Malami Blasts Kebbi Govt: “₦1 Trillion Collected, Yet Children Die Hungry and Farmers Run from Bandits!”
By Passman Akpos
A fresh political storm has erupted in Kebbi State as former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, accused the state government of failing the people despite allegedly receiving over N1 trillion in federal allocations, loans, grants, and internally generated revenue.
In a strongly worded press release issued on Sunday in Birnin Kebbi, Malami’s media aide, Mohammed Bello Doka, said the state government’s response to Malami’s declaration to contest the 2027 governorship election under the African Democratic Congress (ADC) was filled with “ad hominem attacks, unverified achievements, and propaganda,” rather than factual rebuttals.
The statement, titled “Malami Sneezes and Kebbi State Government Catches a Cold,” accused the government of deliberately avoiding key issues raised by Malami regarding the worsening condition of education, healthcare, poverty, and insecurity in the state.
According to the release, the government failed to deny that 67.6% of children aged 6–15 are out of school, while the net school attendance rate remains at just 38%, among the lowest in Nigeria. It also cited UNICEF data showing that over 88% of children in the state are trapped in multidimensional poverty, lacking access to education, clean water, healthcare, and proper nutrition.
Malami’s camp further alleged that 608 severely malnourished children died between January and September 2025, while malaria prevalence among children under five stands at 81.5%, with 71% of pregnant women in rural communities reportedly lacking antenatal care.
Security was also highlighted as a major concern, with the statement referencing repeated bandit attacks, kidnappings, and killings between 2021 and 2025, including the abduction of the Deputy Speaker of the Kebbi State House of Assembly.
Reacting to accusations linking him and the administration of late former President Muhammadu Buhari to past economic mismanagement, Malami defended the Buhari-era policies, arguing that fuel subsidies, electricity subsidies, and managed exchange rates helped shield Nigerians from economic hardship.
He insisted that the current administration in Kebbi has no excuse for poor governance, especially after benefiting from increased FAAC disbursements following fuel subsidy removal.
“Over One Trillion Naira, Zero Excuses,” the statement declared, noting that monthly federal allocations reportedly rose from N760 billion in 2023 to over N3 trillion nationally, while Kebbi itself allegedly received more than N1 trillion through multiple revenue channels.
Despite this, Malami said there has been no meaningful improvement in school enrolment, healthcare services, agricultural productivity, or rural security.
He maintained that his 2027 governorship ambition is focused on restoring security, rebuilding public education, strengthening healthcare, reviving agriculture, and creating opportunities for young people.
“The era of empty propaganda and ineffective leadership must end,” the statement said. “There will be no retreat and no surrender in the collective struggle to rescue our state.”
The remarks have further intensified political tension in Kebbi ahead of the 2027 governorship race, with observers expecting more fierce exchanges between the ruling establishment and opposition challengers in the coming months.
