By Ibrahim Abubakar Jombali
Special Adviser on Public Enlightenment and Orientation to the Executive Governor of Kebbi State
The latest demand by Bello Abdullahi that the Kebbi State Government should “open the books” has been dismissed by Governor Nasir Idris’ Special Adviser on Public Enlightenment and Orientation, Ibrahim Abubakar Jombali, as a political argument presented in the language of accountability.
In a strongly worded response, Jombali argued that transparency is a legitimate demand in a democracy, but maintained that accusations of financial wrongdoing should be supported by evidence rather than insinuations and repeated questions.
His response comes amid an increasingly heated political debate over the performance, finances and development record of the Nasir Idris administration ahead of the 2027 elections.
‘Where Is the Evidence?’
Jombali’s central challenge to Bello is straightforward: if the government is allegedly concealing information, how was so much government data available for Bello to cite in his criticism?
He argued that Bello’s analysis reportedly draws from government announcements, budget figures, procurement information, project details and other publicly available material while simultaneously accusing the administration of operating without transparency.
“You cannot simultaneously accuse a government of hiding information while building your entire article around information the same government has publicly released,” Jombali argued.
He described that contradiction as evidence that the dispute was less about access to information and more about how publicly available information should be interpreted.
Jombali’s position echoes an earlier response from the governor’s camp to criticism of Kebbi’s ₦580 billion budget, in which the administration argued that a budget projection should not be confused with money actually received by government. The Bureau Journal reported the earlier exchange over the ₦580 billion budget and the government’s “no missing money” argument.
How Much Money Did Kebbi Actually Receive?
Jombali also challenged what he described as a simplistic understanding of public finance.
He argued that government expenditure operates within a formal system involving appropriations, procurement regulations, legislative oversight, auditing, financial reporting and established procedures within ministries, departments and agencies.
He pointed to the role of the Kebbi State House of Assembly, the Auditor-General and the public procurement system in scrutinising and regulating public expenditure.
“Government expenditure is not managed through newspaper columns,” he wrote.
According to Jombali, demands for accountability are legitimate, but the proper way to establish financial wrongdoing is through documents, audits, investigations and verifiable evidence.
The administration has also recently emphasised financial controls and institutional record-keeping. The Bureau Journal reported on a Kebbi Government programme aimed at strengthening treasury operations, financial controls and public records.
‘Open the Books’ and the Politics of Accountability
Jombali questioned the political consistency of Bello’s call for greater transparency, arguing that demands for accountability often become louder when politicians are in opposition.
He asked why similar demands were not, in his view, being made against other administrations or political figures whose records are now being invoked in opposition politics.
“Apparently, transparency becomes fashionable only when one is out of power,” he wrote.
That argument is political in nature and reflects the government’s response to its critics. It does not, by itself, establish whether any particular expenditure questioned by Bello was properly or improperly managed.
The broader issue remains whether governments should be able to demonstrate clearly how public funds are generated, allocated and spent, regardless of which political party controls the state.
Education Spending: Inputs or Outcomes?
Jombali also took issue with the treatment of education interventions in Bello’s criticism.
He argued that government spending on textbooks, tablets, motorcycles, vehicles and teaching materials should ultimately be assessed by asking whether such investments improve conditions for teachers and students.
“The real question citizens ask is simple: Are children learning in better conditions than before?” he asked.
He said the quality of education, access to learning materials and the ability of schools to deliver better outcomes should be part of any serious assessment of government expenditure.
Recent developments in Kebbi include efforts to address the welfare and administration of primary school teachers. The Bureau Journal reported that a state committee identified more than 29,000 primary school teachers while reviewing their salary structure and minimum-wage implementation framework.
The government has also continued to make institutional interventions in education, including the recent inauguration of a new governing council for Abdullahi Fodio University of Science and Technology, Aliero. The move was presented as part of efforts to strengthen stability and governance at the university.
Argungu Festival and the Development Question
Jombali also defended government spending associated with the Argungu International Fishing and Cultural Festival, arguing that the event should not be judged solely through the lens of expenditure.
He said the festival contributes to tourism, commerce, cultural preservation and the visibility of Kebbi State, arguing that such activities can form part of a wider economic-development strategy.
His broader argument is that government spending should be assessed against both financial controls and public outcomes.
That does not remove the need for scrutiny. Rather, it raises a second question: whether expenditure produces measurable value for citizens.
Jombali Challenges SEMA Claims
On the State Emergency Management Agency, Jombali accused Bello of raising doubts without presenting evidence of wrongdoing.
He argued that where there is an audit finding, investigative report or documented evidence of misconduct, it should be presented publicly and subjected to scrutiny.
“If there is evidence, present it. If there is wrongdoing, expose it. If there is corruption, report it,” he wrote.
He maintained that allegations unsupported by evidence risk turning legitimate public accountability into political speculation.
The distinction is important because criticism of government spending and an established finding of financial misconduct are not the same thing. The former is part of democratic debate; the latter requires evidence.
Kebbi’s Revenue Push Adds Another Layer
The debate comes as the Idris administration seeks to strengthen the state’s internally generated revenue and reduce dependence on federal allocations.
The Bureau Journal recently examined Kebbi’s revenue reform agenda, including efforts to harmonise taxation and improve revenue collection.
Jombali’s broader defence of the administration is that development requires both revenue mobilisation and financial discipline, while critics should focus on verifiable facts when questioning how public resources are managed.
For a state heavily dependent on public resources to finance infrastructure and services, that debate is unlikely to disappear as the 2027 political contest approaches.
‘Kebbi People Deserve Accountability’
Despite the combative tone of his response, Jombali acknowledged that accountability remains a legitimate democratic expectation.
His argument is that accountability should be built around evidence, institutional processes and measurable outcomes rather than political insinuations.
“Kebbi people deserve accountability,” he wrote, while accusing the opposition of failing to provide sufficient evidence to support some of its criticisms.
He also maintained that the Nasir Idris administration is committed to transparency, accountability and honesty and that its development agenda would not be derailed by political criticism.
The government’s supporters have continued to point to infrastructure, education, healthcare, agriculture and other interventions as evidence of the administration’s performance. The Bureau Journal recently reviewed the broader development trajectory of Kebbi State under successive administrations and the current focus under Governor Nasir Idris.
Jombali concluded by challenging Bello to replace what he considers political rhetoric with evidence-based analysis.
“Before shouting ‘Open the Books’ again, Bello Abdullahi may wish to open a textbook on public finance, institutional governance, and evidence-based argument,” he wrote.
For the administration, the central message is that Kebbi’s development record should be judged through facts, projects, financial records and outcomes rather than political exchanges.
For its critics, however, the demand for greater transparency remains legitimate regardless of political affiliation.
That tension between political defence and public accountability is likely to remain a defining feature of Kebbi’s political conversation as the state moves closer to the 2027 elections.
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