Chibok Principal Not Considered As Commissioner—Shettima

Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State has denied nominating Principal of Government Secondary School, Chibok, Mrs Asabe Kwambura, as Commissioner for Education.

Shettima made this known in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Communications and Strategy, Isa Gusau.

The governor urged members of the public to “completely ignored the story for what it was, a mischievous joke and cheap blackmail.”

The statement noted that, “To start with, neither a President nor a Governor nominates anyone as Minister or Commissioner for a particular ministry.”

It explains that, “The usual practice is to nominate someone as Minister or Commissioner designate for screening by lawmakers and it is only after nominees are approved by lawmakers and administered oaths of offices and allegiance that they are allocated Ministries.

“In Government procedures across Nigeria, only Special Advisers, Heads of Federal or State Government establishments, commissioners in commissions and certain chief executives are announced by a President or Governor stating their specific responsibilities at the time of their nomination for screening by lawmakers or in some cases, they are out-rightly sworn in without lawmakers’ screening, depending on constitutional requirements.”

The statement said, “To say that Governor Kashim Shettima has nominated Mrs Kwambura as commissioner for education and that she was to undergo screening at the Borno State House of Assembly simply indicates crass ignorance on government procedures and which goes to confirm that the story was indeed, nothing more than a joke that should only be told during comedy shows to entertain audience. For the purpose of those who might have taken that joke seriously, it can be verified that since the dissolution of the Borno State Executive Council on May 27, 2015, Governor Kashim Shettima is yet to nominate anyone for office of Commissioner.”

“In fact, the first and so far, the only appointments announced by the Governor were those of the Secretary to the State Government, Chief of Staff, media and other aides. It was just on Monday, June 22, 2015 that Governor Shettima swore in these appointees.

“The issue of Commissioners has not even been tabled. Anyone living in Borno State or following developments there can bear testimony to the sacredness of the facts aforementioned.

“It is, therefore, important to raise questions on the source of that information about Kwambura’s nomination and the motive behind it.

“To my understanding, the aim was merely to create an impression that the Principal of Government Secondary School, Chibok, was being ‘rewarded’ after the abduction of the schoolgirls.

“Perhaps the aim was also to create doubts about the abduction or link it to the Governor as was earlier attempted by officials that worked with the immediate past PDP led Federal Government,” Gusau wrote in the release.