Former Kano State Governor, Ibrahim Shekarau, has asserted that he never collected bribes from contractors nor misused local government funds during his eight-year tenure.
He made this declaration during a news briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, held to announce the activities marking the 70th Anniversary of the Muslim Students Society of Nigeria (MSSN).
Shekarau emphasised his commitment to integrity, stating that his moral training and the values instilled by MSSN guided his conduct in public service.
He stated, “In my government. I have told you and said it in the media. This eating away local government fund. I may not be the only one but you may be very sure I’m one of very few governors that for eight years, I never touched any of my local government money. And in my 44 years of public leadership, I have never negotiated with any contractors. I am proud to say that I have never taken any money from any contractor. They are all there, they know. The only thing I owned today is my house where I live in Kano. I still live in a rented house in Abuja and I was able to do this through the inspiration of the MSSN moral training.”
Shekarau, who serves as the Deputy Chairman of the Board of Trustees of MSSN, also spoke on the society’s commitment to advancing the Muslim community educationally, economically, spiritually, and politically.
He mentioned that MSSN, which boasts 37,000 branches across Nigeria, will continue to introduce new programs to foster unity, encourage political participation, and strengthen the community.
Shekarau added, “At the moment, while we do not have the number of graduates under the umbrella of the MSSN, I can tell you, we today have 37,000 branches across the federation. We will strive to introduce new programmes and processes that will consolidate the fostering of unity and brotherhood, and that will encourage members to participate in politics and governance.”
The former governor, who currently resides in a rented house in Abuja, highlighted that the only property he owns is his house in Kano. He credited the moral teachings of MSSN for his principles, which he says have shaped his public service career.
Despite its longstanding presence, Shekarau acknowledged the challenges faced by MSSN, noting that it took over a decade for the society to secure land in Abuja for a national headquarters.
“It took us more than a decade to fight to have land in Abuja until we are able to get the one at Gwarinpa and the first project we decided to do is the mosque we are using for this news conference,” he concluded.
Founded in 1954, MSSN aims to unite Muslims and promote the Islamic principles of brotherhood and faith as the foundation for peace among mankind.
(NAN)
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