Yero, new Kaduna Gov, nominates Bajoga as deputy
Kaduna State Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero has nominated a former Nigerian ambassador to Poland and Czech Republic, Ambassador Nuhu Audu Nyam Bajoga, to fill the vacant office of the deputy governor.
Yero who became governor after the Late Governor Patrick Yakowa was killed in a chopper crash in Bayelsa State two weeks ago, announced the nomination in Kaduna through the state's information commissioner Alhaji Saidu Adamu,.
The commissioner said Bajoga's name had been forwarded to the state House of Assembly for approval.
The commissioner said Governor Yero had consulted with all stakeholders in the state before making the nomination.
Bajoga, who hails from Kwoi, the headquarters of Jaba Local Government, is the state chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The deputy governor's seat became vacant following the death of Governor Ibrahim Yakowa in a military helicopter crash in Bayelsa State two weeks ago and the ascension of Yero, his deputy as governor.
The members of the State House of Assembly have been on recess and will reconvene on January 10, 2013 to screen the governor's nominee.
It was however reported by a cross section of Nigeria media that , various groups from the southern Kaduna area, mostly youth groups, were disenchanted with Bajoga's choice, on the grounds of old age and perceived inability to represent the interests of the area.
One such group, the Coalition of Youths Group in Southern Kaduna, held a press conference soon as Bajoga's name was announced, pledging to protest his nomination until the governor replaced the former ambassador with more acceptable choice of the Southern Kaduna people, who are largely Christians. National public relations officer of Southern Kaduna People's Union (SOKAPU), Nasiru Jagaba, at the press briefing said the youths of southern Kaduna rejected the nomination of Bajoga because he was an old man with no political weight in the area.
'We want a young and vibrant politician from our area that understands our predicaments as youths,' Jagaba said.
Also, in an open letter to President Goodluck Jonathan, a group, Concerned Southern Kaduna PDP Youth Forum, appealed to the president to intervene in the ongoing plans to destroy the party in Kaduna State.
In the letter signed by Mr. Barnabas Samuel, the youth are asking for the intervention of President Jonathan.
'In as much as we love to work with Dr. Ramalan Mukhtar Yero, our governor, we could never accept Bajoga, a grandfather whose 21 years difference with the governor is considered an attempt at undermining the God-given abilities found in our communities with able gentlemen and women that can represent us well,' the group said.