Borno Governor Denies Reports about Alleged Nomination of Chibok Principal as Commissioner
The Borno State government on Thursday denied an online media report on the alleged nomination of Asabe Kwambura, the principal of Government Secondary School (GSS) Chibok, as a commissioner by Gov. Kashim Shettima.
Mallam Isa Gusau,
the Special Adviser on Communications Strategy to Shettima, in a
statement in Maiduguri, described the report as`”a mischievous joke”.
“In
the last one week, we have noticed a very strange information being
circulated by some online media platforms claiming that Shettima had
nominated Asabe Kwambura, the Principal of GSS, Chibok for the post of
the Commissioner of Education.
We
completely ignored the report for what it was, a mischievous joke and
cheap blackmail that did
not deserve any response, as it was mainly
‘trending’ on the social media,” he said.
Gusau lamented that it was sad that some media organizations had lifted the report without verifying the source.
“However,
we noticed, and most unfortunately, that in recent days, some otherwise
respected F.M stations reported such a joke without even making the
slightest attempt to cross check with officials in Borno, or at least,
find out from journalists or media houses that have correspondents
resident in the state, who are in position to have accurate information
about the activities of the state. To start with, neither a president
nor a governor nominates anyone as Minister or Commissioner for a
particular ministry.
The
usual practice is to nominate someone as Minister or Commissioner
designate for screening by lawmakers, and it is only after nominees are
approved by lawmakers and administered oaths of offices and allegiance,
that they are allocated Ministries.
In
Government procedures across Nigeria, only Special Advisers, Heads of
Federal or State Government establishments, commissioners in commissions
and certain chief executives, are announced by a President or Governor,
stating their specific responsibilities at the time of their nomination
for screening by lawmakers, or in some cases, they are out-rightly
sworn in without lawmakers’ screening, depending on constitutional
requirements.
Therefore, to
say that Governor Kashim Shettima has nominated Mrs Kwambura as
Commissioner for Education, and that she was to undergo screening at the
Borno State House of Assembly, simply indicates crass ignorance on
government procedures, and which goes to confirm that the story was
indeed nothing more than a joke that should only be told during comedy
shows to entertain audience,” he said.
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