Appointments: Niger Gov. Abubakar Bello under fire for partiality
NAN
A member of the Niger State House of Assembly, Mr Malik Madaki, on Saturday faulted the alleged lopsided appointments in the state by Gov. Abubakar Bello.
Madaki, who represents Bosso state constituency, expressed his displeasure over recent appointments while speaking to newsmen in Minna.
According to him, appointments into political offices have been largely tilted in favour of Kontagora, where the governor comes from.
“The Governor’s senatorial district of Niger north, particularly Kontagora is dominating other places in terms of appointments in the state.
“Just yesterday I heard on the news that the DG Project Monitoring and Evaluation, who is from Kontagora, has been appointed DG SDGs to replace the current man who is from Chachanga in Niger East.
“And then the person appointed to now take over as the Head of projecting monitoring and evaluation is also from Kontagora.
“I don’t think my local government, Bosso, for example has produced any DG since this administration came on board,” Malik said.
He stated that aside the spread in the appointments of commissioners, most other appointments have gone to Niger north.
He also accused Bello of abandoning long suffering APC party faithful who put their life on the line to ensure his victory at the polls in 2015.
“I know of people who gave their all before the election and suffered for this government from day one but today they’ve been abandoned by the governor.
“These people have not been rewarded for their efforts in enthroning the present government.
“How do we go back to these people and seek their support in future elections,” he asked.
The lawmaker advised the governor to quickly review appointments to reflect all the sections of the state.
He revealed plans to sponsor a bill for a law to establish a character commission saddled with the responsibility of enforcing compliance with principle of proportional sharing of posts in the state.
“The essence of the bill is to correct all these anomalies in appointments.
“We are in a democratic setting and we need to carry everybody along,” he said.
In a swift reaction, Mr Jide Orintusin, Senior Special Assistant to the governor on Media and Publicity, said that Bello had been fair to the three senatorial zones in appointments.
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“Governor Bello has tried to be guided by the law and his party in appointments.
“If you look at the spread of appointments, all the senatorial zones are being carried along.
“The governor is from Niger north, the Deputy is from Niger South. The speaker is from Niger East while the Chief of Staff is from Niger East and the Secretary to State Government is from Niger North.
“So it is unfair for anyone to accuse the governor of lopsidedness because he is always guided by the law.
“I think the honourable member was simply seeking more appointments for his people which is okay, because in politics everybody is always asking for more,” he added.
Orintunsin stressed that Bello remains conscious of the need to balance political appointments as he secured his vote across the three zones. NAN
