By; KATO P. LADAN, Kaduna
The Katsina State Government has distanced itself from what it described as “spurious allegations that it gave the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Tukur Yusufu Buratai the sum of Two Hundred and Fifty Million Naira (N250, 000,000:00) cash gift while on an official visit to the state” sometime ago as alleged by one Mahadi Shehu, saying – “it was slanderous, evil allegation and campaign of calumny by Mahadi’s reckless and malicious allegation which was only a figment of his imagination borne out of political vendetta to rubbish the State Government’s integrity, and a sinister plot to drag the esteemed personality of General Buratai into unnecessary diversionary controversy for reasons best known to him.”
This was contained in a letter from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the State, signed by the Secretary to the Government of the state, Mr Mustapha Muhammad Inuwa addressed to Osuagu Ugochuku, Esq of St. Francis Xavier Solicitors and Advocates – the legal counsel to Gen T.Y. Buratai.
The Letter read in parts, ”I wish to inform you of the State Government’s concern and displeasure over the slanderous and evil allegation and campaign of calumny by one Mahadi Shehu, to the effect that the Katsina State Government gave the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Tukur Yusufu Buratai the sum of Two Hundred and Fifty Million Naira (N250, 000,000:00). AS you might have heard, this is just one out of series of other allegations by the said Mahadi against the State Government.”
“However, Katsina State Government and Lt Gen Tukur Yusufu Buratai certainly know that nothing of this nature has happened”.
“Mahadi’s reckless and malicious allegation was only a figment of his imagination borne out of political vendetta to rubbish the State Government’s integrity, and a sinister plot to drag the esteemed personality of General Buratai into unnecessary diversionary controversy for reasons best known to him.”
The letter signed by Mustapha Muhammad Inuwa Secretary to the Government of the State, further stated that, “Mahadi’s unwholesome antecedents notwithstanding, therefore, the State Government wishes to assure you of its resolve to ensure that all options are explored to protect its integrity, and that of General Buratai by extension”.
