By ABDULSALAM MUHAMMAD
KANO — The immediate past governor of Kano State, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, has declared his preparedness to face the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, whenever an invitation is extended to him to clear financial issues regarding his eight years administration in the state.

He said that instead of leaving a debt of N108 billion, his administration left a cash balance of N4 billion for the easy take-off of the new administration.

Shekarau told reporters in Kano that he has no skeleton in his cupboard, pointing out that he would gladly honour any invitation from EFCC any day irrespective of the circumstances.

Shekarau’s message on the EFCC was conveyed during a news conference addressed by his former Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Malam Sule Yau Sule, who explained that Shekarau was set to defend his administration’s  financial transactions

‘We are not afraid of the EFCC because we have nothing to hide; the records of finances are there for everyone to scrutinize ,and we are ready to defend the records whenever they extend to us an invitation’, Shekarau stressed.

Shekarau, who accused his successor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso,  of ‘‘witch hunt and vindictiveness’ stated that  ‘’the steps taken so far by the new administration is a clear indication that they are  is in a hurry to nail him – Shekarau.”

The former governor who has since retired to his multi-billion naira mansion in the city revealed that contrary to speculations that his administration expended over N4billion on hotels bills, said that the figure was ‘N3.5billion covering the eight years of his administration.

Shekarau further said that an average of N350 million was spent on hotel bill each year, stressing that Kano, as the gateway state in the North, hosted many personalities within the period under review.

He added that the Vice- President Namadi Sambo and his wife, Amina, topped the list of guests hosted in hotels by his administration, likewise ex-Chief of Army Staff, AbdulRahman Dambazau.

Others  listed by Shekarau include the German Chancellor, the President of Botswana, the Central Bank of Nigeria Governor,  Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, top PDP stalwarts, and nearly all the Services Chiefs that paid visit to the state during the last eight years.

He said he left N4bn in the state coffers for the smooth take-off of the new administration, adding that cash balance is domiciled in six banks  in the state.

Commenting on the $209 million foreign loan, Shekarau dismissed it as tissue of lies, explaining that the money represented facilities granted the state as counterpart fund.