By Hadiza Mohammed, Northern Operation
A fresh political war has erupted in Kebbi State following a blistering response by former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, to criticisms from the state government over his 2027 governorship ambition.
Malami, who recently declared his intention to contest the 2027 governorship election on the platform of the African Democratic Congress(ADC), accused the administration of Governor Nasir Idris of resorting to personal attacks instead of addressing what he described as the “grim realities” facing the state.
In a statement issued on Sunday in Birnin Kebbi by his media aide, Mohammed Bello Doka, the former minister said the state government failed to challenge critical statistics he cited on education, poverty, healthcare, insecurity and child malnutrition.
According to Malami, about 67.6 per cent of children between ages six and 15 in the state remain out of school, while net school attendance stands at only 38 per cent, among the lowest in the country.
He also alleged that more than 88 per cent of children in the state suffer multidimensional poverty, lacking access to education, healthcare, nutrition and clean water.
The ADC governorship aspirant further claimed that 608 severely malnourished children died between January and September 2025, citing figures from the Kebbi State Nutrition Office.
Malami also raised concerns over insecurity, alleging that repeated bandit attacks and kidnappings between 2021 and 2025 had left many communities devastated and forced farmers to abandon their farmlands.
The former AGF faulted the government’s criticism of the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, insisting that Buhari-era policies such as fuel subsidies, electricity subsidies and a managed exchange rate helped shield Nigerians from economic hardship.
He argued that the current Kebbi administration had no justification for poor performance despite what he described as unprecedented revenue inflows following fuel subsidy removal.
“Over one trillion naira has accrued to the state through FAAC allocations, internally generated revenue, loans and grants in the last three years, yet there is little visible improvement in education, healthcare or security,” the statement said.
Malami maintained that his governorship ambition was driven by a desire to restore security, revive agriculture, improve healthcare and education, and create opportunities for young people across the state.
“The era of empty propaganda and ineffective leadership must end. We will rebuild Kebbi into a safer, stronger and more prosperous state for all,” he declared.
The Kebbi State Government is yet to officially respond to the latest remarks.
