Unveiling Uba Sani’s dream team

In Nigeria, the phrase has been overused, time-worn and cliched, but it still resonates with the media and some electorates. Usually, elected officials and sundry appointees promise to ‘hit the ground running’ upon assuming office. Indeed, this self-imposed covenant, often made at the hustings, puts them under a lot of pressure from the very beginning.

In May, governors were sworn into offices and immediately, some took off at jet speed, demolishing structures, constituting cabinets and appointing various heads of agencies in the last two months. Sometimes, in the euphoria of the moment, some Excellencies went above their pay grades, by encroaching on exclusive reserves.

Indeed, Governor Uba Sani campaigned on continuity and consolidation and so far, he has lived up to that credo. The governor, without playing to the gallery, has continued with the past administration’s legacies. Specifically, Malam Nasir el-Rufai, his predecessor, anchored appointments on competence, gender and demographic inclusion. As a result, youths and several women held prominent positions in the last administration. For example, the deputy governor, head of civil service, attorney general, commissioners of health, education, housing and urban development, as well as human services and social development, were all women. Likewise, women headed various departments and agencies of government. So far, Governor Uba Sani has proceeded in that direction.

Last Tuesday, the governor transmitted the names of commissioners to the Kaduna State House of Assembly and four women made the list of 14. Specifically, Shizzer Nasara Bada, Hajiya Umma Kaltume Ahmad, Hajiya Rabi Salisu, and Patience Fakai made the grade. In addition, Phoebe Yayi Sukai and Hajiya Balaraba Aliyu Inuwa, as administrators of metropolitan authorities, will be members of the state executive council. Besides, Hajiya Sakinatu Hassan Idris and Hajiya Habiba Shekarau are clerks of the state assembly and head of service respectively.

Similarly, the list has technocrats and intellectuals, like the El Rufai era, with impressive credentials to boot. Ex-banker, former lecturer and grassroots politician, Professor Muhammad Sani Bello’s rich pedigree spans the financial sector and Ivory Tower. Likewise, Malam Murtala Mohammad Dabo, an ex-general manager at Zenith Bank, joined the El-Rufai administration in 2015, and was at various times permanent secretary at the ministry of finance, permanent secretary of the Public Service Office, chairman of the Fiscal Responsibility Commission and special adviser on economic matters. In addition, Barrister Sule Shu’aibu is a versatile lawyer with decades of private practice to his credit. More so, he was NBA chairman of the Kaduna Branch and the adviser on legal matters to the APC Campaign Council. An erudite scholar, Professor Benjamin Gugong lectured at the Kaduna State University and was a member of the transition committee.

Significantly, the list of prospective commissioners, unlike in the past, comprises politicians with links to the grassroots. In particular, there is Alhaji Abubakar Buba, the chairman of Lere local government and Kaduna state ALGON chairman. In addition, a veteran of Sabon Gari politics, Abdullahi Aminu Shagali, former speaker of the Kaduna House of Assembly and the immediate past political adviser in the El-Rufai government, is also on the list of nominees. Similarly, there is also Alhaji Sadiq Mamman Lagos, a two-time chairman of Kaduna north local government, on the proposed list of the Kaduna state executive council.

Remarkably, in line with his SUSTAIN manifesto, Uba Sani’s team comprise key members of the El-Rufai administration who will help with institutional memory, policy formulation and implementation. For instance, Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe remains the deputy governor of Kaduna state. Likewise, Malam Balarabe Abbas Lawal, a seasoned public servant, retains his position of secretary to the state government. In addition, Shehu Usman Muhammad, former permanent secretary, ex-council chairman and commissioner of education in the past government, is now a counsellor on political matters. Similarly, Samuel Peter Aruwan, the immediate past commissioner of internal security, is the new administrator of the Kaduna Capital Territory Administration.

Expectedly, Uba Sani has his core team, prominent of whom is Liman Sani Kila, a retired comptroller of immigration and the present chief of staff. In addition, there is Yusuf Hamisu Abubakar, the best graduating BUK law student in 1988, a commissioner in the Third Republic and former executive secretary of PTDF. Similarly, among the long list, is the governor’s principal private secretary, Professor Bello Ayuba, a journalist-turned-academic, former head of the Business Administration department, and ex-deputy dean of the School of Postgraduate Studies, University of Abuja.

Indeed, the Uba Sani administration is the most unique in recent years as it consists of young and old, past and present political gladiators, as well as dyed-in-the-wool politicians and seasoned technocrats, including a good women representation. No doubt, leveraging this diversity will make Kaduna state a haven of peace, a favourable investment destination and a paragon of development.

Musa was the director of strategic communication of the Kaduna APC Campaign Council