By Correspondent in Minna.
The Governor of Niger state, Alhaji Abubarkar Sani Bello has approved the immediate deployment of the Commissioner for Local Government, Community Development and Chieftancy Affairs, Barrister Abdulmalik Sarkin Daji.
The temporary deployment,our Correspondent gathered, is sequeled to the fall out of the election for the 7th Sarkin Sudan of Kontagora, following the demise of the occupant of the stool, late Alhaji Saidu Umar Namaska who died on September 9, 2021.
Our Correspondent recalls that the King makers from Kontagora Emirate on September,19, 2021, conducted the election under the supervision of Sarkin Daji,an exercise rejected by most of the contestants, who noted yhat the organisers of the poll were bias in the discharge of their responsibility.
Mika Anache, one of the contenders to the throne, had in a petition which he copied: Speaker Niger State House of Assembly, the Directorate of State Security Services (DSS), Niger State Police Command, former Presidents; General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB), and General Abdulsalami Abubarkar, expressed total rejection of the outcome of the exercise.
In the 6-page petition, also copied the Chairman Niger State Council of Traditional rulers and the Chairman, Kontagora Emirate Kingmakers (Electoral College), Alhaji Shehu Yusuf Galadima, Anache argued amongst others that the “Kontagora Emirate stool is sacred and must be respected thus.”
He therefore requested, replacing the Commissioner of Local Government Abdulmalik Sarkin Daji over the fall out of the election into the stool of Kontangora emirship.
The petitioner also noted that the people of Kontangora were known for “candour, uprightness, intelligent focused and always in quest for justice”, adding that they would not accept the election conducted under the supervision of the Commissioner, for lack of competence, comprehensiveness among other faults.
Acting on the petition, the state government, through a statement from the office of the Secretary to State Government (SSG), announced ‘temporary’ deployment of Daji.
The statement signed by the SSG, Alhaji Ahmed Ibrahim Matane, made available to journalists Tuesday evening said the temporary deployment of the commissioner was because ‘the aftermath of the election was followed by petition and misgivings’.
“To reinforce the state government’s neutrality in the election process, a review of the process has been directed by Mr. Governor.
“In this regard, the Honourable Commissioner, Ministry for Local Government, Community Development and Chieftaincy Affairs, Barrister Abdulmalik Sarkin Daji has been temporarily moved to Ministry of Youth Development.
“Similarly, Mr. Emmanuel Umar, Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Youth Development, has been temporarily redeployed to Ministry for Local Government, Community Development and Chieftaincy Affairs”.
“The redeployment takes immediate effect,” the SSS said.
