The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State has called on Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, in the spirit of transparency and accountability, to provide public explanations on the amount generated from the recent auctioning of Kwara Hotel properties by his government.
The party reminded the people of the state that properties of the hotels were “looted” by some state-sponsored agents in November last year but the government absolved the looters and took responsibility, calling the ugly process an auctioning of unused items which was authorized.
In a statement on Monday, PDP State Publicity Secretary, Mr. Olusegun Olusola Adewara said that although the auctioning process was shrouded in secrecy and failed due diligence test, the people of Kwara deserve to know the amount generated from sales of their hotel’s properties and where the money is been kept before any work can begin on the facility.
“Our party is concerned that since 7th December 2023 when the controversial auctioning was completed, the government has yet to brief the people of Kwara, on whose behalf it auctioned those items, any information about the income generated from the process, where the money is kept, and other technical information associated with the auctioning. We therefore sternly demand that the Abdulrazaq-led Kwara State government provide a detailed account of the income generated from the acclaimed auctioning and where the fund was kept”, the party said.
The government was further urged to furnish the public with comprehensive information on the list of items auctioned, including the unit price attached to each, along with details of the four registered auctioneers the government claimed to have engaged to undertake the auctioning. As a party, we maintain that a responsible government ought to brief the public after such an operation without having to wait for citizens to raise their voices.
The PDP added that “before the latest revelations by a civil society organisation, ENetSuD, our party had reiterated our disapproval of spending such humongous taxpayer’s money on the renovation of Kwara Hotel when the state is facing a serious infrastructural deficit and people’s living conditions are on the decline. We have also called for a halt of further action until the government clarifies its position on whether the fund is meant for renovation of the hotel or whether a new hotel will be coming under construction.
“Our party appreciates the efforts of Civil Society Organizations in the state, particularly ENetSuD for their invaluable research, which uncovered questionable dealings in the award of a hotel valued at N5 billion to a company allegedly fronting for Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq at an exorbitant sum of N17.8 billion.
“This revelation has reinforced the PDP’s stance that the Governor may have ulterior motives in the Kwara Hotel renovation, contrary to the interests of the people.
“We use this medium to strongly warn the management of Craneburg Construction Company to be prepared to account for every kobo it collected without due diligence when a new administration takes charge. We advise the company to consider its reputation and refuse any attempt by Mallam Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq to soil their hands in any shady act for Kwara is the wrong place to perpetrate such act”.
