Borno dissolves executive council

WITH the obvious tension of partisan politics heating up the politics in Borno and a situation in which some members of the executive council of the state have shown clear interest in vying for political positions, Governor Kashim Shettima has dissolved the executive council.

A statement signed by the Secretary to the state government, SSG Usman Shuwa, said that the dissolution of the executive council was done according to section 192 subsection 2 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The statement said that all commissioners are expected to hand over the reigns of the authority of their respective ministries to their permanent secretaries on or before Friday the 28th of September 2018.

The statement said a new council would be constituted in due course which may be the last for Governor Kashim Shettima before he leaves office in may 29, 2019.

With this dissolution, most of the Commissioners who had interest in running for specific political position at the state and the federal level would be free to go ahead with their ambitions without the dividends of democracy suffering at all.

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Residents who reacted to the development commended the governor for releasing the commissioners who may have risked flouting the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) guidelines on time frame for resignation from their jobs if indeed they had political ambitions of any sorts.

“Water supply had suffered a massive blow in the state capital even as Commissioner of water resources, Zainab Gimba was not always on seat, for instance, to respond to water problems especially at this time when the state is suffering from acute Cholera which has overwhelmed our hospitals” said Modu Usman who spoke to the Nigerian Tribune.

Others commended the Commissioner of justice, Kaka Shehu, who has been overseeing the environment ministry since the death of the Commissioner who has never been replaced, adding that he played a good role to rid the state capital of fake hotels which were breeding grounds for prostitution and drug additions even by agents of Boko Haram.

The Commissioner of Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (RRR), Babagana Zulum, a professor of Engineering, will surely be missed by many residents who told the Nigerian Tribune that the man and his newly created  ministry had given a good account of themselves in the reconstruction of homes for Internally Displaced People (IDP’S) which have become a sore point in the lifespan of this administration which should end within six months.

For the Commissioner of Health, Dr Haruna Mshelia, who is aiming at becoming the senator representing southern Borno, he has a deadly fight waiting for him by incumbent senator Ali Ndume, who has created a niche for himself and his people of southern Borno.

The former Commissioner of works, Adamu Lawan, is one of those who have purchased forms for the position of Governor of Borno state.

He is also a professional banker like the outgoing Governor Kashim Shettima and a staunch member of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Borno state.