From Desmond Mgboh, Kano
Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, yesterday, announced a far-reaching reshuffle of the state executive council, insisting that the changes were intended to effect a pragmatic political realignment of his administration and to ensure optimum performance that will drive more dividend of democracy to the people.
In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Sanusi Bature Dawakin-Tofa, Yusuf disclosed that the first major rejig of his cabinet would take immediate effect.
Those affected are the Chief of Staff, Shehu Wada Sagag, whose office was scrapped, and the Secretary to the State Government, Abdullahi Baffa Bichi, who was dropped on health grounds.
Yusuf also removed some cabinet members and reassigned others to enhance administrative performance and retool.
Those who retained their positions were Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Haruna Isa Dederi, Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr Danjuma Mahmoud and Commissioner for Health, Dr Abubakar Labaran.
Also retained were the Commissioner for Land and Physical Planning, Abduljabbar Umar, Commissioner for Budget and Planning Musa Shannon and Commissioner for Works and Housing Alhaji Marwan Ahmad.
Those who retained the posts also included the Commissioner for Solid and Mineral Resources, Sefiyanu Hamza, Commissioner for Religious Affairs, Sheikh Ahmad Auwal and Commissioner for Youth and Sports Hon. Mustapha Kwankwaso.
Others are Commissioner for Investment and Commerce, Adamu Kibiya, and that of Internal Security and Special Services, retired Maj.-Gen. Mohammad Idris.
According to the statement, those reassigned were the Deputy Governor, Mr Aminu Abdulssalam, who was moved from the Ministry of Local Government to Higher Education and Hon. Mohammad Usman who was moved from Science and Technology to the Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.
Similarly, Dr Yusuf Kofar Mata was from Higher Education to the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation.
Others reassigned included Amina Abdullahi who was moved from Humanitarian and Poverty Alleviation to the Ministry for Women, Children and Disable and Hon. Nasiru Sule Garo, from the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change to the Ministry of Special Duties.
Also, the Commissioner for Project Monitoring and Evaluation Hon. Ibrahim Namadi was moved to the Ministry of Transport, while Umar Haruna Doguwa of the Ministry of Education was reassigned to the Ministry of Water Resources.
Similarly, Ali Haruna Makoda was moved from Water Resources to the Ministry of Education while Aisha Lawal Saji was moved from Ministry of Women, Children and Disability to Tourism and Culture.
Similarly, Muhammad Diggol was moved from the Ministry of Transport to the Ministry of Project Monitoring and Evaluation.
Yusuf dropped five members of his cabinet including Ibrahim Jibril Fagge, of Finance Ministry, Ladidi Ibrahim Garko, Culture and Tourism; Baba Dantiye of Information and Internal Affairs.
Also dropped were Shehu Yammedi of Special Duties and Abbas Sani Abbas of Rural and Community Development.
The governor directed the former Chief of Staff and the five commissioners that were dropped to report to his office for possible reassignment.