Bade LGA Left Out Of Seat On Yobe Executive Council, While Jakusko Has Three

By SALE ABDULLAHI DUMAI

The fear of an ethnic group or few states to dominate the political governance of the country was the reason behind the enclosure of the federal character’s principle in the 1999 constitution of the federal republic.

The nationalists who were the architects of the drafting of federal document tried to ensure that appointments to public service and institutions fairly reflect the linguistic, ethnic, religious and geographic diversity of the country, made sure that appointments and recruitment to military and paramilitary institutions are equally and evenly distributed.

This arrangement that has ensured relative peace in the federal setting, seems to be eluding Yobe State, the state governed by the ruling party’s national interim chairman, a state with almost one religion and culture. It is of cause the first since the return of democracy to the country in 1999 that this format is failing in the state.

Governor Mai Mala Buni the fourth executive governor of the state, is no doubt an astute administrator. His ascension to the pinnacle of leadership of his ruling party, the All Progressive Congress (APC) when the party was in crisis.

Also the enviable peace he has brought the party, attests to his dexterity in administration. Doubling the management of a ruling party affair with his statutory function as a sitting governor, is one thing that has surprised even tested technocrats in the country.

However, his ignoring the imbalance of distribution of commissionership appointment among all local government areas in the state, is an unexplainaeble oversight that even his admirers and foes daily battle to fathom with.

ALSO READ: PDP: Sow The Wind, Reap The Whirlwind

Yobe State has 17 local government areas and all these council areas are all represented in the state executive council as commissioner with a local government while one of the local government areas, enjoys three slots in the state executive council, Bade Local Government is either forgotten or something unexplainable happened that it is not represented in the state executive council with a commissioner.

It may be an oversight that one of the serving commissioners that resides in Bade may be believed to be from the local government but it’s not true.

For instance, the Honourable Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Alhaji Mohammed Gagiyo only resides in Bade Local Government but not an indigene of the local government.

Let the record be made clear that Abdullahi Bego, Jaba Ward, and Hajiya Mairo Amshi from Zabudum/Dachia Ward and the said Mohammed Gagiyo of Girgir/ Bayam Ward are all from Jakusko Local Government Area, all enjoying plum position of commissioners while Bade Local Government watches without a representative in the state executive council.

Some analysts are of the view that there’s either no qualified person in the local government for appointment as commissioner, or that the local government never voted for the governor hence the reason for the development.

If this views being peddled in some quarters is not the reason for Bade Local Government sin for denial for position of commissioner, then it’s time for the people’s governor to be a father to all in the state and remember Bade Local Government to be represented in the state executive council because as it is observed many years ago, “What is good for the goose, is good for the gander.”

Sale Abdullahi Dumai writes from Gashua Yobe state