Coalition Slams Kebbi Gov Over Poor Governance, Defends Malami

By; AUSTINE AGBO EMMANUEL, Kaduna

The Coalition of Arewa Civil Society Organisations (CACSO) has come hard on Kebbi State Governor, Dr Nasir Idris, over what it described as “governance by propaganda,” while rising in stout defence of former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, against what it called orchestrated media attacks.

Addressing a press conference at the prestigious Arewa House in Kaduna on Sunday, CACSO said the recent smear campaign against Malami, allegedly propagated by a faceless group known as the Concerned Northern Forum, was nothing but a politically motivated distraction, aimed at diverting attention from the failures of the current administration in Kebbi State.

“The people of Kebbi are facing a steady decline in governance, insecurity, dilapidated infrastructure, and worsening poverty. Rather than tackle these issues, the government is sponsoring baseless attacks on Malami, a man whose record in public service remains unblemished,” said Comrade Aminu Abbas, CACSO’s National Coordinator.

The coalition insisted that since leaving office, Malami has neither been invited nor indicted by any anti-corruption agency, a rarity in Nigeria’s political landscape describing the former AGF’s post-office reputation as “clean and respectable.”

CACSO further faulted the governor’s recent donation of N30 million to Pastor Paul Enenche during a religious crusade, which the pastor reportedly rejected and advised should be redirected to public institutions in need.

“At a time when hospitals are without basic equipment, schools are collapsing, and rural communities are pleading for protection, this donation exposes the governor’s lack of empathy and disconnect from the reality on ground,” Abbas stated.

The coalition also decried what it termed a breakdown of professional oversight in contract execution across the state. According to them, many projects under the current administration have suffered due to poor supervision, resulting in substandard and abandoned works.

“Even the contracts that were awarded are not properly supervised, and the contractors are doing substandard work,” the group lamented.

CACSO dared Governor Idris to come forward with a verifiable scorecard and defend his stewardship rather than hiding behind media proxies.

“Let him show physical evidence of development. Leadership is not about optics or media headlines, but impact,” the group charged.

On the growing political shift in the state, the coalition noted the rising popularity of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as a sign of public disenchantment with the ruling administration. They said attempts to discredit Malami are part of a wider effort to stifle emerging political alternatives.

“We have no allegiance to any politician or party. Our loyalty is to the people of Northern Nigeria. This is not about Malami; it is about truth, justice, and accountability,” CACSO stressed.

The group called on Governor Idris to abandon “the politics of distraction” and return to Kebbi to address the issues that matter to the people. “The moment demands seriousness, not showmanship. Kebbi deserves progress, not propaganda,” it declared.