The new governor of Sokoto State, Dr Ahmed Aliyu, has nullified the appointments of 23 permanent secretaries and 15 directors general made by his predecessor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal.
The governor, who assumed office around noon Tuesday, also suspended the 14 traditional rulers recently appointed by his predecessor.
The traditional rulers include 13 district heads and the newly appointed Magajin Garin Sokoto, Alhaji Sama’ila Abdulkadir Mujeli.
The district heads are Alhaji Aliyu Abubakar III (Ciroman Sokoto) and District Head of Sokoto North LGA; Alhaji Buhari Dahiru Tambuwal, Sarkin Tambuwal; Alhaji Ibrahim Dasuki Muhammadu Maccido (Barayan Zaki) and District Head of Sokoto South LGA: Alhaji Ibrahim Bello Dansarki, Marafan Tangaza; and Alhaji Bello Sani Torankawa, Sarkin Yamman Torankawa.
Others are Alhaji Sule Ajiya Kalambaina, Sarkin Gabas Kalambaina; Alhaji Atiku Bello Ayama, Bunun Gongono; Abubakar Buhari Salame, Sarkin Arewan Salame; Alhaji Aminu Aliyu Ibrahim, Sarkin Yamman Balle; Malam Isah Aliyu Rarah, Sarkin Gabas Rarah; the Sarkin Kudun Yar’tsakkuwa, Tukur Sansani; and Alhaji Mukhtari Muhammad Tukur Ambarura, Sarkin Gabas Ambarura.
No reason was given for their suspension but a member of the transition committee who sought anonymity hinged their suspension on the role they allegedly played during the last general elections in the state.
“Their appointment was not in the best interest of their people. It is just a kind of appreciation because of their support to PDP during the last general elections in the state,” the source said.
Daily Trust learned that some of the districts had been without district heads for years. For instance, Balle District Head was killed about six years ago by bandits while Tambuwal district, the hometown of the former governor, had been without a head since the death of the last one about four years ago.
The spokesman of the governor, Abubakar Bawa, while briefing newsmen at the government house, said their appointments would be reviewed in due course in line with the interest of the public.
The governor also nullified the recent renaming of some academic institutions after some prominent people by his predecessor.
Daily Trust recalls that the state House of Assembly had earlier rejected the changes on the ground that its approval was not sought.
The affected institutions are Sokoto State University which was renamed Sheikh Abdullahi Fodiyo University; the newly created Sokoto State University of Education which was named after the late President Shehu Shagari and the Shehu Shagari College of Education which was renamed Sultan Ibrahim Dasuki College of Education.
Others are the Sokoto State University Teaching Hospital which was named after Sultan Muhammadu Abubakar Sa’ad while the College of Agriculture, Wurno, and College of Legal and Islamic Studies, Wamakko were renamed Shehu Malami and Halliru Binji, respectively, among others.
The governor also nullified appointments to the governing boards of the colleges.
Bawa also announced the dissolution of the local government areas’ sole administrators appointed by Tambuwal, directing them to hand over to the directors of administration with immediate effect.
The governor also dissolved all governing boards of parastatals other than statutory boards and revoked all land allocations made by his predecessor.
He suspended the recent auction of government assets which he said would be revisited.
Meanwhile, the governor has appointed Ibrahim Umar Arkillah as the acting Director General of Sokoto State Pilgrims Welfare Agency. (Daily Trust)
