Officials spark backlash after leaked memo reveals stunning use of taxpayer money: 'People should now understand the kind of leaders they have'
According to 21st Century Chronicle, the document revealed that 44 local government councils were directed to collectively release N670 million (roughly $470,000) for luxury cars — not for infrastructure, education, or public health, but for Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II.
According to a memo dated March 25 and leaked in May, the funds were earmarked for refurbishing a 1969 Rolls-Royce and a Cadillac limousine, as well as procuring four brand-new Toyota Land Cruisers. The money, taken from the State/Local Government Joint Account, was to be funneled through a private firm, Sottom Synergy Resources Ltd.
The backlash was immediate.
Isah Bello, a member of the Kano State Community of Practice for budget tracking, called the funding allocation unconstitutional, saying it "was not captured in the 2025 budget. The local governments are entitled to their money, and there is no provision whatsoever to compel them to source those funds."
Civil Society for Justice's Umar Saidu echoed that sentiment, explaining many initially assumed the memo was fake — a reaction that speaks volumes about the public's faith in governance.
Critics say the decision contradicts Kano's stated citizen-first policies. "People should now understand the kind of leaders they have," said local resident Idris Gora, slamming the move as a betrayal of public trust, according to 21st Century Chronicle.
At a time when Kano residents face pressing social challenges — including youth unemployment and rising crime — allocating taxpayer money to vintage cars sends the wrong message. "The decision by the state government was poorly conceived and wrongly implemented," added Dr. Shetima Abdullahi, a lecturer at Kano State Polytechnic.
Still, state officials insist the purchases are routine. Commissioner for Information Ibrahim Abdullahi Wayya defended the decision, stating the cars are meant to "protect and promote" the emirate's image, not serve as personal perks for the monarch.
Whether legal or not, the move is fueling frustration around misused public funds — especially in an era where fiscal transparency and community-first planning are more vital than ever.
As cities around the world invest in cleaner transit, local food systems, and sustainable housing, missteps like this serve as a reminder of why citizen participation in budgeting and public accountability matters — for people and for the planet.
Should the government be paying us to upgrade our homes?
Definitely
Depends on how much it costs
Depends on what it's for
No way
Click your choice to see results and speak your mind.
Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBS News
17 hours ago
- CBS News
Teen driver charged with intoxication manslaughter in fatal Garland crash, police say
An 18-year-old Cadillac SUV driver accused of speeding into a Garland intersection and crashing into a Nissan SUV — killing its sole occupant — has been arrested and charged with intoxication manslaughter, police said. Alan Ernaldo Marmol Melendez was taken into custody after the crash occurred around 2:30 a.m. at the intersection of North Garland Avenue and Kingsley Road, according to the Garland Police Department. Police said Marmol Melendez's black Cadillac SUV was traveling northbound at a high rate of speed when it struck the eastbound Nissan SUV in the intersection. Marmol Melendez and a passenger in his vehicle sustained minor injuries. The passenger was hospitalized and later released, authorities said. Marmol Melendez is being held in the Garland Jail. No bond has been set. The investigation is continuing. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Garland Police Department at (972) 485-4840 to report tips or provide information. CBS News Texas will provide additional details as they become available.
New York Times
3 days ago
- New York Times
America's Clean Hydrogen Dreams Are Fading, Again
The promise of an abundant and clean-burning alternative to oil and natural gas has captivated generations of politicians, executives and environmentalists. As far back as 1977, when oil prices were a big concern in the United States, a Cadillac Seville fueled by hydrogen drove in President Jimmy Carter's inaugural parade. More recently, a signature law under President Joseph R. Biden Jr. offered generous tax credits to companies that made hydrogen in ways that release little or no carbon dioxide. That spurred a flood of investment announcements by many businesses. But the hype around the fuel is fading fast — and not for the first time. From Arizona to Oklahoma, companies are pulling the plug on clean hydrogen projects after Congress shortened the window for them to qualify for a Biden-era tax credit by five years. Projects now must be under construction by the end of 2027 to qualify, a hurdle that three-quarters of proposals most likely will not meet, according to Wood Mackenzie, an energy consulting firm. Hydrogen is widely used to make fertilizer and to turn oil into gasoline, diesel and other fuels. It can also store energy, much like a battery, and be used to power cars or trucks, though it has long struggled to take off in those applications. The appeal is clear: Using hydrogen produces water vapor instead of greenhouse gases. But the fuel is expensive, is hard to store and transport, and is made using lots of energy. 'The rationale behind it was that green hydrogen was going to be abundant and cheap,' said Matthieu Giard, head of the Americas for Air Liquide, a French industrial gas company. 'It's not really what we see today.' Today, hydrogen is produced mostly from natural gas in a process that emits carbon dioxide, the leading cause of climate change. It can be made using electricity to split water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen. But many projects that aimed to do that have been canceled or are on the chopping block. Hydrogen's problems are myriad. Electricity demand is rising rapidly in the United States, as are costs. People are using electricity to power everything from cars to heat pumps. And tech companies are using vast amounts of power to train and run artificial intelligence systems. That all means more competition for the energy required to extract hydrogen from water. In addition, it is getting harder and more expensive to install wind turbines and solar panels in the United States, making fewer such hydrogen projects financially viable. 'It's tough times,' said Bernd Heid, a senior partner at McKinsey & Co. who leads the consulting firm's hydrogen work. 'This market will be flattish in the U.S. for quite some time.' Two Australian companies, Woodside Energy and Fortescue, are among those that recently canceled low-emission hydrogen projects in the United States. Woodside cited cost increases and lower-than-expected demand as reasons to scrap a project near Oklahoma City. Fortescue, a mining giant that bet big on hydrogen, pointed to changes in U.S. energy policy. Its $550 million project outside of Phoenix was supposed to open in 2026. 'The lack of certainty and a step back in green ambition has stopped the emerging green energy markets, making it hard for previously feasible projects to proceed,' Agustin Pichot, Fortescue's chief executive of growth and energy, said on a July conference call with financial analysts. Another type of hydrogen project in which companies use natural gas and then store most of the resulting carbon dioxide emissions underground could ultimately fare better in the United States, energy executives and analysts said. Natural gas-based projects qualify for a different tax credit that gives companies more time to start construction. Gas is also plentiful in the United States, and the Trump administration is remaking federal energy policy to encourage its production and use. 'Every geography is going to play with its own strength and the strength of the U.S. clearly is access to fossil fuels, access to carbon sequestration sinks,' said Mr. Giard of Air Liquide. Even the natural gas path remains daunting. As of last year, fewer than 15 percent of low-emission hydrogen projects announced in the United States since 2015 had reached the critical stage where companies decide to spend hundreds of millions or even billions of dollars to move forward, according to McKinsey. Exxon Mobil, the largest U.S. oil company, is among those weighing whether to commit to making hydrogen with natural gas, while burying the carbon dioxide. The company has announced plans to build outside of Houston what would be one of the largest low-emission hydrogen plants in the world. But it has not made a final investment decision. 'We're concerned about the development of a broader market, which is critical to transition from government incentives,' Darren Woods, Exxon's chief executive, told analysts this month. 'If we can't see an eventual path to a market-driven business, we won't move forward with the project.'
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Yahoo
Minnesota Vikings WR Submits to 'Wet Reckless' Plea Deal
The Minnesota Vikings are preparing for the start of training camp next week. Outside of some former players making their way into the news cycle for a variety of reasons, it's been a rather quiet summer break, since the team broke from minicamp last month. Of course, that wasn't the case last season. The series of unfortunate off-field events last summer began when Khyree Jackson, who had been standing out during offseason workouts after being picked in the 4th round of the 2023 NFL Draft just months earlier, tragically died in a car accident that occured on 4th of July weekend. Jordan Addison's original plea: 'Not Guilty' Days later, 2023 1st round pick Jordan Addison was arrested on suspicion of DUI near LAX Airport in Los Angeles. Police reportedly found him asleep at the wheel of his white Rolls-Royce that was blocking the the number one lane of the freeway. Related Headlines A-Rod, Lore Trying to Bring KG Home… Among Other Former Timberwolves To Whom It May Concern: Good Luck Prying Joe Ryan Out of Minnesota Potential Minnesota Twins Buyers Spooked by Massive Debt Addison's arrest launched a full year of court proceedings that, early on, we originally thought were being strategically pushed back and delayed by Jordan, his council and the Minnesota Vikings, in order to make sure the No. 2 wide receiver would finish out the 2024 season without the NFL levying a suspension on him. When everything started to move forward, however, Jordan Addison submitted a plea of 'Not Guilty', proving he and his team of attorneys were determined to fight the charges. He maintained his innocence throughout the pretrial process too, until the actual trial was set to start on Tuesday. Jordan Addison pleads guilty to lesser 'wet reckless' charge Instead of moving ahead, onto jury selection etc, Addison's courtroom appointment for Tuesday was taken off the schedule. In its place, another pretrial hearing was set for Thursday. Earlier this week, former practicing attorney, Mike Florio ( wondered if something might be up. [Thursday's new 'pretrial hearing'] label is too broad to permit a reliable inference as to what it means. Some think there will be a plea deal that is formalized at the hearing. That's possible, but 'pretrial hearing' doesn't convey that clearly. The lingering employment problem for Addison continues to be this — any outcome that suggests responsibility will trigger a baseline suspension of three games without pay. Mike Florio – Related: And sure enough, Florio was proven right today when Jordan Addison's attorney took to Twitter and announced that his client was pleading guilty, but not to the original 'Driving Under the Influence' charges. Instead, the 23-year-old former No. 23 overall pick is pleading guilty to a lesser 'Reckless Driving' charge that assumes alcohol was involved. In California, the plead down charge is better known under its informal moniker, a 'wet reckless', which is what Younger & Associates used to make the new plea public on X. A 'wet reckless' is a negotiated plea. Specifically, 'wet reckless' is the term given to a plea whereby the prosecutor originally charges a DUI (under Vehicle Code Section 23152), but later drops those charges in exchange for the defendant pleading guilty (or 'no contest') to a charge of reckless driving (under Vehicle Code Section 23103). The 'wet' in 'wet reckless' means that there is an acknowledgement that the reckless driving involved alcohol and/or other drugs. This disposition is authorized by Vehicle Code Section 23103.5. You cannot be arrested for or charged with a 'wet reckless'; it is not a stand-alone crime. It is exclusively a negotiated plea. Essentially, it is a disposition in between a reckless driving conviction and a DUI conviction. Think of it as a reduced-penalty DUI. Now we wait for the NFL to rule on possible suspension for Minnesota Vikings wide receiver This is a big win for Jordan Addison, outside of football. Sure, the reckless driving charge probably means it'll cost him a lot of money to get into Canada for the next decade or so, but this plea deal means he will no longer have 'DUI' on his driving record. If more details come out on exactly what led to today's plea, we will add it to this article. But on the football field, we do not know what this change will mean for a possible Jordan Addison suspension. As Florio noted earlier this week, the standard operating procedure for a DUI suspension is three games. Related: Clearly, a 'wet reckless' still has legally binding alcohol-related implications. Thus, the NFL would still be well within its right to suspend Addison, even after the plea deal. Will they? If they do indeed go through with a suspension, will it reach the three game standard, or will the league bring Addison's punishment down as well? We'll soon find out. Related Headlines A-Rod, Lore Trying to Bring KG Home… Among Other Former Timberwolves To Whom It May Concern: Good Luck Prying Joe Ryan Out of Minnesota Potential Minnesota Twins Buyers Spooked by Massive Debt
