Acting Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, may face the same humiliation meted out to his during his 90 days’ tenure before a substantive governor is elected in October to replace Muritala Nyako, who was impeached on July 15.
Some of Fintiri’s actions suggest he is a man on a mission more self-serving than in the interest of the people of Adamawa. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) should be concerned.
Watching him directing that the arrears of salaries and allowances of workers be paid the day he assumed office, I had thought a Daniel had come to judgment. I was wrong.
Last week, he wrote to the state House of Assembly requesting approval of 50 special advisers. The lawmakers consented without raising a question.
The Assembly approved 50 aides for a man many thought came to right the wrongs allegedly perpetrated by Nyako and to provide a decent template on which incoming governors and leaders will operate.
Fintiri’s letter was read out by acting Speaker Kwamoti Laori who urged the Assembly to approve the request.
I doubt if Fintiri and other Adamawa indigenes have the moral standing to continue to kick against the profligacy of Nyako in the appointment of aides.
One of the reasons Nyako was humiliated out of office was the reckless way he appointed treasury drainers. He was also accused of corruption.
Those who see him as a good Muslim because he is married to four wives based on Islamic injunction are not wrong. But is he?
People say all the women were Nyako’s official wives who played domestic or external office roles, without counting his girl friends or concubines.
When voters elected him in 2007 it was not their intention to pry too much into his domestic and personal affairs. They wanted him to solve problems such as cholera, malaria, poverty, preventable and curable diseases; and provide schools, hospitals, roads, jobs, drinking water, electricity and security.
To date, these remain the major demands of the people, including Fintiri who is now in charge. Meaning that Nyako did not deliver. But, as Jimmy Cliff sang, time will tell.
Before long, Adamawa people under Nyako realised they were on their own with his interest in fending for his large family, cronies, political jobbers, sycophants and numerous aides, some of whom he could not account for.
No leader in such circumstances can have the mindset to provide for all and sundry. As expected, the “love” for the immediate large family took a toll on Nyako and the rest, they say, is history.
He was investigated for alleged contract fraud involving Seneco, a company that has connection with one of his wives, and which allegedly, did not fulfill the terms of the contract.
The panel which investigated Nyako said Seneco was paid for over three years without anything to justify the money collected. Instead, the company allegedly converted a burrow pit at a cost of N400 million and named it a dam.
Observers said it would not have cost more than N3 million to stone pitch the place, but because Nyako’s wife was involved, the price was okay. It is also alleged that Seneco has failed for six years to complete two culverts on Shelleng Road, which cost over N2 billion.
Another case legislators made against him was that he paid too much attention to political appointees or special assistants, some of whom were “unproductive”.
It was alleged that he appointed over 30,000 special assistants, including close family members, friends and in-laws to run state and federal organisations in Adamawa.
Those who reason that Nyako’s decision not to live in official residence was based on having something to hide may be correct, given the way his wives comported themselves that became an issue for public discourse.
Nyako once rained curses on the media for what he considered unfair reports on the activities of his wives and their jostle to be the first lady.
While in office, he said staying in Government House “is not even convenient for me. If you go there you are supposed to have one large bedroom with your wife. In a situation where I have more than one wife, definitely I will bring more trouble for myself.
“If I decide to move into one bedroom with one wife, others would live in rooms that look like the boys’ quarters.
“But most importantly is the economic reason because the facilities that would be needed in the place to make me comfortable would cost government a lot of money to put in place. But by staying in my private house, I have saved a lot of money for the government.”
But did Nyako actually save money for Adamawa?
I still recall how he swore in Hausa to vent anger on the media when journalists went to Government House on his invitation to break Ramadan fast last year. “Allah Yai Sa! Allah Yai Sa!! Allah!!! (God punish the press, God punish the press),” he ranted.
Former Lagos State Military Administrator, Buba Marwa, said “Adamawa State is like comatose after Nyako’s administration. It is half dead and it needs a Marwa to resuscitate it and bring it back to where it belongs.”
Somebody needs to call Fintiri to order before he inflicts greater damage on what remains of Adamawa after Nyako.
Apart from the outrageous number of aides he requested, he reportedly ordered that Toyota Prado SUVs be distributed to the chairmen of the 21 councils in the state in addition to allegedly directing that N5 million be released to each for the upkeep of the councils.
This alarm was raised last week by the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Vice Chairman (North East), Babachir Lawal.
I really pity Adamawa people because I know that the propensity for public officials to steal vast sums is greater when they are in office for a short period.
The way Fintiri is going, he may end up incurring more debt for the state than Nyako did and I am afraid if there is a legislature to check him.