As Kano residents continue to criticise the nomination of Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso’s son as a commissioner, a Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhajj Alhassan Yaryasa, has described the nomination as a “complete clear-cut nepotism”.
According to Yaryasa, the Kano State governor won’t be able to control Kwankwaso’s son as a commissioner, because his father influences the governor.
Governor Abba Yusuf had on Tuesday forwarded the name of Mustapha Rabiu-Kwankwaso, alongside three others, to the state House of Assembly for screening and confirmation as commissioners.
Yusuf is a political godson of Kwankwaso, who is the national leader of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), on whose platform the Kano governor won election last year.
Yaryasa, who is a former Coordinator of President Tinubu Camping Organisation for Kano South, in a telephone interview with The PUNCH on Sunday, said, ”The nomination of Mustapha Kwankwaso is nothing but a clear-cut demonstration of nepotism by the Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf.
“This is not the first time he’s demonstrating nepotism because he gave an appointment to one of his relatives before now.
“Even though Senator Kwankwaso is his (Abba’s) mentor, he should not be selfish. This is nothing but selfishness of the highest order”.
The APC chieftain said he recalled that Yusuf was quoted to have criticised his predecessor, Abdullahi Ganduje, of doing the same thing.
According to him, many NNPP supporters contributed in one way or the other to Yusuf’s election who could have been nominated as commissioner.
“Anyway, Kano people will now know who Abba Kabir Yusuf is and who they elected. Being his mentor’s son, it will be difficult for him to check his excesses or even fire him in the event he commits an offence”, the APC Chieftain said.
The media aide to Kano State Governor, Sanusi Tofa, in a statement, said, “There is absolutely nothing wrong with Mustapha Rabiu Kwankwaso’s nomination as a commissioner. Mustapha and the three others are all eminently qualified to serve as cabinet members.
“They’re Nigerians and possess the required qualifications and experience to serve as commissioners and represent the youth.
“All of them are below the age of 40, this is part of His Excellency’s social inclusion policy”, Tofa said.