Outcry as APC Converts Kebbi ICT Centre to Party Secretariat

 

Kebbi State is buzzing with fresh controversy, and this one cuts right to the heart of how public resources get used in Nigeria. Allegations are flying that the ruling All Progressives Congress has quietly turned a government-funded Information and Communication Technology centre into a local party office. The claims exploded over the weekend, triggering sharp criticism from opposition voices and ordinary citizens who see it as a blatant diversion of funds meant for youth empowerment and digital skills training.

The centre of the storm sits in Shanga Local Government Area. Originally built to serve as an ICT hub, the facility was supposed to give residents – especially young people – access to computers, internet, and essential tech training that could open real doors in today’s digital world. Instead, photos that quickly went viral on social media show the building freshly painted in the APC’s trademark colours. A bold new sign now screams “SHANGA LOCAL GOVT PARTY OFFICE” right next to the party logo. The transformation looks deliberate and unmistakable.

One social media user, Mallam Jabir, captured the widespread anger perfectly when he posted: “This is reckless, disgraceful and highly irresponsible.” He pointed out the painful irony – a place designed to equip youths with digital skills and brighter opportunities has been repurposed as a partisan secretariat. “Turning a facility meant for digital skills and youth empowerment into a party secretariat sends the wrong message about priorities,” he wrote. Many online commentators echoed the same frustration, asking how a public project could so easily become a political tool.

Opposition figures didn’t hold back either. They labelled the move a clear “abuse of public resources.” Questions poured in: How does a structure funded by government money – whether at state or local level – suddenly get handed over to one political party? Where was the due process? Why no public consultation? Some have demanded an immediate investigation to clarify the building’s original ownership, trace the source of its funding, and examine any approvals supposedly given for this change of use.

So far, silence from the APC camp in Kebbi State has only made things worse. Neither the state party chairman nor officials from Shanga Local Government have offered any public explanation. That vacuum has left room for speculation, suspicion, and growing irritation among residents who believe community development projects should stay far away from partisan politics.

The timing feels especially awkward. Governor Dr. Nasir Idris and his APC-led administration have repeatedly spotlighted their commitment to education and technology. They’ve pushed “Smart Schools” and other initiatives aimed at boosting digital literacy and quality learning across the state. Critics now argue that converting an existing ICT centre into a party office directly contradicts those stated goals and chips away at public trust in how government money is actually spent.

Think about what an ICT centre could mean in a place like rural Shanga, where economic chances are already slim. Young people could learn computer skills, search for jobs online, or even explore small business ideas. Instead of becoming a hub of opportunity, the building now stands as a symbol of political takeover in the eyes of many. That stings.

Residents and activists are calling loudly for transparency. They want straight answers: Was this facility ever formally designated as a public ICT centre? Have alternative arrangements been made for digital training in the area? And what, if anything, will be done to address the concerns that have erupted so quickly?

The coming days could bring more clarity as pressure builds on both the party and government sides to respond. In the meantime, the incident has reignited an old but important debate in Nigerian politics – where exactly should the line be drawn between governance and party activities?

Public resources are supposed to serve everyone, not just card-carrying members of the ruling party. When projects meant for youth development or community progress get swallowed by partisan needs, it breeds cynicism and undermines confidence in leadership. Kebbi State, like many parts of Nigeria, already struggles with limited access to modern technology in rural areas. Turning a potential bridge across the digital divide into a campaign-style office feels, to many, like a step backward.

Governor Idris’s administration has talked a good game about empowering young people through education and tech. This controversy tests whether those promises hold up when real decisions about facilities on the ground are made. If the ICT centre was truly built with public funds for public benefit, then repurposing it without clear justification raises serious questions about accountability.

For now, the viral photos and angry online reactions have put the spotlight squarely on Shanga. The ball is in the court of APC officials and state authorities to explain themselves. Silence might have worked in the past, but in today’s social media age, it only fuels more suspicion and outrage.

Ultimately, this isn’t just about one building in one local government area. It touches on deeper issues of trust, resource management, and the proper use of taxpayers’ money. Nigerians have seen too many cases where public projects mysteriously morph into political assets. Each time it happens, it chips away at the idea that government exists to serve the people rather than the party in power.

Kebbi residents – especially the youths who might have benefited from that ICT centre "deserve better. They deserve facilities that actually deliver skills, opportunities, and hope, not freshly painted party offices. Whether this controversy leads to genuine accountability or simply fades into the usual noise remains to be seen. But for the moment, the message from critics is loud and clear: public resources should stay public, not become partisan property.