Jutha Gupah, Damaturu
Thirteen council chairmen in Yobe state; whose tenures have expired last Friday failed to handover to their Directors of Personal Management (DPMs) as directed by Governor Ibrahim Gaidam. It was learnt that only four of the 17 council chairmen have handed over to their respective DPMs as at the time of filling report. The council chairmen; that have already handed over are from Gulani, Jakusko, Fika and Tarmuwa Local Government Areas. Some directors of personnel, who spoke to The Guardian on Wednesday; on condition of anonymity, confirmed the refusals of 13 former chairmen to handover the directors “Only four local government chairmen have handed over to their DPMs in their respective councils. Those handed-over are from Fika, Gulani, Tarmuwa and Jakusko. “They did the handing over on Tuesday around 5pm,” said one of the DPMs. Investigation also revealed that a politician close to the Governor; was alleged to have told the chairmen not to hand over with the assurance that Gaidam will reappoint them as caretaker chairmen. Gaidam through the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) directed all the 17 council chairmen to hand over to their DPMs on 16th, February 2019. According to him, the handover was in line with expiration of their two- year tenure as elected chairmen. The press secretary to the SSG, Shuibu Abdullahi in a statement said: “Governor Ibrahim Gaidam of Yobe State has approved the dissolution of Local Government councils with effect from Saturday 16th February 2019; following the expiration of their tenures. “He further directed the council chairmen to hand over the mantle of leadership to their respective DPMs.” According to a senior council staff; “Yobe State has a tradition of re-appointing the Local Government chairmen into their offices. “You are aware that some of them have been re-appointed more than twice after their tenure expirations. “This development is apparently making them unperturbed in violating the Governor’s directives.” But a Government House source in Damaturu said: “Except His Excellency changes his mind, he is not ready to re-appoint the affected former chairmen. “He prefers the DPMs should continue in the remaining months until he hands over power on May 29, 2019.” Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Baba Malam Wali, could not respond to calls and text message sent to him on the refusals of former chairmen to hand over to Directors of Personnel Management in 13 councils. Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftain Affairs, Dawa Maigari, in response to yesterday’s text message said: “In a meeting. I’ll you call later.”
