Kebbi State Governor, Comrade Nasir Idris, has declared that only those with proven integrity and a record of community development will be recommended for federal appointments.
Speaking at a reception in honour of the newly appointed Managing Director of the Sokoto Rima River Basin Development Authority, SRRBDA, Alhaji Abubakar Mallam, at the Government House, Idris vowed to put an end to the practice of a few individuals hijacking Kebbi’s federal board and commission nominations for personal gain.
“The era of singlehandedly selecting candidates for federal boards and parastatals is over,”; the governor stated.
He further revealed that the delay in issuing Abubakar Mallam’s appointment letter was due to attempts by certain individuals to replace his nomination, but he stood his ground.
According to Idris, Mallam’s long-standing contributions to Kebbi, including the construction of schools, Islamic institutions, and social amenities made him the right choice for the position. He also assured that more individuals from different emirates in the state had been recommended for appointments to ensure fairness and equity.
Alhaji Ibrahim Na’haliku, leader of the Zoramawa dynasty, to which both the governor and Mallam belong, described the appointment as a great honor for the Zabarmawa people in Nigeria.
He pledged that the group would rally support to ensure Idris's leadership extends beyond 2027.
Mallam, while presenting his appointment letter to the governor, acknowledged Idris’s role in ensuring his nomination.
He stated that although he had previously been in opposition due to differing principles, he decided to support Idris after assessing his leadership approach.
Mallam, who was once a Deputy Comptroller General of the Nigerian Customs Service, had been urged to resign before the 2007 elections to contest for Kebbi’s governorship, owing to his reputation for community service and economic empowerment.
“What happened afterward is now history,”; he remarked.
