- Special Adviser on Youth and Sports, Aliyu Yusuf Imam also fired
BY OUR CORRESPONDENT – For threatening judges currently handling matters at the Governorship Elections Petition Tribunal (GEPT) in Kano state, the Commissioner of Land and Physical Planning, Adamu Kibiya, has become jobless with the tag of a former member of the State Executive Council (SEC) now attached to his name.
Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf sent packing Commissioner Kibiya seen in a video that has gone viral on social media, urging the judges to choose between their lives and their work while delivering judgment.
In the controversial video clip, the Commissioner was heard saying during a protest organised by members of the ruling New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) in the state; “People voted for us and some people are attempting to do injustice. We want to tell the judges that we will not accept this.
“Any judge that is willing to deprive us of our rights will regret it. Whatever will happen, we won’t care…,”
However, addressing journalists at Government House, Kano, on Friday, Commissioner of Information, Baba Halilu Dantiye, said the Governor had directed the immediate dismissal of Kibiya as a Commissioner in the State
According to Dantiye, the Governor had also approved the sack of his Special Adviser on Youth and Sports, Aliyu Yusuf Imam, popularly known as ‘Ogan Boye’ over unguarded utterances.
Reports indicated that Oga Boye recently made “unguarded and disrespectful statements against Vice-President Kashim Shettima and the Information Commissioner said the utterances made by the two former aides of the government do not in any way represent the position of the Kano State Government.
Dantiye told journalists; “While condemning the unfortunate threat to the Judges and the disrespect shown to the VP, we wish to make it categorically clear that the views expressed do not represent the official position of the State Government under the leadership of His Excellency Alh Abba Kabir Yusuf.
“It is important to emphasize that neither of the two officials has any clearance to speak on behalf of the government and none of them serves as the official spokesperson of the government.
“Kano State Government under HE Abba Kabir Yusuf holds the judiciary in very high esteem and expresses a tremendous amount of respect to justices and all judicial officers. Besides the good understanding between the government and people of Kano State and Vice President Kashim Shettima, the Kano State Governor, HE Alh. Abba Kabir Yusuf deeply respects the person and office of the Vice President His Excellency Alh. Kashim Shettima GCON and will not condone any lota of disrespect on the Vice President or any other Nigerian leader.”
The Information Commissioner also said the government has further directed that “henceforth, no official of the government should speak on any matter outside the purview of their MDAs without express clearance and permission.
“Henceforth, Unguarded and inflammatory statements will not be condoned. The Ministry of Information is directed to ensure that all media outlets in the state especially radio stations are complying with the extant guidelines provided by regulatory agencies.”
“While expressing our faith in the judicial process, believing very strongly that justice will prevail at all the levels of judicial processes, the Kano State Government wishes to call on all residents in the state to remain law-abiding and continue to go about their normal businesses without any hindrances”.
