Mr David Umahi.

By Maduabuchi Nmeribeh/Kano

Katsina State Forum of Elders (KFE), has raised a sledgehammer on Minister of Works, Mr David Umahi, insisting that his order to revoke the contract for the construction of  Katsina/Dutsinma, Marrarbar Kankara roads, were conceived on the tendencies of nepotism.

They advised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to be wary of  Minister Umahi.

KFE  insisted that the actions of Umahi were designed to negate President Tinubu’s hard-earned good image in the North.

A Statement signed by KFE’s Spokesperson,  Dr.  Namanga Danmajiya, and made available to journalists in Kano explained that  “the Road Contract which was awarded by the same Government of Tinubu sometime in April 2024, was cherished and welcomed by the overwhelming population of Katsina Citizens.

“Because of the awards of the Contract by President Tinubu, his popularity and support swelled like wildfire among the Citizens of Katsina and many welcomed it with a bang of happiness because it will help in the transportation of goods from across the Federation”.

Dr. Danmajiya, further stated  that  “after the awards of the Road Contract, a Special Monitoring and Supervision committee were created by the Katsina People who,  inch-by-inch are  monitoring how it is being carried out; and they commended the Contractor whom they believed was doing a good job.”

The Elders, who said their intention was not to attack the personality of Umahi, insisted that his body language in the whole drama exemplified nepotism.

KFE also held that information available to their disposal indicated that Umahi was preserving the contract for his cronies.

“We don’t want to believe and work on the allegations against the Minister that he revoked the Contract because he has a personal interest in them and the allegations further say that one of the Contracting Companies has his Biological Son as a Director.”

KFE called on President Tinubu to quickly intervene on the revocation to safeguard his already rooted support in the North.

They further reminded President Tinubu that,  “the road project which transcends to Niger Republic would help in the inter-continental movement of goods and the end, Nigeria would be the greatest beneficiary of the whole project.

” We are alerting President Tinubu that the interest of the people is being manipulated on the revocation of the Contract. We know that  It is not President Tinubu’s idea, because, to everybody, the President is a Nationalist who believes in the good of every section of the Nation. We want him  to listen and do the needful by allowing the contract and Contractor to continue their jobs.”