Posted by From LUCKY NWANKWERE, FRANCIS AWOWOLE-BROWNE, Abuja, KENNY ASHAKA, Kaduna TONY OSAUZO, Benin City, DAVID MOLOMO, Yola and DESMOND DESMOND MGBOH, Kano, MOSHOOD ADEBAYO, Abeokuta on
President Umaru Yar'Adua and the new state governors on Wednesday set sail for the four-year journey of their administrations, announcing appointments of key officers to help on deck.
President Umaru Yar'Adua and the new state governors on Wednesday set sail for the four-year journey of their administrations, announcing appointments of key officers to help on deck.
The president, who along with the governors was sworn-in on Tuesday, began his first day in office with appointments which saw former Internal Affairs Minister, Ambassador Babagana Kingibe emerging as the new Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).
A career diplomat, Kingibe, who rose to prominence in 1993 as running-mate to the late Chief M.K.O. Abiola in the annulled presidential election of that year replaces Chief Ufot Ekaette.
But a handing over ceremony billed for 3.30 p.m yesterday was later cancelled because Kingibe could not make it.
Informed sources explained that the new SGF was kept away because he was having series of meeting with the president at the Aso Rock Villa. The ceremony has therefore been rescheduled for today at the SGF conference room.
Also appointed is the Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Territory Authority (FCTA), Alhaji Salihu Alhassan, who now oversees affairs at the FCTA pending the reconstitution of the Federal Executive Council.
In a statement signed by the acting spokesman of government, Mr. Musa Aduwak, and made available to State House correspondents in Abuja, the president also announced the retention of the Chief of Staff to the former president, Major-General Abdullahi Mohammed, as well as the National Security Adviser, Major-General Sarki Muktar in their positions.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo had at the valedictory session of his cabinet disclosed that he had been under pressure to prevail on his chief of staff not to go as he had planned, but to remain and help President Yar'Adua stabilise in office.
The four appointments, according to the statement took effect from Wednesday.
In the states, some of the governors dissolved the immediate past executive council and boards of parastatals while others retained some old hands, although assigning them to new duties.
For instance, Governor Osarhiemen Osunbor, of Edo State froze all state accounts and sacked all political appointees left behind by his predecessor, Chief Lucky Igbinedion.
They included special adviser, special assistants, personal assistants, chairmen and members of boards of parastatals and committees.
He also announced the sack of the tax consultants in the state, task forces on internal revenue, as well as other revenue collecting units in ministries and extra-ministerial departments.
A statement signed by the Head of Service, Dr. Simon Imuekemhe, said the governor advised all former commissioners to hand over to their permanent secretaries while board chairmen should do same to their respective chief executives.
Governor Murtala Nyako, in Adamawa appointed the immediate past deputy governor of the state, Alhaji Bello Tukur, as the Chief of Staff, Government House and Chief John Manassah as the secretary to the state government.
Before his appointment, Chief Manassah was the Director General, Nyako Gubernatorial Campaign Organisation and had served as the Secretary to Adamawa State Government under Boni Haruna's administration for five years.
Also appointed by the governor, is Mrs. Esther Usman Wabalai, Adamawa North Senatorial aspirant, in the last election, who becomes Principal Special Assistant to the governor on Liaison with National and International Organizations.
Alhaji Awwal D. Tukur, son of the former Governor of Gongola State and Minister of Industries, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, was appointed Principal Special Assistant to the Governor on Youth Employment.
Alhaji Tukur was among the nine Peoples Democratic Party gubernatorial aspirants in the state and was the chairman of the inauguration and swearing- in committee of Nyako on May 29.
Also among the maiden appointees is Mr. Maxwell Dukku (Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor). Before his appointment, Dukku was Deputy Director News and Current Affairs Adamawa Television Corporation, Yola.
It was emotion galore at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, the official seat of Ogun State government yesterday as Governor Gbenga Daniel dissolved the cabinet.
He also told the state officials that not all of them including special assistants and consultants would make the new cabinet as the people of the state yearned for a change.
Daniel, while addressing them at a valedictory state executive council meeting said that although all of them had performed very well, some would not be coming back as there would have to be changes to rejuvenate the government.
His words: "Four years ago, the people gave us the opportunity to serve and I want to thank all of you because most people in Ogun believes that we have served well.
"The only permanent thing in life is change and I am not sure all of us will make the next cabinet. Our people want change, in fact some of them wanted to change the governor. We have been able to change the environment for better and we have done this not necessarily by changing the system."
In Kano re-elected Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau announced the retention of the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Abdulkarim Hassan and the State Head of Service, Alhaji Zakkariyya Yau.
Speaking during the oath taking ceremony on Wednesday, Shekarau noted that the position of the SSG and the Head of Service were the backbone of any administration, saying that these officers had served the state diligently in the very same capacities in the past four years.
While thanking them for helping him carry the burden of leadership, Shekarau said he is confident that the officers would match the great confidence reposed in them, even as he stated that the future challenges ahead of the regime were even greater, given that the people expected much more from them.
In Kaduna, Governor Mohammed Namadi Sambo settled down to state matters with the appointment of Umar Sani and Sa'ad Yahaya as Director General, Media and Publicity and ADC respectively.
Until his appointment, Sani was a public affairs commentator and politician and headed the media team for the Sambo Campaign Organisation.
The new ADC to the governor was until his appointment, the Police Public Relations Officer for the Kaduna State Police Command.
The Secretary to the State Government, Hassan Hyet, Principal Private Secretary to the governor, Isah Sama'ila and Head of Service, Abubakar Mustapha were retained in their positions.
The governor in his maiden broadcast to the people of the state on Wednesday read the riot act to would-be-trouble makers in the state, saying that his government would not hesitate to use both coercive and peaceful means to ensure a trouble-free state.
According to him, "the relative peace and security currently being enjoyed across the state will be intensified so as to give room for the continuous cordial and harmonious co-existence that is currently being enjoyed by the citizenry.
"Let no one be in doubt as to our determination to pursue this line with vigour and valour through the use of palliatives that will encourage our youths to embark on self help initiatives.
Sambo promised that he would operate a transparent, honest and good government.