SPOTTED: Confusion as presidency’s X account lists two executive secretaries for SMDF

The presidency’s graphic image on social media has listed two executive secretaries for the Solid Minerals Development Fund/Presidential Artisanal Gold Mining Initiative (SMDF/PAGMI).

On Friday, President Bola Tinubu appointed heads of some government agencies in a rejig of a handful of parastatals.

The National Universities Commission (NUC), the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC), and the New Partnership for Africa Development (NEPAD) all got new chief executive officers.

According to a statement signed by Bayo Onanuga, the president’s special adviser on information and strategy, Yazid Shehu Umar Danfulani was announced as the executive secretary of SMDF/PAGMI.

However, in a subsequent statement, Onanuga said Tinubu had cancelled the appointment because “there is no vacancy in the agency”.

Fatima Shinkafi was therefore reappointed as SMDF’s executive secretary.

But on Saturday, the graphic image shared on the official X account of the presidency listed both Shinkafi and Danfulani as the executive secretaries of SMDF/PAGMI.

INTRIGUES AROUND DANFULANI’S APPOINTMENT

TheCable understands that Danfulani’s appointment was orchestrated by Bello Matawalle, the minister of state for defence.

Danfulani was the commissioner of commerce and industry when Matawalle was the governor of Zamfara state.

Sources privy to the development informed TheCable that the minister used his influence to shoehorn his former employee into the list of appointments.

Dale Alake, whose solid minerals ministry supervises SMDF/PAGMI, would later get wind of the development and intervene to ensure the reversal of Danfulani’s appointment.

A few hours later, the presidency made a U-turn, and Danfulani’s appointment was withdrawn.

AREWA YOUTH GROUP PROTESTS

Meanwhile, the Arewa Youth Development Ambassadors (AYDA) has kicked against the cancellation of Danfulani’s appointment.

The AYDA, led by Abubakar Abubakar, spoke to NAN in Abuja on Saturday.

Abubakar said the reversal represents sabotage of the efforts of those who worked for Tinubu’s election victory.

“Aside from using his influence to galvanise massive youth support, he ensured a total victory for the party’s presidential candidate,” he said.

“The group believes without an iota of a doubt that it is the best appointment that Mr President has made in recent times, especially as a reward for the youth of northern Nigeria.”

The AYDA president described Danfulani as one of the most influential youths in northern Nigeria.