Teddy Oscar, Abuja
As Nigerians await the swearing in ceremony of the four newly appointed ministers, the Amalgamated South South for Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau has called on President Goodluck Jonathan to assign the education ministry portfolio to the former governor of Kano State, Ibrahim Shekarau.
You would recall that Shekarau is one of the four ministerial nominees Jonathan forwarded to the Senate on June 4, 2014, before the Red Chambers proceeded on its end of the 3rd Session recess.
Others are: Dr. Abdu Bulama (Yobe State), Dr. Stephen Oru (Delta State) and Prince Adedayo Adeyeye (Ekiti State).
Shekarau and the other three nominees were successfully screened and confirmed without any opposition from the senators representing their states last Wednesday.
The forum in a statement issued in Abuja by its spokesman, Mustapha Gbelabo, said the nomination of Shekarau by Jonathan was note worthy, considering his many feats in his previous administration.
The group, therefore, urged that Shekarau’s appointment be complemented by giving him a portfolio that will suit his experience.
“His (Shekarau) coming to the Federal Executive Council at a critical time like this will add value to the administration,” the statement read in part.
It noted that such wealth of experience will be brought to bear in the current assignment given to him in the process of positive policy formulation and implementation in the education sector.
“It is important that in assigning him to any position of national service, the square peg that he is should be adequately utilized by throwing him into a square hole. Shekarau’s vacation for 25 years, before venturing into politics, is education,” the statement added.
It stated that Shekarau had always devoted resources to education, rising from a school principal at age 25 to a policy maker and permanent secretary in the education field.
“He paid more than his dues in all aspects of pre-tertiary education, and took the zeal and commitment with him when he became the governor of his state. There was balanced government attention on such critical areas as infrastructural development, students’ welfare and improvement of teachers’ condition,” it said.
Gbelabo recalled in the statement that Shekarau took education serious during his administration in Kano State, even as all the ideas that formed the fulcrum of his practice as an educationist found a ground to fertilize.
“In no time, he repositioned education in Kano state that the state was winning awards in the sector from as credible organisations as UNESCO. All sectors of education, from primary to tertiary education got all the attention they required,” he said.
