By Hamilton Nwosa(Head, The New Diplomat’s Business and Data tracking desk)
Kano State Governor, Alhaji Umar Ganduje, has sacked his State Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Alhaji Mu’azu Magaji, for allegedly jubilating and celebrating the death of Mallam Abba Kyari, Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari
Kano State Government’s Director-General, responsible for Media and Communications, Salihu Yakasai, made this known via his Twitter handle, @Dawisu. The DG said the sacking of Alhaji Magaji was premised on allegations of “unguarded utterances” , stressing that the governor has directed that the sack is with immediate effect.
He said: “H.E @GovUmarGanduje has relieved the appointment of the commissioner of Works and Infrastructure, Engr. Mu’azu Magaji with immediate effect following his unguarded utterances against the person of the late Chief of Staff to the President, Malam Abba Kyari.”
It would be recalled that Mallam Abba Kyari died on Friday following complications arising from the deadly coronavirus infection. The late Chief of Staff to President Buhari was buried in Abuja, on Saturday, in accordance with Islamic rites and tradition.
Earlier the sacked commissioner had allegedly written on his Facebook page derisive comments about the deceased , saying that Kyari’s death , was a sign of freedom for Nigeria.. The comments which were posted on Facebook in both English and Hausa, read in part:, “Win win… Nigeria is free and Abba kyari ya mutu a cikin annoba… Mutuwar shahada in Har da Imani mutum ya cika”.
When translated, the words mean the following: “Win win… Nigeria is free and Abba Kyari has died in the epidemic… the death of a martyr… if he is a believer, the person is complete.” Curiously, in another post, the fired Commissioner canvassed the splitting of the office of the chief of staff to the President into two separate offices, saying it is too powerful for a single person to man.
Magaji wrote, “For the good of Nigeria and Mr President… The CoS office should be split… A PPS (principal private secretary) and a humble manager of his office as CoS… It is currently too powerful for a non-elected official.”
In his own reaction, Magaji said his views were not personal attack on the deceased as he was more concerned about Nigeria as a country.
Magaji wrote, “Nigeria is bigger than any individual… While praying for the president’s late support staff… Ours is to prevent a repeat of his non-accountable domineering era!
“In institutional democracy, no individual is bigger than the state… Our interest is to get equity and capacity in the highest position of power. It’s not personal! I am not a hypocrite and I won’t pretend! While at a personal level I pray Allah to grant Abba Kyari Jannah… I sincerely believe Nigeria needed a better CoS period!” . The commissioner’s sack has elicited mixed reactions. Some said the governor over-reacted while others maintain that it is within his purview to appoint and to also fire.
