Ministerial nomination: My role in replacement of Maryam Shetty – Ganduje
By Emma Ogbuehi
Immediate past Kano state governor and National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Abdullahi Gnaduje, has given some clarifications on his role in the replacement of ministerial nominee, Maryam Shetty, with Mariya Mahmoud, a commissioner in his administration.
President Bola Tinubu had shorty after submitting Shetty’s name as ministerial nominee for Kano, replaced her with Mariya Mahmoud Bunkure who served as a commissioner when Ganduje was governor.
While admitting that the social media outrage that trailed Shetty’s appointment contributed to her removal, Ganduje admitted he agreed with Tinubu on the need to drop her because the ministerial slot requires someone with integrity, knowledge, experience and commitment to the party. He stated that Shetty’s nomination came to him as a surprise, given that he did not know her.
Shetty on her own, has accepted her replacement as divine will of God.
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According to Daily Trust, the former governor, spoke in an interview with select radio stations in Kano on Saturday.
He said, “The president has advisors on selection of ministerial nominees at the national and state levels. The president has the prerogative to nominate whomever he wishes and he has the right to consult people in states because they know those capable of discharging the duties.
“Maryam Shetty’s name emerged from the top, and since Mr President has the right to do as he wishes and we are his followers, one has to be patient; we did not object to it. As well, she was not well-known to us. We could not appraise her.
“But suddenly she (Maryam Shetty) came under attack on social media. People questioned her integrity and experience, with many of them doubting her credentials to represent Kano at the national level. There were growing disaffections. The dissatisfaction is not from Ganduje, but the people of Kano.
“President Bola Tinubu’s attention was drawn to the torrent of criticisms greeting Shetty’s nomination. The president asked whether I had nominated Mary Shetty. I said no. He asked how then her name appeared on the list. I told him I had no idea whatsoever.
“When he asked whether there was a need to replace her, I answered in affirmative, because the ministerial slot requires someone with integrity, knowledge, experience and commitment to the party – what one contributed to the making of the Tinubu administration. To satisfy these requirements, we are in the best position to nominate somebody from Kano. Even if someone recommended somebody, we should have been consulted on the matter.
“For this we were given a chance to nominate someone from Kano and since the slot was meant for a female, we consulted widely. Females had contributed to our development agenda in Kano State. Dr Mariya Mahmoud Bunkure, my commissioner for higher education, is a certified medical doctor. Kano South had been complaining for marginalization, even though I gave them SSG and other important political offices. These are some of the reasons we gave her name.
“But at least we are happy because the people of Kano are happy with the current development. The clarification is not to insult anybody, but to tell the truth of what exactly happened. People questioned her suitability that was why he was dropped, but that does not mean she will not get another appointment.”
