The presidency’s graphic image on social media has listed
two executive secretaries for the Solid Minerals Development Fund/Presidential
Artisanal Gold Mining Initiative (SMDF/PAGMI).
On Friday, President Bola Tinubu appointed heads of some
government agencies in a rejig of a handful of parastatals.
The National Universities Commission (NUC), the Nigerian
Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC), and the New Partnership
for Africa Development (NEPAD) all got new chief executive officers.
According to a statement signed by Bayo Onanuga, the president’s
special adviser on information and strategy, Yazid Shehu Umar Danfulani was
announced as the executive secretary of SMDF/PAGMI.
However, in a subsequent statement, Onanuga said Tinubu had
cancelled the appointment because “there is no vacancy in the agency”.
Fatima Shinkafi was therefore reappointed as SMDF’s
executive secretary.
But on Saturday, the graphic image shared on the official X
account of the presidency listed both Shinkafi and Danfulani as the executive
secretaries of SMDF/PAGMI.
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| The X post |
INTRIGUES AROUND
DANFULANI’S APPOINTMENT
TheCable understands that Danfulani’s appointment was
orchestrated by Bello Matawalle, the minister of state for defence.
Danfulani was the commissioner of commerce and industry when
Matawalle was the governor of Zamfara state.
Sources privy to the development informed TheCable that the
minister used his influence to shoehorn his former employee into the list of
appointments.
Dale Alake, whose solid minerals ministry supervises
SMDF/PAGMI, would later get wind of the development and intervene to ensure the
reversal of Danfulani’s appointment.
A few hours later, the presidency made a U-turn, and
Danfulani’s appointment was withdrawn.
AREWA YOUTH GROUP
PROTESTS
Meanwhile, the Arewa Youth Development Ambassadors (AYDA)
has kicked against the cancellation of Danfulani’s appointment.
The AYDA, led by Abubakar Abubakar, spoke to NAN in Abuja on
Saturday.
Abubakar said the reversal represents sabotage of the
efforts of those who worked for Tinubu’s election victory.
“Aside from using his influence to galvanise massive youth
support, he ensured a total victory for the party’s presidential candidate,” he
said.
“The group believes without an iota of a doubt that it is
the best appointment that Mr President has made in recent times, especially as
a reward for the youth of northern Nigeria.”
The AYDA president described Danfulani as one of the most
influential youths in northern Nigeria.
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