Farouq, in a statement, yesterday, in Abuja, said she did not abandon her responsibilities in office to relocate to Bauchi, as alleged by a fictitious group known as “APC Initiative for Good Governance”.
The minister said she has been working tirelessly and assiduously to ensure that no vulnerable Nigerian is left hungry and to also lift them higher than where she met them.
Farouq said after she kicked off the Cash Grant for Vulnerable Groups, she left for Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj, with President Buhari’s permission, and was expected back in the office this week.
The statement reads: “The attention of the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq, has been drawn to a malicious and manifestly false report published by a fictitious group that calls itself the “APC Initiative for Good Governance”.
“The Bauchi-based group, in a statement signed by one Nasiru Cigari, alleged “Hajia Sadiya Umar Farouq diverted Social Investment Programmes meant for the entire country to Bauchi State.
The group also accused the minister of “abandoning her office and relocating to Bauchi to push the political interest of her husband, Air Marshal Abubakar Sadique (rtd), who is contesting the 2023 governorship of Bauchi State on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“ The minister wishes to categorically state herewith, that she will not be deterred by “belly-aching” detractors, who will stop at nothing to derail the lofty Social Investment Programmes of President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration, whose agenda is to lift 100 million vulnerable Nigerians out of poverty by 2030…”
“Since the creation of the ministry in August 2019, no fewer than 20 million Nigerians have so far been empowered through various programmes and initiatives, including up-skilling of 1,064,774 youths in the graduate and non-graduate programmes under the N-Power scheme, of which the number of beneficiaries in Bauchi State ranked 11th out the 36 states and the FCT. The highest number of beneficiaries came from Benue, Delta, Enugu, FCT, Kaduna, Kano, Lagos, Osun, Oyo and Rivers states before Bauchi.
“Under the National Home Grown School Feeding Programme, a total of 9.9 million children from primary one to three in 53,000 public schools nationwide are currently being fed one hot nutritious meal every school day, with Bauchi State being the fourth highest in terms of benefitting number of primary schools behind Kano, Benue and Kaduna states. In addition, Kano state has the highest number of children being fed, followed by Katsina, Kaduna, Niger, Jigawa, and Benue before Bauchi.
“ The minister, represented by the Permanent Secretary, recently flagged off the Cash Grant for Vulnerable Groups on July 4, 2022, in Oshogbo, Osun State. The faceless group may wish to explain to its followers, why Hajiya Sadiya Farouq did not start the distribution of Cash to Vulnerable Groups in Bauchi State.
“Sadiya Umar Farouq is a detribalised Nigerian politician, mother and wife, philanthropist and devout Muslim.
“Sadiya Umar Farouq is a native of Zamfara State and married to a former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Abubakar Sadique. By virtue of her marriage, the full rights of any Bauchi woman have been bestowed on her. Therefore, the unregistered and unknown group cannot stop her from reaping or sowing the seeds of development in her husband’s state.
