The colour of Bindowo’s cabinet

The elite team of Adamawa people who would lead the state out of darkness under Governor Bindowo Jibrilla’s watch has been unveiled. The list of 22 “angels” was made public on Wednesday evening. The governor sent it from Dubai. But others argue that the list had been under scrutiny at the assembly since a fortnight […]

The elite team of Adamawa people who would lead the state out of darkness under Governor Bindowo Jibrilla’s watch has been unveiled. The list of 22 “angels” was made public on Wednesday evening. The governor sent it from Dubai. But others argue that the list had been under scrutiny at the assembly since a fortnight ago.
Whichever is the case, the list reveals an interesting dimension to the determination of Bindowo’s administration to excel. To the governor’s credit, he has chosen an unmistakable hybrid. His nominees comprise of first-class administrators, top-notch finance people, experienced media practitioners, sons and daughters of the high and mighty, scions of traditional institutions, Queens, a few surprise figures, some unknown quantities, representatives of the business community, a serial governorship contestant, Nyako’s diehards and some with probable cause to be called hidden talents.
With a pinch of circumspection, one expects much from these people. In this era, being called to serve alone, bestows on one the status of an angel. Under the change mantra, it is unkind to expect those selected to lead a state to underperform. They must be above board. And Adamawa has been particularly backward, in all facets of development.
Taken separately Kaletapwa George Farauta from Numan had established a reputation for thrifty organization. It is believed that she represents the Numan traditional council. She headed the SUPEB under the acting period of Governor Umaru Fintiri where her ability evolved unquestionably. Another likely representative of the traditional institution, apart from the son of the Lamido of Adamawa, who is believed to have won his nomination in his personal capacity, for his efforts in the 2015 election, is Shanti Sashi Victoria, who was once married to the chief of Mbula.
The Atiku group, which is wresting Bindowo from the grip of the Nyako dynasty, is believed to have fifty per cent of the nominees. The Former Vice president’s daughter, Fati Atiku Abubakar, Hammaji Jeberu Bulus, Ahmed Rufai Abubakar, Umar Iya Daware, Augustine Ayuba, Lilian Nabe Kayode, Idris Abubakar Magaji, Abubakar Idris Girei, Suleiman Aliyu Sambo and Ibrahim Yayaji Mijinyawa who was knocked out of the governorship contest twice by Bindowo while standing as Atiku’s candidate for the governorship represent Atiku.
The rival Nyako group which had demanded eight slots was denied its wishes. In the twilight of the administration, Senator Abdulaziz Nyako was reported to have approached the governor with a demand for eight commissionership slots but was rebuffed. The governor’s unpalatable objection to the request caused disaffection between the former allies. This had veered Bindow into Atiku’s corner of the ring. The Nyakos have to content themselves with four slots: the former governor’s media aide, Ahmed Ibrahim Sajo, Suleiman Aliyu Sambo, Abubakar Aliyu Magaji and Isa Barima Salihu.
Even ministries to be assigned the nominees are being predetermined from behind the throne. For example, it cannot be a coincidence that the list of commissioners is coming on the heels of the governor’s and the former Vice president Atiku Abubakars stop-over in Dubai. While there, the governor had met a team of businessmen and discussed the establishment of a hospital in Yola in a promise to turn Mubi to London and Yola to Dubai.
Atikus daughter is the only medical doctor among the governor’s nominees. So presumably the health ministry would experience her spell. Another of Atiku’s nominees will hold the state’s finances and already there are feelers that the Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General who was the first to be appointed by the administration is said to have strong ties to the Atiku clan.
In abiding by the affirmative action, there are four females on the list. This represents 35 per cent of the cabinet of 23 people. In true appreciation of the Adamawa potential, they also measure distinctively with the qualities of the men. Of the four women is a lawyer, a doctor and administrator and a teacher.
What is unmistakably amiss, however, is the contradiction with the known philosophy of this (Buhari’s) government. It professes to uphold monetary rectitude. It advocates a slim government. The president himself, President Muhammadu Buhari, is rumored to be pondering ways of working with fewer ministers than the Constitution stipulates. But the number of commissioner-nominees submitted to the Adamawa State House of Assembly is inadvisably on the high side. Twenty-three in all, which undercut Bindowo’s earlier interview in which he declared that he would work with fewer than ten commissioners to cut costs. With twenty three nominees, many are wondering how this translates to prudence, except the governor is paying his commissioners only half of their wages and allowances. Writing on this obvious lack of consideration for the resources of the state, Zayyad Mohammed, a publicist, described the governor’s action as an expediency that only occurs “when politics overrides policy.”
Barring the people’s fears that there is a preponderance of Atiku people on the list, which argument is quickly pontificated with an 8-kilometer road to Faro Bottling Company, also owned by the former Vice president, which was awarded by Bindowo, anyone would argue that the governor has found the formula for A-Team Adamawa. However, some people who see nothing strange in the composition of the team and would quickly disapprove of the afore-said comparison wonder who would ply the road if not the Adamawa people. They posit that the road may be the governor’s way of ensuring the safety of the hundreds of Adamawa citizens who would be seeking their bread at Faro Bottling Company. It could also be government’s incentive for the former Vice presidents effort on employment. With a colourful cabinet like this one, Bindowo must now hit the ground running.