…Shehu Isa Ardo takes over as Head of the Civil Service…
…The institution was that either the office of the SSG or the the Chief of Staff would be occupied by Dr Aliyu Idi Hong, though thoughtful minded group dismissed the idea as stooping low from a minister to SSG…
The Periscope Global
In a new style fashioned out by the Adamawa State Governor, Rt Hon Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, cabinet and political appointments are released in piecemeal.
The first appointment that was announced immediately after the swearing in, at the reception ceremony, was that of the Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Humwashi Wonosikou, described as being thoughtful.
The next appointment was neither the SSG nor the Chief of Staff as was expected but that of the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barr. Afraimu Jingi who hailed from Fufore local government. The citizenry kept wondering why the silence with other commissioner appointments?
The next on the news was not the appointments directly but the state lawmakers’ approval of Fintiri’s request to appoint 50 Special Advisers, SAs.
There were insinuations that Malam Bashir Ahmad, who faced challenges of rejection by different groups since his appointment, would not be reappointed as SSG and that Prof Maxwell Gidado would move from the Office as Chief of Staff to the Governor, to Adamawa State University, ADSU Mubi, as Vice Chancellor, VC.
Gidado, if eventually moved, the appointment would honour the university’s state character circle, being the first VC from Ganye Chiefdom, some political pundits would remark.
When displaced, the institution was that either the office of the SSG or the the Chief of Staff would be occupied by Dr Aliyu Idi Hong, the former minister of state for health and later foreign affairs minister, whose appearance at the collation centre as returning officer for the PDP during the 2023 governorship supplementary election was described by his supporters remarkable enough to earn him either of the appointments, while thoughtful minded group dismissed the idea as stooping low from a minister to SSG.
However, the Wednesday announcement of appointments has no mention of Dr Aliyu Idi Hong, as Dr Edgar Amos Sunday has now moved from his position as Head of Service to take over the former position of Prof Maxwell Gidado as the Chief of Staff, while Malam Bashiru Ahmadu is replaced by Hon. Auwal D. Tukur, the for Chairman, ADSU Governing Council, as the new Secretary to the State Government.
According to the press release issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Humwashi Wonosikou, “Adamawa State Governor, Rt. Hon. Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri has approved the appointment of Hon. Awwal D. Tukur as the Secretary to the State Government (SSG).
“Hon. Auwal was a former Member of the House of Representatives and served as the Director General of the Adamawa Presidential and Gubernatorial Campaign Council in the 2023 national elections.
“Governor Fintiri has also approved the appointment of Dr Edgar Amos as Chief of Staff Government House”.
“Following the appointment of Dr Amos who before now was the Head of Service, Shehu Isa Ardo takes over as Head of the Civil Service. The appointments take immediate effect”.
Political pundits would point out that the strength or otherwise of the appointments, commendable as they were, hinged on the determination of the court of law as to the legitimacy of the governorship in Adamawa state.