Former Kano state governor and also a presidential candidate of the New Nigerians Peoples Party, NNPP, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso say he will abolish the popular security vote system if elected into power. Kwankwaso stated this yesterday during a town hall meeting organized for presidential candidates by Channels Television. Security vote is money being allocated to state governors and some selected agencies for improved security from the federation account. According to one of the Transparency International report, “these secretive, unaccounted-for, cash expenditures add up to over $670 million (N241.2 billion) annually”.
Explaining why he wants to abolish the system or its total overhaul, Kwankwaso said it is a way of systematic looting of Government funds unaccounted for.
He hinted, “For the eight years I was governor, I never took one naira for the issue of security vote. It’s not even there”.
He disclosed that while in government, “I have inherited governments that were taking N10 million in a day, seven times. In fact, at a state, we had a record of 12 times because the governor can only approve N10 million. So, they would take N10 million, times whatever number they want.
According to the former Governor, “If the CP or Director of SSS or anybody wants to do anything, we’ll listen to him. He should defend it. And once we are satisfied, anything above N10 million, I’ll take it to the council.
He said, “The only thing that we did not publish for the eight years I was governor was the money given to the security agents, but we have the records.
He insisted that “Security vote, in our own opinion, is a big way of stealing money. That is why I have never done it. And if I have the opportunity again, there will never be anything like a security vote in the presidency.
He revealed “We have seen cases where a lot of money is being siphoned in the name of security vote and nobody can defend it. In my opinion, that should be stopped using whatever means, because it’s only a good way of taking cash from the treasury.”
