Kaduna Cabinet Reshuffle And Matters Arising -By Khalifa Musa Muhammad

Change is constant in life but sometimes it surprises us when it happens. Due to the circumstance(s) it happened or even the factor(s) that led to the happening. The recent cabinet reshuffle by the Kaduna state governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, is a case in point. The changes took place in line with section 193 of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which gives governors the power to assign responsibilities to individuals in their cabinet.

On 11 October 2021, the Kaduna State Government (KDSG) announced the reshuffling of its cabinet. On a normal day, this would have been considered a good political move, considering its timing. Since the local government elections in the state were recently concluded; and definitely, some party members that are aggrieved, may need to be appeased. Also, in the lead-up to the 2023 gubernatorial elections, the governor needs to consolidate his political base, such that his anointed candidates can have an easy ride during the APC primaries. Politics is a game of interests: there will always be a need to manage the expectations of various stakeholders.

Without mincing words, this is a time the governor will position and place people very well, especially his loyalists. One of such people is his “former” Chief of Staff (CoS), Muhammad Sani Abdullahi popularly known as Dattijo who has been touted to succeed Malam.

Shortly after the cabinet reshuffle, a clip went viral on social media and it had two influential figures in Kaduna state. It started by showing the “former” Chief of Staff to the governor, Dattijo, addressing Muhammadu Sanusi II as the “former” Emir of Kano. Dattijo made this statement while making his remarks at the recent Kaduna Economic and Investment Summit (KADINVEST). This was followed with a rebuttal and threat by HRH Muhammadu Sanusi II. The “former” emir called Dattijo the former Chief of Staff and added that the chief of staff would know why he called him former CoS, even though as at that time Dattijo was the incumbent. Sanusi followed it up by telling Dattijo not to ever call him “former” Emir of Kano.

This would have been water under the bridge; unfortunately for Dattijo, HRH Muhammadu Sanusi II is a bosom friend of the Governor of Kaduna state. When HRH was deposed as Emir of Kano, El-Rufai was amongst the first person that paid the deposed emir a visit in Loko. El-Rufai saw this as an opportunity for Kaduna state to capitalize from the wealth of experience and knowledge of Sanusi who was the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria from 2009 to 2014.

So, why were people surprised by the cabinet reshuffle? Dattijo was removed as CoS and one could tell that the words of Sanusi have come to pass. Dattijo was sacked as CoS and appointed Commissioner of Planning and Budget. The position he held prior to assuming the role as CoS. Dattijo is not the first CoS to leave the office and assume another cabinet position. We copied the office of the CoS from United States of America. One of the best White House Chiefs of Staff is James Baker III who was the Chief of Staff to President Reagan. Baker got tired with working in the office and had to ask the president to relieve him of his gatekeeping duties. Reagan succumbed and appointed James Baker III as the 67th United States Secretary of Treasury. So, this is not the first time a CoS has been moved to a cabinet position.

Also, the current Commissioner of Finance in Kaduna State, Bashir Saidu, was the CoS between 2016 and 2019. So, the redeployment might not really be a demotion – but surprised are the people of Kaduna. This might be a punishment but I do not think it will end Dattijo’s aspiration. Agreed, Dattijo was careless but he was not wrong. There are no sufficient justifications (even though some say it is culturally wrong) to fault calling a deposed emir, former emir in his presence. Also, Dattijo cringed and had to crouch to the emir seeking for forgiveness. The impact of the recoil, retreat and revulsion is not immediate but it might be in the long term.

Another move that has kept tongues wagging in the state is the appointment of administrators that will head the newly created metropolitan territories. The territories are: Kaduna Capital Territory Authority, Kafanchan Municipal Authority and Zaria Metropolitan Authority. These individuals had to be appointed, because on 30 August 2021 the governor had signed the executive bill creating these authorities. Each metropolitan territory is to be carved out from the urban area(s) of the local governments (LGs) that make up the metropolitan areas.

The functions of the authorities include but are not limited to: naming of streets and roads, house numbering; establishment, maintenance and regulation of markets and motor parks; maintenance of gardens, open spaces, parks, recreational or such other public facilities; and provision and maintenance of public conveniences, sewage, waste collection and refuse disposal.

All the aforementioned functions are those of the local governments, as enshrined in the Fourth Schedule of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Where then does it keep the local governments? The issue here is that the metropolitan authorities are just duplication of responsibilities. It is good to spur development of these areas as cities but it is inappropriate and unconstitutional to usurp the powers of the local governments.

The framers of our constitution envisioned that the above-mentioned functions should be undertaken by individuals with the mandate of the people. Supplanting the constitutional responsibility of the LGs will lead to unnecessary friction between the chairmen of local governments and the administrators of the metropolitan authorities. Another controversial aspect of the bill is the funding of the metropolitan authorities. The provision in Part IV of the bill is for states and local government to jointly contribute. If both the states and LGs are scrambling for the scarce resources then will either willingly contribute? How then can elected local government chairmen be subservient to appointed chairmen of metropolitan authorities or “El-Rufai’s mayors?”

In my opinion, the metropolitan authorities should have been created to facilitate or enhance the development of the cities. Not to superintend over the aforementioned functions. The authorities can help to ensure that there is synergy between the local governments making up the metropolitan authorities. Roads should be constructed to link with one another across different local governments. Then there should be coordination of programmes and policies so that the local government areas will develop at a steady pace. Creating metropolitan authorities to duplicate the functions of the local governments is not the answer to the problem. Especially at a time like this when we are borrowing to fund our budgets, these new metropolitan authorities will only increase the cost of governance as well as the in-fighting within government.

The people of Kaduna are keeping their eyes on the ball to see what will unfold from these developments. The Hausa people say “if you are alive, there is nothing that you will not see”. Posterity will always judge and may God spare our lives to see that Kaduna State develops. Are these changes tantamount to progress? If yes, then are there no other alternatives? Because the words resonating in my head right now are those of Harold Wilson: “He who rejects change is the architect of decay. The only human institution which rejects progress is the cemetery”. Wilson will be shocked to see that usurpation of powers and undermining of the constitution are hidden under the guise of change or progress.

Khalifa Musa Muhammad, a political commentator from Kaduna State.