NASARAWA’S POLITICS OF DISCORD
Critics are raising questions about some of the state’s public assets, contends TANKO SHAMSUDEEN
A former governor of Nasarawa State is alleged to be into acts that may dim the chances of the All Progressives Congress in the state in 2027.
In the process of trying to evade accountability, the former governor is stoking embers of political discord in the state. At the centre of the controversy are state-owned assets located in Ikoyi and Apapa in Lagos, as well as in Kaduna and Jos—properties once regarded as strategic investments for administrative and economic purposes.
This has provoked public debate as citizens are now demanding to know the state of key government properties after he left office. Particular attention has focused on the Nasarawa State Liaison Office at Plot 1234, Bishop Oluwole Street, Victoria Island, Lagos. Reports that some private firms are laying claim to the property without clear evidence of offer, acceptance, or payment have further heightened suspicion.
Critics point to decisions taken during the former governor’s tenure, including the assertion that the state did not require a liaison office in Lagos and the recommendation for the outright sale of multiple properties across the country like in Jos, Abuja, Kaduna, and Lagos.
These moves, they argue, marked the beginning of a troubling pattern in which public assets were allegedly undervalued or quietly transferred to other owners without due process and transparency.
What has added a new dimension to the issue is a growing narrative among civic groups and political observers that the former governor may be leveraging current tensions within Nasarawa State as a shield against scrutiny.
According to these claims, the emergence of political unrest is not incidental but part of a broader strategy to pressure the present administration into abandoning or soft-pedaling on investigations into the missing assets.
These allegations have resonated widely with citizens who are increasingly suspicious of the political distractions thrown at them.
Many insist that governance must not be derailed by instability, particularly when issues involving public wealth are at stake. Their demand is clear: a full, transparent account of what happened to the properties and who authorized the transactions concerning them.
Fueling the controversy further is the reported absence of verifiable government records documenting the sale or transfer of these assets.
Observers note that no clear transaction trail has been presented, despite claims that substantial payments—reportedly up to N700 million—were made for some of the properties, including the Plateau Bus Terminal. The lack of documentation raises serious questions about compliance with due process.
Adding weight to public concern is a judicial backdrop, with references to a Supreme Court judgment affirming that the properties remain the sole assets of the state.
For many, this underscores the urgency of establishing the facts and recovering any assets unlawfully transferred.
Civil society organisations have called for an independent probe, emphasizing that accountability is fundamental to democratic governance. Legal experts echo this, noting that any disposal of public property must follow strict procedures, including valuation, legislative approval, and proper documentation.
As pressure mounts, the situation presents a defining moment for the state’s leadership. Whether through a judicial inquiry or a comprehensive audit, citizens insist that the truth must be uncovered. Ultimately, the unfolding controversy is not just about missing properties—it is a test of transparency, institutional integrity, and the rule of law.
As the former Governor continues to create divisions within the party by publicly hosting meetings of disgruntled aspirants while negotiating their exit to opposition parties, the people of Nasarawa have displayed unalloyed support and loyalty to the Governor Abdullahi Sule, who has remained focused and undeterred.
Party faithfuls have continued to applaud Gov Sule for his maturity, patience and accommodating spirit in the midst of provocations as he remains focused on delivering the North Central region to APC, as the Chairman of the Governor’s forum in the region.
The stance of the former Governor to undermine the zoning formula has further depleted his dwindling followership while it has not saved him from scrutiny.
If he wants to show leadership, then he should submit himself to probe, use the opportunity to clear his name and submit all the evidence that the transactions he undertook with properties belonging to the state while he was in office was on behalf of the state. Further to that, he should show where he lodged the proceeds or where he invested them.
Anything short of that is like resorting to political brigandage to thwart the zoning formula in the party.
Shamsudeen writes from Lafia
