KATSINA STATE CABINET: 4 CPC MEMBERS, 4 EX-COMMISSIONERS MAKE LIST

Speculations on the possibility of Governor Ibrahim Shema of Katsina State appointing some members of the opposition into his cabinet have been laid to rest, as no fewer than four members of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) have been named as commissioners.

Shema forwarded the list of the nominees to the  House of Assembly for screening and approval through the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mukhtar Ibrahim.

The first son of Senator Mamman Danmusa, CPC chieftain and Second Republic Senate Deputy President, Jamilu Mohammed Danmusa, 40, Hussaini Yammama Malumfashi, a close confidant of Senator Lado Danmarke, CPC governorship standard bearer, were top on the list made public on the floor of the state assembly before the commencement of the screening.

Other CPC chieftains who made the two slots given to the party, include Aliyu Abdulmumini Abdullahi Daura and Tijani Auwalu Zango. A female don, Dr. Asmau Yakubu, and four ex-commissioners in the first tenure of the state governor, Adamu Babangida, Musa        Adamu Funtua, Musa Nashuni and Sani Hamisu Makana, made the list submitted.

The new comers in the proposed cabinet include Prof. Aminu Kado, Abdullahi Ibrahim Talba, Mustapha Maikudi Kankia, Bishir Yusuf, Ibrahim Safana, Nasidi Mohammed Danladi Gida Sani Batagarawa.

All the commissioner-nominees were screened and approved by the state legislators in two batches.

Hon. Umar Gwajo, Speaker of the house, who presided over the two sessions, said, the expeditious approval of the nominees was to enable the governor to accomplish the mandate of transforming the state.

Contrary to expectations, the PDP members in the house who contributed to the House deliberations during the screening all commended the governor for choosing the people that would play vital role in moving the state forward.

Indications that the screening would not run into storming session emerged when the PDP members, who opened deliberations on each nominee, spoke glowingly on the capacity of the CPC faithful and others.

Meanwhile, the house unanimously granted the governor, approval to appoint 18 special assistants.

In the opinion of the Majority Leader, AbdullahI Shaui'bu Tandama, the resolution would facilitate the governor's quest to provide more dividends of democracy across the state.

It could not be ascertained at press time how many CPC faithful would become special assistants to the governor although sources indicate that no fewer than eight slots may have been given to the opposition.