Secret Reporters No place to hide
James Bawa and Victoria Ndanusa
Citizens in Niger state have on Monday expressed their total dissatisfaction and dismay over the way and manner the Executive Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello appoints political officers in his administration. The Governor had earlier stated that his political ambition was inspired by the plight of Nigerlites , which has been of great concern to him and to all well-meaning Nigerlites.
The reaction began, especially on social media immediately after a press statement was realised by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor. The statement reads “The governor of Niger State, Malam Abubakar Sani Bello, has appointed Alhaji Shehu Umar Danyaya, a retired civil servant, as the secretary to the state government, SSG.
Others appointed are Mikhail Al-Amin Bmitosahi, a former member of the House of Representatives, as the chief of staff; Dr. Ibraheem Dooba, a teacher and a columnist with the Daily Trust, as the chief press secretary; Haruna Mamman Vatsa as the director of protocol and Yusuf Waili as the senior special assistant, timekeeping and schedule.
These appointments are with immediate effect. The new SSG has spent many years in the public sector both in Niger State and Abuja; while the new chief of staff was the campaign director general for Governor Abubakar Sani Bello; Dr. Ibraheem Dooba on the other hand, worked as a member of the media team during the campaign. Dr. Dooba has a Ph.D. in Information Technology and attended courses at Harvard University, London School of Journalism and some universities in Malaysia”.
Concerned Nigerlites and APC well wishers from all indications are not happy with the development which they see as a potential threat to success of the APC in the state.
For them, the manner of appointment might polarise the party which will lead to factionalism as seen in the PDP as well as disintegrate the party.
In the same vein, the Christian Communities have also registered their fears by asking if the APC in Niger is basically Islamic Oriented and that if it was only the Muslims that voted the party during the elections. The Youths and Women have also began asking questions about their representation in the new government.
Nigerlites, especially from Zone B feel the appointment of the SSG who hails from the same Local Government with the Governor is Abubakar Sani Bello’s first and highest political miscalculation and are therefore advising the Governor to review such an appointment before it becomes a Sin to be judge in 2019.
For them, it is politically unjust even if the APC will not be involved in Zoning which if not for, the Governor himself wouldn’t have enjoy the smooth ride.
