Governor of Gombe state, Alhaji Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya shocked many party faithful Wednesday as he failed to announce any appointment hours after he was sworn into office.
Expectation had been high that he would make appointments after being sworn in at the Pantami Stadium but the people were disappointed he made no such appointment in his inaugural speech.
According to some residents, who spoke to our correspondent, they had expected the Governor to at least appoint his chief of staff, chief press secretary or the secretary to the State Government.
Some said the governor had enough time since the announcement of his victory on March 9th, 2019 to decide or make consultations about who he would appoint to serve in sensitive positions.
A resident Garba Mohammed: “even though the governor has enough time to make appointments, what we have witnessed in Gombe in the past is that these appointments were made during the governor’s inaugural speech”.
All efforts to get government reaction proved abortive as none of the governor’s political associates were willing to comment on the issue.
However, some pronouncements made by the governor elicited loud applause included the dissolution of the 11 local government council executives and the suspension of all appointments and contracts awarded by the former governor Ibrahim Dan kwambo barely two months to the end of his administration.
“As part of the resolve to re-engineer the local governments for purposeful service delivery, we shall take appropriate steps to ensure local government elections are conducted to usher in elected chairmen and councilors at the earliest appropriate time in line with the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”.
“In order to avoid any vacuum, secretaries of local government councils are hereby directed to take charge of the affairs of their respective local governments”.
“We are equally aware of the reckless award of contracts embarked upon recently. We have also been alerted on the massive illegal disposals of government properties.
“We know the irresponsible carving out, allocations and sale of plots of lands to cronies. We know of all the atrocities being committed. Be rest assured that we shall take steps to address all illegalities.
“Perpetrators and illegal beneficiaries will be held to account. In the meantime, all appointments, contracts and allocations made or entered into by the state government and local government councils from 10th day of March, 2019 to date are hereby suspended”, Governor Inuwa declared.
