The decision of the Adamawa State House of Assembly to clear in absentia Dr. .Fatima Atiku Abubakar, daughter of the former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and Muhammad Barkindo Mustapha, eldest son of the paramount ruler in the state, as state commissioners is currently tearing the state apart.
The action of the lawmakers is causing no little bickering in the political circles in the state, especially following its failure to confirm Mr. Ahmad Sajoh, the spokesperson of former Governor Murtala Nyako, who presented himself for screening along with 10 other nominees.
Twelve out of the 22 nominees were scheduled to appear before the House last Thursday for the first phase of the screening exercise, but 10 nominees were present while Mr. Muhammad Barkindo, the son of the traditional ruler, Lamido Adamawa, and Fatima Atiku were conspicuously absent.
The lawmakers’ action spurred negative reactions within and outside the state capital, especially since there has been power tussle between Atiku and Nyako’s camps since APC’s victory in the last election. Abdurrahman Abubakar, a member representing Mubi South, had earlier at the sitting urged the House to clear Ahmad Sajoh, describing him as highly competent personality with good track record of service.
However minutes later, members of the public, who trooped to the House to witness the screening exercise were surprised when the Speaker announced that 11 nominees, including Fatima Abubakar and Barkindo were confirmed, leaving out Sajoh without giving any reasons for the decision. Reacting on this development, a political analyst in the state Muhammad Ismail noted with shock that, “the exercise would have been termed a complete success but for two glaring glitches that in my view have compromised the success and even the integrity of the whole process.
“I have every cause to say and believe that the change which we have toiled to achieve by electing the new set of lawmakers is being frittered away on the altar of egregious grandstanding, and unwarranted ego trip and it is a signal of bad, shaky and faulty begging and its concomitant effect in the future is imaginable. “The development clearly signifies that in Adamawa State House of Assembly merit will be trampled upon with impunity at the instance of nonsensical, mundane, selfish and personal egos of the members of the State House of Assembly,” he stressed.
To this end, Ismail said that, it was also glaring that the sordid happening that the House of Assembly was trying to set up a new record in ignominy, as it has invariably and for the first time in the annals of the assembly set up two standards, one for the poor and the other for the rich.
“I have never heard of a situation where ministerial or commissioner nominees were screened in absentia, no matter their influence or positions,..but the approval of the two nominees by the assembly has amply portrayed to discerning people of Adamawa that in the state House of A public commentator in the state, Mr. Bitrus Aboki was of the view the action on the floor of the house was a seriously indictment on the change mantra in Adamawa State.
“ I can’t imagine how a person nominated based on his proven records of integrity and competency, faced the House for screening would be confirmed, while those nominated on the basis of their family background, failed to show up, perhaps to hide weaknesses were automatically cleared,” he said.
But when contacted over the rift the state chairman of the ruling party, APC, Alhaji Yamusa Shuaibu, insisted that there was no crack in the party, stating that the governor may appoint more “than 20 commissioners into the state executive council, whereas only a few would scale through the screening. Those who fail can be considered for other positions.” He explained that the decision to have technocrats in the cabinet was in line with the recommendations of the State Transition Committee.
“The list consisted of 10 technocrats… and Atiku’s daughter being a medical doctor, an indigene is among of the technocrats. So I don’t think there is problem in the process,” Shuaibu said. He explained that the list had been sent to the security agencies for screening, adding that very soon it would be sent to the House of Assembly for screening.
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