The All Progressive Congress (APC) in Katsina State has berated Sen. Ahmed Babba-Kaita (PDP-Katsina North) for alleging that the state government plans to use N1.1billion of state funds to campaign for the party.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Kaita was elected on the platform of APC in 2019, but he recently defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Kaita had at a recent campaign rally in Daura Local Government alleged that the state government was planning to use over N1.1 billion public funds to campaign for the APC candidates.
Reacting to the allegations on Friday in Katsina, the state APC Vice Chairman, Alhaji Bala Musawa said: ”It was surprising to hear such from the Senator.
”Himself and the PDP governorship candidate, Sen. Yakubu Lado, had tasted government and they know what is possible.
“If it was someone else that made such an allegation, I won’t be surprised. Sen. Kaita was from our party. He became a member of the House of Representatives and later became a Senator.
“I was among those that facilitated for him to secure the APC senatorial ticket. We spent about three days in Daura to ensure his success under this government.
“During the primary election, how much did he come with when he was contesting that all these allegations can come from him?. It’s surprising. I never thought he could make such an allegation.
“Whenever these issues are being discussed, as an APC member, we are expecting it was a mistake he made to leave the party, we are hoping he’s coming back. I think he still has the opportunity to reconcile.”
Musawa insisted that Gov. Aminu Masari had done a lot towards ensuring the success of Kaita, adding: ”But, as a human being, he can make mistakes.
“If we are to start exposing things, I can remind him when he joined the party, how he contested, how he secured the ticket and which money was used for his election.”
Musawa urged Katia to respect his position, saying, ”as a senator, he is expected to be talking in a mature way because he represents 12 local governments.”