October 02, (THEWILL) – The immediate past governor of Kaduna State, Nasir el-Rufai, on Tuesday, said he joined politics solely to serve the people, and not to seek money or steal public funds.
The remarks come amid a probe report by the Kaduna State House of Assembly which indicted the El-Rufai administration for allegedly misappropriating over N423 billion during his eight-year tenure as governor.
Speaking during a live Hausa programme on Freedom Radio in Kaduna on Tuesday, the former governor insisted that he did not embezzle public funds while in office, vowing to swear with the Qur’an.
His words: “I was quiet to see how things would turn out, but for me, I always ask God to help me in whatever I do in life because, as a human being, I always try not to do anything wrong or betray the people’s trust.
“I always say that whenever the former governors of Kaduna State and other leaders decide to take an oath swearing with the Quran that they never took people’s money, I’m also ready to swear. This is because I know that I didn’t go into public service to steal or take people’s money.
“I joined politics only to serve the people of Kaduna State; I didn’t come to look for money, because I give glory to God that I’m content with what I had even before becoming governor. Yet, we were accused of misappropriation of funds during our tenure without being given a specific area where the money went missing or who took it.
“Yet they are going after my allies by inviting them to the ICPC and EFCC to tarnish their names. As for me, I had already prayed two Raka’at on Friday night, leaving everything to God, and seeking His judgment. This is why I’m not saying much about the issue.”
