From Tunde Suleman, Minna
A lecturer at the Bowen University, Iwo, Osun state, Dr Yusuf Larry Ayuba has accused Governor Abubakar Sani Bello of Niger State and the All Progressive Congress (APC) of indulging in nepotism, ethnicity and marginalisation, insisting that the overwhelming vote for change in the state should not be turned into family imposition at the expense of fairness, justice and equity.
Ayuba stated this in a statement made available to journalists in Minna as he lambasted the APC for attempting to suppress the truth in a recent statement issued by its state publicity secretary, Mr. Jonathan Vatsa.
The party had in the statement descended on Senator David Umoru of the Niger East Senatorial District for crying out loud against the marginalization of his district in the appointments made by the governor and the need to redress the injustice.
The lecturer however carpeted the party for allegedly being biased in handling the complaints from Zone B of the state adding that, “we all voted overwhelmingly for change and not family imposition. So we expect our leaders to be fair and objective over perceived injustices. The APC as a party does not belong to a family. I personally perceive marginalization in the light of what the senator said as Zone B should have produced the SSG, at least to show fairness, equity and acceptance that change has come”.
According to him, “simply because Senator Umaru has voiced his mind and observed the imbalances in the appointments of officials so far done by the Governor Bello administration does not mean he is alone in feeling that way. Many of us currently in the Diaspora and even those within Niger State with close watch over government activities share the senator’s position on the marginalization of zone B”.
He insisted that the office of the Governor, his Deputy and SSG, were key positions that should have been seriously considered based on zoning, adding that there was no fairness when in the face of the existence of diverse ethnicity and socio-religious presence, the governor and the SSG will come from the same ward as if there are no other competent persons from other zones.
“For God’s sake, this is democracy; things must be done according to the rule of law. A government taunting the embers of change should be seen exhibiting such in its appointments. I am of the view that true change goes beyond nepotism, sectionalism, inconsideration for others. We cannot fan the embers of Nepotism and expect that people will not talk. Government must take everyone along and listens to every opinion so as to create balance and impartiality in the polity”, he said.
He warned that very serious crack may come to the party unless the governor accepts to correct the imbalance adding that Niger APC must learn from what is happening at the federal level and how the President sees everyone as his and him belonging to nobody.
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