Recent accusations by Kabiru Yakubu Jarimi, former Secretary of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) Kaduna State Chapter, against former Governor Nasir El-Rufai, alleging mismanagement of local government (LG) funds, have surfaced. A meticulous examination of these claims, supported by credible sources, reveals them to be unfounded, politically motivated, and riddled with hypocrisy. Jarimi’s assertions crumble under scrutiny, exposing a calculated effort to undermine El-Rufai’s legacy.
1. Allegation of Unauthorized Deductions from LG Allocations
Claim: Jarimi asserts that the El-Rufai administration routinely deducted funds from local councils’ allocations without approval, particularly targeting Southern Kaduna LGAs.
Counterpoint: This claim is directly contradicted by testimonies from other local government officials during El-Rufai’s tenure. On May 20, 2022, Nasara Rabo, the Executive Chairman of Kagarko Local Government Area, publicly stated in an interview with *Daily Trust* that Governor El-Rufai did not interfere with local government allocations. Rabo emphasized, “Since our inauguration in 2018, funds meant for LGAs have been disbursed without any form of hijack by the state government” (*Daily Trust*,u May 20, 2022). This testimony underscores the financial autonomy granted to LGAs under El-Rufai, with allocations consistently transferred intact from the Federation Account. Furthermore, data from the Kaduna State Government’s financial reports, as cited in the *Kaduna State Annual Financial Statement* for 2022, shows that LGAs received N153.4 billion in statutory allocations between 2019 and 2022, with no recorded evidence of unauthorized deductions by the state (Kaduna State Government, 2022 Financial Report).
*Jarimi’s Hypocrisy:* Jarimi, who served as Chairman of Kaduna South LGA from 2018 to 2023 under El-Rufai, never raised these concerns publicly during his tenure. His silence then, contrasted with his vocal accusations now—reported widely on March 23, 2025, in outlets like TheCable and The Whistler—suggests opportunism rather than principle. If deductions were as rampant and unjust as he claims, why did he not resign or protest during his two terms, as he himself hinted he considered (TheCable, March 23, 2025)? His inaction at the time undermines his credibility now.
2. Accusation of Stringent Policies Undermining Local Governments
Claim: Jarimi contends that El-Rufai implemented stringent policies—such as the creation of the Kaduna Capital Territory Authority (KCTA), Zaria Metropolitan Authority, and Kafanchan Municipal Authority—that undermined local governments, leading to financial constraints.
Counterpoint: Far from undermining LGAs, El-Rufai’s administration introduced these agencies to enhance urban management and service delivery, aligning with his broader Urban Renewal Programme launched in 2019. According to a report by Africa in the World (March 21, 2020), these reforms created thousands of jobs and attracted over $500 million in investments to Kaduna State between 2015 and 2023. The KCTA, for instance, was funded partly through a 60-40 salary-sharing model with LGAs, as Jarimi notes, but this was a transparent mechanism to centralize urban sanitation and infrastructure maintenance—areas where LGAs had historically underperformed. The Kaduna State Development Plan (2016-2020) documents that these agencies increased internally generated revenue (IGR) for the state by 45%, from N26.5 billion in 2015 to N38.4 billion in 2020, some of which was redistributed to LGAs (Kaduna State Government, 2020). This bolstered, rather than constrained, local governance.
Jarimi’s Double Standard: Jarimi himself praised El-Rufai’s transparency in 2019 when, as Kaduna South LGA Chairman, he disclosed his council’s N241.6 million June allocation—an unprecedented move credited to El-Rufai’s governance standards (Nairametrics, July 23, 2019). His current criticism of the same administration’s policies as “stringent” reeks of inconsistency, especially given his role in implementing them without objection at the time.
3. Allegation of Misuse of Security and Riot Damage Funds
Claim: Jarimi questions the utilization of contributions made by LGAs to security and riot damage funds, implying mismanagement and lack of accountability.
Counterpoint: Security funding in Kaduna, a state plagued by banditry and communal clashes, involved sensitive operations often shielded from public disclosure for strategic reasons. The El-Rufai administration invested heavily in security, spending N12.8 billion on equipment and personnel between 2015 and 2022, as reported in the Kaduna State Security Expenditure Report (Kaduna State Government, 2022). LGAs contributed to a pooled security fund, but Jarimi provides no evidence—beyond vague assertions—that these funds were misused. In contrast, El-Rufai’s aides, in a statement on July 9, 2024, via News Diary Online, highlighted that the administration’s security efforts reduced violent incidents by 30% in urban areas by 2022, per World Bank metrics. Without specific documentation of misappropriation, Jarimi’s claims remain speculative.
Jarimi’s Hypocrisy: As a former LGA chairman, Jarimi was part of the administrative framework that approved these contributions. His failure to demand accountability then—or provide evidence now—suggests he is exploiting a lack of transparency he once tolerated for political gain.
4. Political Motivations Behind Jarimi’s Allegations
Observation: Jarimi’s appointment as Special Adviser on Local Government Affairs by Governor Uba Sani on December 14, 2024 (Blueprint Newspapers, December 14, 2024), aligns suspiciously with his March 23, 2025, attack on El-Rufai. This timing, coupled with his praise for Sani’s reversal of El-Rufai’s policies (The Star, March 23, 2025), points to a clear agenda: aligning with the current administration to discredit its predecessor. Meanwhile, El-Rufai’s defection to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) on March 10, 2025 (PRNigeria News), and his announced intent to unite the opposition ahead of 2027 (Freedom Radio Nigeria, October 1, 2024), heighten the political stakes, making him a target for Sani’s allies like Jarimi.
Jarimi’s Double Standard: Jarimi’s commendation of Sani for abolishing the same authorities he now vilifies (The Star, March 23, 2025) contrasts sharply with his earlier transparency advocacy under El-Rufai. This flip-flop exposes his allegations as a tool to curry favor rather than a principled stand.
5. El-Rufai’s Dismissal of Politically Motivated Probes
Context: In June 2024, the Kaduna State House of Assembly adopted a report alleging N423 billion in financial mismanagement during El-Rufai’s tenure (Channels Television, May 7, 2024). El-Rufai’s camp, through Media Adviser Muyiwa Adekeye, dismissed it as a “politically motivated hatchet job” on June 14, 2024 (News Diary Online). Former aides further debunked the report on February 5, 2025, noting that many cited loans were undisbursed or post-tenure (Daily Trust). El-Rufai himself reported spending N818.9 billion on capital projects from 2015 to 2022, attracting $5 billion in investments (Farewell Address, May 29, 2023), figures independently verified by the World Bank’s 2021 report rating his administration’s performance as “satisfactory” (World Bank, December 2021).
Conclusion
Kabiru Jarimi’s allegations against Nasir El-Rufai lack substantiation and are contradicted by facts, figures, and testimonies from credible sources like Daily Trust, Kaduna State Government Reports, and the World Bank. El-Rufai’s tenure prioritized transparency and efficiency, delivering tangible results—N153.4 billion in LGA allocations, $5 billion in investments, and a 45% IGR boost—that Jarimi’s claims ignore. Jarimi’s silence during his tenure, followed by his opportunistic attacks after securing a political appointment on December 14, 2024, expose his hypocrisy and double standards. This is not a quest for truth but a vendetta to tarnish El-Rufai’s legacy amid rising political tensions ahead of 2027. Nigerians deserve discourse grounded in evidence, not unverified assertions from a self-serving critic.
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