BY BABA AHMED, LAFIA – Barring last minute changes, Governor Umaru Tanko Al-makura of Nasarawa state has concluded plans to reshuffle his cabinet following the intention of four serving members of the State Executive Council to resign their appointments to enable them contest the 2019 general elections.
Al-makura is expected to make adjustments to accommodate the vacancies to be left by the commissioners who will be testing their grounds in the forth coming general elections.
Sources close to Government House, Lafia said the governor will inject new people in his cabinet that will wind up his second term in office taking into consideration of his senatorial ambition for the Nasarawa south senatorial district.
It was gathered that names of possible replacement have been penciled down and will be sent to the State House of Assembly this week before his trip to Cuba.
Already politicians have started lobbying to fill the vacancies to be created by the exit of the commissioners which might likely affect
other cabinet members who are not contesting.
The affected commissioners are namely those of Lands from Obi local government area, Mr. Sonny Agassi, that of Women Affairs, Ms Mary Nwogulu, who is from Nasarawa Eggon Local Government Area of the state, as well as Tanko Zubairu, who is the commissioner for Commerce from Doma and his counterpart from Keffi Local Government Area, Engr Mohammed Wada, who is the commissioner for Works.
Agassi, who has served as commissioners for Lands three times since 2011 has already commenced consultation and commissioned his campaign office situated along Jos road, Lafia the state capital.
Agassi will be contesting for Lafia-Obi Federal House of Representative constituency against the incumbent member, Hon Sarki Dahiru who is also seeking re-election on the platform of the All
Progressives Congress (APC).
Mrs Nwogulu the only woman in the cabinet is set to contest for senate for the Nasarawa North senatorial district. She is coming into the race for the second time as her posters has taken over Nasarawa Eggon Local Government, being the headquarters of the Nasarawa North senatorial zone.
In 2015, she contested for Wamba/Nasarawa /Eggon/Akwanga House of Representatives seat but lost to the present Deputy Governor, Mr Silas Agara at the primaries before he was picked as running mate to Governor Al-makura
Similarly, Wada, the Works’ commissioner will be contesting for the Keffi East State constituency in the State House of Assembly. Even though, he is yet to openly commence campaign or open an office, sources confided in Forefront that he has already consented to his supporters in private who insisted that he joined the race.
There are strong indications he will be declaring next week in Keffi as one of his supporters disclosed.
In the same vein, Tanko Zubairu, who recently joined the cabinet during the last reshuffle has indicated interest to contest for the Awe-Keana
-Doma House of Representative seat currently occupied by Ogoshi Onawo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He was cited last week in company of supporter’s addressing a gathering in Keana Local Government Area of the state soliciting for support and understanding.
