GOMBE: END OF A DILLY DALLY

BY JOHN BULUS
FINALLY Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo of Gombe State has come to terms with the political realities of his government by assembling a team of commissioners to steer his vision of transforming the state.

For a long while, the governor was under heavy criticisms and intense pressures to form his cabinet. When he took the oath of office as governor on May 29, 2011, he took a decision not to rush things until he became familiar with the nuances of politics. He said on the day of his inauguration, 'we would take adequate stock of the situation (of things on ground in Gombe State) within the next four weeks, and we will come out and tell the good people of Gombe State clearly the position of things.'

However, the governor dilly dallied for almost eight months in office before appointing his cabinet. He could only set up some committees to review the activities of the ministries and other agencies to ascertain areas of improvement in the first two months in office. But to the chagrin of many, he recoiled into his shell after receiving the reports.

Amid questions over his leadership class, the governor came with a defense: 'We have to disabuse the minds of people.

The constitution is very clear, the responsibility to run Gombe State is on my neck, not on the neck of an adviser or special assistant, who is using a delegated power of mine, and I have to be sure of power that I'm delegating before I delegate to you.

Different approach
I cannot be a new person and delegate what I don't know to a person who doesn't know. So, that is why we have taken some time. But I am sure, there are some people who form cabinets, the first day, the second day, the third day, but it's an entirely different approach. This is my own approach, so that we will chart clear mandate for any person that we are taking.'

Saturday, December 24, 2011 was the day Dankwambo took a walk down to the path of history. Ordinarily, swearing in of new Commissioners is usually an event that could have taken place either at the New Banquet Hall or the Council Chambers of the Government House, but the Governor shifted the venue to the10,000 capacity, ultra modern, FIFA-rated International Stadium built by the previous administration in Pantami, Gombe.

Not even the swearing -in of the new Deputy Governor, Mr. Tha'anda Jason Rubainu, another appointee of Dankwambo, who took the place of late Mr. David Place Albashi, who died in November 2011 from auto crash injuries along Gombe_Yola road was staged at the stadium. As calculated, the events attracted people from the length and breadth of the state who emptied themselves into the stadium for the event. On the whole, 19 new commissioners were sworn in.

The State House of Assembly had on Thursday, December 22, 2011 sat and expressly screened the nominees. According to investigations by Vanguard, the House did not intend to hold a session on that day but had to do in deference to the governor. Indeed, the exercise was hitch free as none of the nominees was asked any question by the members of the House. In fact, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Inuwa Garba told correspondents after the screening exercise that he was satisfied with the way the honourable members carried out the screening of most of the nominees whom he described as technocrats.

Among those sworn in as Commissioners were the daughter of Emir of Gombe, Hajiya Fatima Shehu Abubakar. Her appointment, many said confirm the close relationship between Dankwambo and the emir.

Similarly, two others widely seen as 'chip of the old bloc' from Goje's administration made the list.

They were Alhaji Buba Biri and Aishatu M. B. Ahmed. While the former was Goje's last commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, the latter superintended the affairs of the Education Ministry.

Also sworn in was Rabenson Wasa, the immediate past chairman of Biliri Local Council. State. But for the hire_wire intrigues that characterized his arrest and detention by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) last January before the PDP primary, Wasa would have become the Deputy Governor of the State. He was anointed by the powers_that_be at the time to serve as the running mate to Dankwambo. A protégé of former Governor Goje, Wasa served as the Chairman of Biliri Local Government both in elected and appointive capacities throughout Goje's tenure of eight years.

However, both events -inauguration of the new deputy governor and swearing_in of commissioners were not without some behind_the _scene intrigues. The first was that they came at a time speculations were rife that some powerful people in the state were working to compel the Governor to form the State Executive Council. This was consequent upon insinuations in some quarters that the governor wanted to build his own political dynasty.

This was in the light of the fact that the governor awarded road contracts without cabinet members and appointed Mr. Tha'anda Rubainu, a sexagenarian as his deputy contrary to expectations that he would make a pick from a long list of seasoned politicians and technocrats in the state.

While those who were in the know of the political happenings in the state said it was deliberate to lessen tussles that may arise between the Governor and his deputy in the case of Dankwambo's further political adventures beyond 2015, others think the Governor did not make a mistake in appointing an older man to sharpen his skills.

Meanwhile, this was almost the case with the new commissioners. Odd names made the list. And it leaves one to wonder if the Governor has eventually found the 'quick fixers'. But there is a perception that the appointments toed the line of compensation other than recognizing the factors of merit, technical competence and expertise.

At the swearing_in ceremony, Dakwambo told the new Commissioners: 'I will not watch you from a distance or just allow you to go your way after these appointments. I gave you the appointments and would personally monitor you well'.

He said their priorities would be the recommendations of the 11broad-based committees of experts set up at the inception of the administration.'

examined and reviewed all sectors of government and public sectors and gave recommendations on the way forward , adding that the reports had culminated into an action plan, which would be presented to them for full implementation so that in the long run, the administration would coordinated in its implementation of projects.

Meanwhile, a comprehensive roll call of the New Commissioners and their portfolios are as follows: A'ishatu M. B. Ahmad ( Education); Engineer Shehu Hadi, Works and infrastructure; Abdulhamid Ibrahim, Attorney_General and Commissioner for Justice; Honourable Hassan Ahmadu Haruna, Rural Development and Cooperatives; Mr. Rabenson Zebulun Wasa, Housing and Transport while Alhaji Babagoro Yaya Abdulkadir is to take charge of the new ministry of Science and Mineral Development.

Others are Alhaji Ahmed Walama, Local Government and Community Development; Ahaji Jalo Abubakar Bajoga, Special Duties and Inter_governmental Affairs; Alhaji Hamza Sule Wuro_Boki, Trade and Industry; Alhaji Mijinyawa Sani Labaran, Youth empowerment and Poverty alleviation; Hajiya (Mrs.) Fatima Shehu Abubakar, Women Affairs and Social Development; Dr. Kennedy Ishaya, Health and Alhaji Danladi Mohammed Fantame, Economic planning.

Alhaji Hassan Muhammadu was assigned the ministry of Finance; Alhaji Dahiru Buba Biri, Agriculture; Mr. Samuel Bulus, Sports, culture and Tourism Dr. Isa Mohammed Wade, Higher Education while commissioner in the ministry of Water Resources and Environment is Engineer Idris Mohammed Mahdi.

The Deputy Governor is also to oversee the Ministry of Lands and Survey, thus, raising the number of ministries in the state to 20.

With the latest development, Governor Dankwambo appears set drive the economy of the state to an enviable height. How far he will go is a question of time.