Gov. Kashim Shettima of Borno state dropped Commissioner for Information, Mr Inuwa Bwala from his cabinet.
This is contained in a statement issued on behalf of the Borno state Government by Hajiya Maryam Abba-Ibrahim, Permanent Secretary (Administration) Office of the Secretary to the State Government that the Governor has order the removel of Mr. Bwala with immediate effect.
The statement reads in part, “Gov. Kashim Shettima of Borno state has approved the removal of Mr Inuwa Bwala from his position as the Commissioner for Information.
“The sacked commissioner has been directed to hand over government property in his care to the permanent secretary in the ministry with immediate effect.”
Mr. Inuwa Bwala had also served in the same portfolio under former Gov. Ali Sheriff.
On the same vein, Governor Shettima has also sacked two Senior Special Assistants, Makinta Zarami and Ali Umar Bolori of their positions.
Shettima expresses appreciation to the former commissioner and the two Senior Special Assistants for their respective contributions under his administration. The three changes are with immediate effect.”
But Mr. Bwala, while speaking to journalists on phone, said he was not surprised by his sack. saying that he has been preparing for such, long ago.
He said, “I saw it coming and I thank God for everything, because it is part of my policy in public service to begin preparing for my exit the first day I take up appointment in government public office.
Loyalty has a price, and those who have the culture of keeping loyalty must be prepared to pay the price. He also thanked the Governor for given him the chance to serve under his administration, saying that he is till in the same party with the governor (APC)
Bwala said; “I’m happy that today, I am paying the price for loyalty. I thank the governor for giving me the opportunity to serve in his government up to this moment. We are all members of the big APC family, and I am always ready to work in the interest of the party. I nurse no ill-feelings against him or anybody, because this will not alter my loyalty to our party. I thank God for keeping me in office this far, and for seeing that it ended well and not on any negative note.”
The analysis of the observers of the political terrain in Borno is that the removal of Mr. Bwala as the commissioner will only deepen the crisis between Mr. Shettima and his predecessor, Ali Sheriff, confirming that Mr. Bwala is a loyalist to the former Governo of the state and has often been accused of being disloyal to Mr. Shettima, an accusation he has repeatedly denied.
Also the sack of Speciall assistants has also been connected to the political rivalry between the incumbent governor and his predecessor. These aides are allegedly strong supporters of Muhammed Imama, a former commissioner in the state.
Imama has reportedly been chosen by Mr. Sheriff to challenge Governor Shettima in 2015. But Mr. Shettima had on Thursday informed journalists, during a stakeholders meeting of APC in the state capital, Maiduguri, that there was no quarrel between him and Mr. Sheriff. He also denied that the APC in Borno was factionalised.
Since May, 2011, Friday’s dismissals are the first ever by Governor Shettima.
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