Politics
GOVERNOR Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State recently ordered the termination of the appointments of more than 200 special assistants in his state. According to former aides, the move was to afford the political appointees the chance to make an honourable choice of their partisan directions and allegiances, considering the political developments in the state.
Consequently, the sack affected only personal and special assistants, not advisers, as has been erroneously insinuated.
The former aides made clarification because of an insinuation that 252 special advisers and special assistants appointed by the governor had resigned their appointments.
A report attributed to one Alhaji Ibrahim Haske, a former special adviser to the governor, who described himself as ‘spokesman for all the aides,’ claimed at a news conference in Sokoto on Sunday, August 19, that the affected aides returned to the All Progressives Congress, APC, instead of working under a Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, government.
But a statement by a group of former aides said that the so-called press conference and the claims by Haske, were not only false but were symbolic of the brinkmanship that that the political APC had come to be known for.
“Ever since the publication of the false news in sections of the media, some of the prominent former aides of Tambuwal, have come out to state the facts as they really are,” the group said.
The statement issued in the evening on Sunday, August 19, was jointly signed by Umar Bature, a former special adviser; Mustafa Shehu, a former SSA media; Maiakwai Abubakar, a former SSA; Aliyu Inname, a former SA Contributory Health Scheme, and Bashir Gidado, a former SA PPP, on behalf of 200 others , said: “We write to inform the public that contrary to a statement credited to us that we resigned from the services of the Sokoto State government, all appointees were actually relieved of their appointments by His Excellency Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, in his effort to reinvigorate government operations and services .”
According to the former aides, “The decision was officially communicated by the director general, Media & Public Affairs to the Governor Malam Abu Shekara.
“We have accepted the decision in good faith and expressed our sincere gratitude and appreciation to His Excellency for giving us the opportunity to serve our dear state in different capacities.
“While we look forward to future opportunities to serve the state on similar or other capacities, we wish to place on record that we are solidly behind the decision of His Excellency, Gov Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, CFR, and all of us to join the PDP as the only viable political vehicle to achieve the goals of the people of Sokoto State.
It must also be explained that through the week, a number of SAs, engaged actively in the APC and loyal to Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko had reported to the secretary to the state Government, SSG’s, office to claim their salaries. It is in the light of this dishonourable conduct that Governor Tambuwal sought to offer them a chance to make an honourable exit.
The declaration of resignation by the SAs is therefore, an unfortunate afterthought and an attempt to grandstand.
– Aug. 20, 2018 @ 14:25 GMT |
Tags: Why Tambuwal sacks 252 aides
