Re: Badaru appoints Special Assistants for 3 wives
Page 4 of Daily Trust newspaper of Wednesday, October 9, 2019 carried the above story. Indeed the entire media has been engulfed with commentaries on appraisal and chains of criticisms on the appointment of 54 Special Assistants by Governor Muhammadu Badaru Abubakar of Jigawa State, especially the appointment to his 3 wives and streets light. Though, am not Governor Badaru’s spokesman or one of his cabinet members; but am an indigene of Jigawa State and the freedom of expression guaranteed by the Nigerian constitution accords me the right and privilege to write and express my opinion on this issue, including others affecting my state- Jigawa.
Some people, especially those outside Jigawa State condemned the appointment because of the sheer size of the aides, though no law in the land prohibits a governor from making such appointments, and Governor Badaru is not the first governor to appoint many aides in his cabinet. Previously, there was a governor who appointed over 150 aides.
Some observers also criticized Gov. Badaru for appointing one aide each for his 3 wives, but left to me, I do not see anything wrong with that, as far as they are capable, and can meet the requirements in their job description as well as having what it takes to serve in that capacity.!
It is gender equality; also the appointees will be advising the Governor’s wives, and in return, the wives will advise their husband on issues, especially the girl-childeducation, maternal and infant mortality. Some pundits are of the view that, this will assist the government to revisit the Haifuwa Lafiya Scheme which was introduced by the Sule Lamido administration in the state.
Some people, who are mostly apolitical, questioned the appointment of the Special Assistant on streets light. Well, the motive behind those portfolios may be linked to former Governor Sule Lamido’s wisdom on rural development.
During the Sule Lamido administration, he provided the 27 local government headquarters in the state with street light which made the towns look like big cities.
I extol Governor Badaru for the appointment of special assistants on wheat, rice, crop production (other crops), irrigation, cluster and conflict resolution.
Furthermore, Gov. Badaru should be commended for the appointment of special assistant on the desert encroachment. Climate change is a global issue; serious governments are concerned about it. Moreover, desert encroachment is one of the hazardous environmental issues facing Jigawa State. The special assistant on Drug Abuse and rape will checkmate, reduce or halt social vices and immorally in the land, especially among the young generation. How I wish, the governor also appointed an aide on flood and water disaster, which is also one of the environmental problems facing Jigawa State, both in urban and rural areas, especially farming communities.
In a nutshell, we hope the government will give all necessary cooperation, to all the aides in order to discharge their responsibilities diligently. We hope sensitization workshops, seminars and other events would be organised in order to educate, enlighten, entertain, encourage and intimate the general public, most times through the media (print, electronics, online and social/ new media) on the need to know why Jigawa State requires these political appointments and how the SAs will discharge their responsibilities
Lastly, we hope and pray the appointees will be God fearing, committed, dedicated, upright and up and doing. What gives people hope and meaning is the pursuit of meaningful and noble purpose. And one of the simplest and easiest ways to change your people and the society is to assist or help others achieve their dreams.
Stephen R. Covey once said “The environment you fashion out of your thought, beliefs, ideas, philosophy is the only climate you will ever live in. The key is not spending time, but in investing in it” Jigawa of my dreams.
Adamu Muhd Usman wrote from Kafin-Hausa, Jigawa State amu3333@ yahoo.com