In this report by BASHIR MOHAMMED, he takes a cursory look at the faces of the new cabinet members recently appointed by Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano state.
Kano state governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje to all intents and purposes, failed to accede to the shenanigans of those who wanted to cow him into appointing his cabinet members.
His posture sent many of the naysayers packing; this was after five months without a cabinet, but allowed permanent secretaries to hold brief in the absence of commissioners.
It was, however, the peoples’ contention that Ganduje would form his new cabinet after winning the gubernatorial election which many believed he had escaped by whiskers.
Out of his political calculation, Ganduje choose to remain taciturn and maintained a sealed lip, but conducting the business of the state in a one-man show with nothing standing as a clog in the wheel of his resolve to put the state on a high pedestal.
With his recent victory at the election petition tribunal which the Justice Halima Shamaki-led tribunal pronounced him as the duly-elected governor, power seekers and sugar-coated sycophants inundated the government house expressing solidarity with him for the possibility of plum appointments, a development the governor turned deaf ears to.
Those keeping a constant tab on what had transpired during the 2019 gubernatorial election in the state cast a slur on the infinitesimal performances of those who were expected to stand by him at his hours of travails, nursing the erroneous impression that the result of the 2019 presidential election which led to the landslide victory of President Muhammadu Buhari would have a domino effect on the governorship polls.
Such a wishful thinking, according to political observers in Kano, was what made many of Ganduje’s staunch supporters to bask in fool’s paradise and allowed those on the fringes of stiff opposition to have a field day
Ganduje is one who had for the umpteenth time told anyone who cared to listen that his new cabinet would comprise those who had never being appointed to the positions of commissioners in the present democratic dispensation, for them to effectively contribute their widow’s mite to the development of the state.
Those who were lucky to have been retained as members of his new cabinet, were simply returned as a result of their performances, with the governor acknowledging that their contributions were unprecedented; therefore returning them would be the best way to consolidate such a remarkable feat.
Beginning with the commissioner for information, Comrade Mohammed Garba, in his capacity as the image-maker of government, worked tirelessly at ensuring that the machinery of effective media management was oiled to project a good image of his boss. Being a professional who fully comprehended the art of handling intractable challenges in a democratic setting, Garba handled the media with kid-gloves, which in turn accorded him the respect he deserved.
He is the one who in the face of grueling odds lighted his professional candle by responding to all enquiries and never got exasperated on any controversial question posed to him.
For Murtala Sule Garo, political observers believe that he retained his position as commissioner for local government because of the role he played as the grand commander of the political brigade of guards, who in the face of all odds maintained his unalloyed loyalty to the governor, a feat that made him to stand tall among his fellow former commissioners.
Turning to the fire-brand Alhaji Musa Kwankwaso who was also retained as commissioner in charge of rural and community development, he carved a niche for himself for consistently tackling notable political gadflies attacking the personality of Governor Ganduje, besides being part of the governor’s rural transformation drive.
However, with the formal swearing-in of the new 20 commissioners, the governor has appeared to have dismantled the long siege he erected over the delayed, thereby opening the floodgate for the business of governance and leadership.
The swearing-in ceremony had in attendance notable political figures and opinion leaders in the state who commended the calibre of the new commissioners appointed at the time such high expectation was much needed.
Ganduje had purposefully appointed the new commissioners to form part of his cabinet in the next four years with a call on them to see their assigned responsibilities as a litmus test of proving their commitment to serving the state.
Ganduje charges the commissioners
Addressing them shortly after taking their respective oaths of office administered by the attorney-general and commissioner for Justice, Barrister Ibrahin Mukhtar, he charged them to remain focused and imbibe the spirit of honesty, transparency and accountability in all their dealings.
According to him, their respective appointments were premised on merit and the capacity to propel the state to the next level, stressing that his administration had mooted the idea of establishing the state Public Complaints and anti-Corruption Commission in order to clean the Augean Stable and make the business of governance utterly realistic.
He said as members of his new cabinet, the new commissioners are expected to comply with the rules and regulations that guide the conduct of public service as enshrined in the constitution, pointing out that government efforts could only be complemented by strictly adhering to the concept of honesty, trust and selflessness as required by the trappings of their respective offices.
He said, “As you are taking your oath of office today, you have now become part and parcel of my administration. All that is needed from you is commitment, doggedness and the ability to live above board. You are expected to fulfill your obligations in line with the expectations of the people of Kano.
“As we are moving to the next level, you are expected to contribute your widow’s mite in all spheres of human endeavour in order to move the state to greater height. My administration is fully committed to the crusade of sustaining what we have so far achieved in the last four years and we are willing to go with you in the present journey to sustain the tempo,” he added.
The commissioners who were sworn into office hours after they were screened by the state House of Assembly were also reminded by the governor to swing into action and start the business of governance with vigour, in order to posit that it is their respective performances that would prove to everyone that their appointment is credible.
Some of the news commissioners include Dr Aminu Ibrahim Tsanyawa deployed to the Ministry of Health; Dr Zaharau Muhammad deployed to the Ministry of Women Affairs; Alhaji Muazu Magaji deployed to the Ministry of Works and Housing and Comrade Ado Lakwaya deployed to the Ministry of Youths and Sports, respectively.
Indeed, the appointment and the eventual swearing-in of the new commissioners, according to peoples’ reactions, had greatly strengthened the burning quest for good governance and unimpeded service delivery in a democratic setting since it is what is needed to steer the political ship of the state.
It was also the peoples’ contention that the governors fingers are on the tiller with no one daring to challenge his grip or call his bluff when it comes to the issue of wielding his authority in his capacity as one being at the helm of affairs of the state.
APC stakeholders commend the move
According to a renowned chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano, Alhaji Musa Danbirni, the governor has proved to even the doubting Thomases that his acumen in leadership was unquestionable and that his ability to put his eggs in one basket is also not doubtful, going by his antecedents.
He said the appointment of his new cabinet is a giant stride he effected with credibility, pointing out that the business of good governance cannot be run with mediocre with nothing to contribute to the development of the state, stressing that as appointees on merit, they have no reason to shirk their respective roles.
Another APC chieftain, Alhaji Anas Abba Dala said Governor Ganduje demonstrated his seriousness in making a credible choice as far as the appointments were concerned, adding that for what he did, he had set the pace. According to him, with the myriad of expectations from the people, the commissioners would ginger the resolve of public servants serving in various capacities to buckle-up in joining the crusade of propelling the state to greater heights.
