- 13 Senior District Heads, 230 District Heads Get Other Exotic Cars
Some Nigerians have expressed anger after Governor of Zamfara State, Bello Matawalle distributed expensive, luxury cars to traditional rulers in the state on Wednesday.
Some of the cars include the Cadillac brand for the Emirs and Hyundai brand for district heads.
In all, the Governor gave out 262 exotic cars during a ceremony to also commission the state secretariat of the Council of Ulamas.
NPO Reports’ rough estimates of the 17 Cadillac alone may amount to N612m.
A Cadillac 2019 Model currently sells for about $50,000 while the cost of shipping may take the total cost to about $60,000 at the point of delivery.
The governor, while speaking at the event, said the gesture was in recognition of the support received from the monarch by the his administration.
He said, “It is in view of the high esteem with which my administration regards our traditional leaders and institutions that we decided to procure brand new cars, Cadillac 2019 Model, for 17 Emirs, 13 Senior District Heads and 230 District Heads across the State.”
The Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’Ad Abubakar, was on hand to present the cars to the traditional rulers.
However, many Nigerians have expressed surprise at the Governor’s gesture saying it shows lack of sensitivity to the plight of the ordinary Nigerians.
Ibrahim Abdulateef, whle condemning the gesture, wrote, “I remember asking myself some months ago how Governor Bello Mutawwale feels sleeping at night in Zamfara. My concern was that amidst so much blood and killings in that state, it would be totally crazy to have a governor giving less to end the crisis. I didn’t realise I was pushing it. In a state like Zamfara, ravaged by banditry, terrorism, and poverty, the Governor has now thought it best to gift some Emirs and District heads these exotic cars for comfort, instead of buying vehicles and providing more logistics support for empowerment of the security agencies to protect the common man. The huge funds for procuring these can also fix health centres, schools in the state. But this is an open demonstration of his values and focuses at this point. No wonder Zamfara has become a dark theme for poetry. Is there really light at the end of this tunnel, Zamfarians? Barbaric!”
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Tijani Ramalan, while condemning the gesture, wrote, “Sometimes ago, the Governor of Jigawa State awarded contracts to build over 200 Mosques. I said it was a misplaced priority. They came for my head. Another instance, the Governor of Katsina gave huge amount of money to subsidize Hajj, I said it was a misplaced priority. They also came for my head.
Now the Governor of Zamfara bought luxury cars for Emirs. Well, you don’t need anyone to tell you it is a misplaced priority.
“We don’t need 200 mosques built with public funds; we need 200 schools, hospitals and industries.
“We don’t need to subsidize religious pilgrimage. We are investing our money on something that does not add value to the country.
“If all the citizens of this country perform Hajj or visit Israel, it does not add any value to us as a nation.
“We must keep religious practices personal and avoid using public funds to pay for it. Even in religious context, it is optional, compulsory to those that can AFFORD IT.
“In Zamfara, workers are not paid the N18,000 minimum wage let alone increase. Schools are closed. Banditry has taken over communities. But our Emirs MUST be taken care of!
“If we continue like this, one day, this country would fold. The reasons for banditry, Boko Haram and insurgency is not far-fetched.
“We all want a better country. At least so they say. But, we keep doing things that would not make the country better.
“Senate would approve their own. Governors would do same. If you must, at least buy Innosson, so that the money would be reinvested back to the country.
” Insanity is doing same thing over and over again expecting a different outcome”.