Sokoto state is in the news for a very wrong reason. There is
currently a raging debate going on about the eligibility or not of the
Ministerial nominee that Mr. President submitted to the senate for
confirmation.
One may think that having a loaded CV, over 20 years professional
experience and sterling performance in both the private and public sector is
enough for Aisha Abubakar to scale whatever hurdle is required to be scaled for
this major appointment, however it seems one needs much more than that in this
country in order to be considered suitable.
It is very unfortunate that some people who consider
themselves as 'leaders' of the people have taken it upon themselves to ensure that
this nominee does not scale through at the senate at all cost for reasons best
known to them. These people are so scared that finally someone, a woman for that
matter is coming from nowhere to change the status quo.
Aisha Abubakar is a living nightmare to these people, she
represents everything they love to hate because she possesses everything they
wish to have, which is why they decided to sponsor fake protests and petitions in
order to make it look like she is being rejected by her people. They claimed that it
is abominable for a woman to lead the people of the Caliphate when it is a
known fact that they do more abominable things.
It is so disheartening to read the statements released by
both the so called "Concerned women" of Sokoto and the APC Sokoto
chapter that the primary reason they are rejecting Aisha is because she is not
known to them, and has never worked or lived in Sokoto state. What these mischievous
people are deliberately creating in the minds of the people, is a bias against
hardworking and successful people of Sokoto origin who do not reside in the
State. In a country where states are still struggling with issues of indigenes
and settlers, I think it is rather unfortunate that some people will try to
further divide us by bringing this laughable criteria in determining who gets
what at the Federal level.
The fight for Change in Nigeria did not happen solely because
of APC as a party or members of the APC alone,
rather it was as a result of a collective unity of purpose and hard work of
millions of well meaning Nigerians including myself, who played our role in ensuring that the last non
performing government was voted out. It is a well known fact that many hitherto
unpopular candidates rode to victory solely on the back of President Buhari. It is therefore not an excuse, and very
selfish of the APC chapter in Sokoto to say that one's participation in
politics is more important than competence. These people see political appointment
as a compensation, and wish to rubbish the CHANGE we fought for. We did not
stand in the hot sun to vote PDP out just so we can continue to do things the
old way.
Mr. President has a right to choose whoever he wishes to work
with as long as the person is qualified. I therefore urge him to disregard what
these retrogressive people are trying to bring up. He does not need the "Concerned
women of Sokoto", the Governor or the party chapter to dictate to him. He
belongs to everybody and belongs to nobody.
Long live Nigeria, Long live Sokoto State. Chanji Dole.
