By Rayyanu Bala

The Arise TV interrogation of the wife of Senator Ahmed Aliyu Wadada over her women empowerment programme came at the right time. However, the questioning of the source of funding for the programme, as demanded by Arise TV, should not stop with Senator Wadada. It should include all other governorship candidates in the state, since all of them have been involved in one form of empowerment programme or another, as well as the distribution of palliatives.
A situation where a retired public official is celebrated for empowering young people, distributing palliatives and supporting vulnerable families, only for the conversation to suddenly change when another politician does something similar, with questions such as, “Where is the money coming from?” This deserves the attention of everyone. There should be consistency in the application of accountability.
Yes, there is nothing wrong with asking questions about the source of the wealth used to fund political empowerment programmes. In fact, citizens of Nasarawa State have every right to ask such questions.
The 2027 Nasarawa governorship race provides a perfect opportunity to apply the same standard to everyone. Senator Ahmed Aliyu Wadada is a prominent governorship candidate whose wife’s empowerment activities have attracted considerable public attention. Equally, the wives of other candidates have also been involved in similar empowerment activities. The husbands should therefore be prepared to answer questions about the sources of the funds used for such programmes.
Since Arise TV questioned Senator Wadada about the sources of funds for his empowerment activities, the same question should also be directed at former Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar Adamu. Appropriate institutions should step up investigations to examine the sources of the resources being deployed by both men in their political activities and empowerment programmes.
My call here is not an accusation that either of them has committed a crime. It is simply a call for accountability.
Senator Wadada’s position does not give him personal ownership or control of government funds. Nevertheless, because he is a public office holder and a major political actor, the people of Nasarawa State are perfectly entitled to ask reasonable questions about the resources deployed in his political activities.
The same principle must apply to Mohammed Abubakar Adamu, who spent virtually his entire professional career in public service and rose to become Inspector-General of Police. He has now entered the political arena and is seeking to become governor of Nasarawa State.
There is therefore nothing unreasonable about asking both men about the sources of the funds being used to finance their political projects. Are the funds consistent with the assets and income legitimately accumulated over the course of their respective careers?
Indeed, the questions should go beyond these two men. Every governorship candidate in the state should be subjected to the same level of scrutiny regarding campaign financing, empowerment programmes, rallies, logistics and political mobilisation. They should all be prepared to demonstrate that the resources involved come from legitimate and explainable sources.
That is what genuine accountability means.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other competent institutions should not wait for petitions before taking action. Where there are credible concerns about unexplained wealth or suspicious financial activities, the appropriate institutions should follow the money.
This is where the media, especially Arise TV, has an important responsibility.
Journalists should not create one narrative for one politician and a different narrative for another. If the source of Senator Wadada’s wealth is newsworthy, then the financial background of former IGP Adamu should be newsworthy as well. If an empowerment programme deserves scrutiny because of its scale, the same scrutiny should be applied to similar programmes previously carried out by the former IGP.
The people of Nasarawa State deserve to know the truth about these matters.
If the money is legitimate, explain it.
If the assets were acquired lawfully, explain it.
Senator Wadada should be prepared to explain his wealth and the sources of the funds supporting his political and empowerment activities. Former IGP Mohammed Adamu should equally be prepared to explain his. The same standard should apply to every other governorship candidate in Nasarawa state.
If there is nothing to hide, scrutiny should not be frightening. It should be an opportunity to clear the air and demonstrate that the resources being used to pursue the governorship ambition were honestly and legitimately acquired.
The people of Nasarawa State have every right to ask a very simple question:
Where did the money come from?