exact number of graduates under MSSN, I can say that we have 37,000 branches across the country. We will continue to introduce new programs and initiatives that foster unity and encourage our members to participate in politics and governance,” Shekarau said.
Shekarau also addressed the challenges MSSN has faced over the years, particularly the effort to establish a suitable National Headquarters. He noted that after over a decade of work, land was finally secured in Gwarinpa, Abuja, where the first project completed was the mosque where the news conference was held.
Established in 1954, MSSN aims to unite Muslims, fostering a spirit of brotherhood and faith in Allah as the foundation for achieving peace among humanity.
