A former Governor of Niger State, Engr. Abdulkadir Kure, has faulted the nomination of a former Deputy Governor of the state, Hon. Ahmed Musa Ibeto, as a minister from the state.
Kure described the appointment as an inappropriate choice.
He said on Thursday after the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party held a stakeholders’ meeting at the party secretariat in Minna, that zoning formula had always been respected in the state.
According to Kure: “With the Governor from Zone C, the Deputy Governor from Zone A, the Secretary to the State Government from Zone C and now the ministerial nominee coming from the same Zone C, it does not depict equity.”
It should be recalled that the people of Niger East Senatorial District (Zone B) have been protesting their alleged marginalisation by the Governor Abubakar Sani Bello-led All Progressive Congress government in the state.
Kure, who is from Niger South Senatorial District, Zone A, lamented the lopsided appointments, saying: “It is inappropriate for the Minister to also come from the same zone.
“The people of Zone B have been marginalised.
“We would have preferred somebody from Zone B as ministerial nominee because that has been the arrangement and we have been respecting zoning arrangement in the state until now.”
The former governor, who is a PDP card carrying member, however said Ibeto is a complete gentleman who is hard working, knowledgeable and above all competent for the position.
He said: “It would have only been proper if the position goes to the people of Zone B who have been crying of marginalisation in terms of appointment.”