The All Progressives Congress in Bauchi State has kicked against the recent lease of the Zaranda Hotels and sale of some companies in the state by the Bala Mohammed-led administration, saying it was done to satisfy some selfish interests.
The party said it was astonished by the “shady and fly-by-night” transactions between the Bala Mohammed and business associates, friends and political allies of the Governor of Bauchi State.
Speaking at a press conference held at the Next Level Secretariat of the party on Friday, the State Chairman, Babayo Misau, said the party notes with “great indignation, dismay and total condemnation that the current ill-transactions are shady, questionable and clearly adverse to the collective interest and well-being of the people of Bauchi State.”
The text of the Press Conference was entitled: ‘The APC Bauchi State Chapter outrightly condemns the unlawful lease of Zaranda Hotels at N1.2bn, Wikki Hotels at N200m and sale of Bauchi Meat Factory at N301m, Galambi Cattle Ranch at N150m, Bauchi Fertilizer Blending Company at N400m and the Bauchi Furniture Company at meager amounts to family and friends against the interests of the people of Bauchi State.’
He expressed dismay that successive administrations in the state spent billions of hard-earned state funds in establishing the industries only to be disposed of by the Government of Bala Mohammed to satisfy some personal interests.
Misau said: “The affected industries are the famous Bauchi Meat Factory which, in the 1990s, was prominent in supplying meat across the globe; the Bauchi Furniture Company which employed hundreds of our youth and had its products across the country and the Bauchi State Fertilizer and Blending Company, which supplied mass quantity of fertilizer to farmers at subsidised rates for rapid agricultural advancement.
“Also, the Zaranda Hotels and Towers which contribute immensely to our internally generated revenue in addition to employment of our teaming youth; the Wikki Hotels and Tours which saves the purpose as Zaranda Hotels; the latest Gallambi Cattle Ranch which remains popular for supplying bulls to the meat factory and production of farm fresh milk.
“In spite of these laudable contributions made by the affected companies in improving the economy of Bauchi State, the administration of Bala Mohammed has chosen to sacrifice the industries for personal gains, otherwise Bauchi state derives no meaningful benefit in any of the following transactions:
“Leasing Zaranda Hotels for 25 years at N1.2bn i.e at N133,333. 33 per day; leasing Wikki Hotels for 25 years at 200m Naira, i.e. at N22,222. 22; Selling out Bauchi Meat Factory which worth billions of Naira at the cheapest rate of 301m Naira only and disposing of the vital Bauchi State Fertilizer and Blending Company at the sum of 400m Naira only;
“Others are the sale of Gallambi Cattle Ranch at the give away price of 150m Naira only; and the Bauchi Furniture Company which was also dashed out at a negligible amount that is far less than its current value.”
The APC Chairman said more worrisome was the fact that not only that the sum of N2.251bn to be realised as proceeds of the transactions is too meagre considering the multi-billion Naira worth of the current financial value of the disposed of industries, alleging that “the purchasing companies, Shafa Ltd., New Frontier Ltd., H & Y Global Ventures, and Butfield Ltd. are directly or indirectly linked to the Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, as business partners and close associates.
“This is in addition to the fact that the entire transactions and bidding process were apparently compromised in gross violation of due process and oath of office,” he said.
Misau, therefore, issued a two week ultimatum to the Bauchi State government to reverse the privatisation of the said companies because of the attendant negative consequences the move would have on the state.
According to him, “If at the end of two weeks the state government doesn’t reverse its decisions, we will go to court to seek redress for the interest of the people of Bauchi.”
He also called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Independent National Corrupt Practices and other related offense Commission and other anti-graft agencies to investigate the Bauchi State government’s actions.
“Let the general public and people of Bauchi State take note that, the All Progressives Congress, strongly condemns the recent move by the Government of Bala Mohammed to lease and sell out the valuable industries of Bauchi State;
“We call on the EFCC, ICPC and other anti-graft agencies to cause investigations into the Bauchi State government’s move to hands-off the ownership of six of the industries through privatisation.
“We also call on all people of Bauchi State to remain calm and keep abreast with the activities of the State Government so as to ensure that their rights and interests are not compromised. They should shun all forms of violence but to be adamant in pursuing the collective rights and privileges.
“We call on all APC members to remain law-abiding and peaceful citizens while resisting all forms of threat and political intimidation within the confines of the law,” Misau stated.
