Party Treasurer renders account
On the first occasion, it was listed as item number 12 on the agenda. Party chairman Alhaji Sallama Maikudi made sure that the meeting started two hours late and it got bogged down item number 2 on the agenda. The meeting was adjourned after item 5.When we held the caucus meeting again three months later, […]
On the first occasion, it was listed as item number 12 on the agenda. Party chairman Alhaji Sallama Maikudi made sure that the meeting started two hours late and it got bogged down item number 2 on the agenda. The meeting was adjourned after item 5.
When we held the caucus meeting again three months later, financial report was listed as item 14 on the agenda. Again our chairman made sure that we never got to it. When I proposed that the agenda should be amended and the financial report should come earlier, the state treasurer Alhaji Musa Kutunku shook his head vigorously. The chairman took his cue from there and said no, we should follow the agenda as it is because the items there were listed in order of priority. And when we held a special caucus meeting two months ago, financial report was not even listed on the agenda. They said the meeting was called only to discuss ministerial nominees.
Finally, the issue came up at the caucus meeting this week. Even this one, they only listed it, because the national secretariat asked each state branch to send its financial report as approved by the state caucus. Musa Kutunku sat on the high table with a heap of file jackets piled up in front of him. The chief accountant at the party secretariat sat behind him. In addition to the files, they brought a large calculator, a desktop computer, a potable safe and three ledgers. Again the chairman delayed as much as possible and by the time we got to financial report, people were already tired and many wanted the meeting to just end.
After we finished with item number 6 on the agenda, Alhaji Sallama turned to the Governor sitting next to him and said, “Your Excellency, we have finished item number 6. Should we now go to item number 7 on the agenda or should we postpone it? I know that Your Excellency has important appointments after this meeting and it is getting late. Since the national secretariat is waiting, you can give us anticipatory approval to send the report to them and then we discuss it at a future meeting.” The Governor leaned forward, about to approve his friend the chairman’s ridiculous idea. However, I led the shouts of “No! No! We must discuss it today!” The Governor shrugged, looked at his watch and said, “Chairman, let’s discuss it, even briefly since it is late already.”
Musa Kutunku was asked to present the report. He stood up, took the microphone and brought out a few sheets of paper from his pocket. His chief accountant stood behind him with the calculator. Kutunku cleared his throat and said, “Here is the financial report. Our great party earned N160 million in the last six months. Here is the breakdown. Selling of registration cards, N2m. Contribution by our elected officials of 10 per cent of their monthly salary: N40m. The party’s share brought by contractors: N100m. Voluntary contributions: N18m.”
Several people stood up to ask questions from the statement of party income, but chairman Sallama Maikudi overruled them and said, “Let him finish! Kutunku, continue. Let’s hear the party’s expenditure.” The treasurer put away the sheet of paper he was holding and brought out another one and began to read, haltingly. According to people, Kutunku only did primary school. It is even because the primary schools of those days were very good, that is why he is able to read these papers. If it is the primary schools of nowadays, can he even read anything?
Kutunku continued, “Expenditure. Salaries: N40m. Transport: N20m. Office: N25m. Youth Wing: N20m. Women’s Wing: N20m. Visitors: N30m. Public relations: N10m. Security: N15m. Other expenses: N30m. Total: N210m.”
Several people sprang to their feet when Kutunku finished. They were saying different things such as “can we have copies of the report?” “where is the breakdown?” “what do you mean by security?” “why are all the figures neatly round?” etc. Kutunku pretended as if he did not hear the questions. The chief accountant and himself pretended to be busy punching things into the calculator and writing the results on a piece of paper. The room became rowdy and after whispering some things into the Governor’s ears, chairman Sallama Maikudi stood up.
He adjusted his flowing gown and said, “Ladies and gentlemen, I don’t know why some of us are asking these foolish questions as if you are not politicians like Alhaji Musa and myself. I know that some of you used to work in government offices. Some of you are even from banks. You want to bring the way you do things in your banks and offices to the party. Like someone who said where is the break down? At least you heard that people who get contracts from His Excellency, they are supposed to bring 10 per cent to the party. Some bring it, some do not bring it; instead they come with lame excuses. Some of them try to give us cheques, but we do not accept cheques. When the soldiers overthrew NPN, do you know how many people in Tafki State went to prison because of cheques? So we ask them to bring the contribution in cash, and you know party money. It disappears as soon as it is brought, because there are so many things to do.”
“In fact,” the chairman continued, “this expenditure that our Treasurer mentioned, do you think that is the real amount spent by this party in six months? Is it not the generousity of His Excellency that is sustaining our party all along? Do you people know that His Excellency gives all of us party officials monthly allowances from his pocket? All the cars you see us driving, all the buses at the secretariat, is it not his generousity? This money in the party’s treasury, do you think it can host even one visit to Tafki State by the national chairman of our great party?”
The chairman then turned directly to me and said, “You, Alhaji, who is sitting there shouting that we should render account, how much did you contribute to the party? You gave only two Kombi buses, which have even had an accident. How much money did you give the party? You sit there calling yourself gubernatorial aspirant while the party is suffering, and you keep shouting financial report! financial report! Haba.”