ADAMAWA: Atiku’s Associates Gain Mileage In Key Appointments

THE pressure of political campaign is over, the real battle now in Adamawa state under the leadership of governor Jibirla Umar Bindo is how to constitute his cabinet. The governor is divided between two political godfathers, Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and ousted former governor, Alhaji Murtala Nyako who returned to the country from self-imposed exile recently.

The Nyako group is claiming that Bindo became the governor on its political structure built by the former governor.
The Atiku group who appeared to be the political engine room that gave Bindo the victory during the poll wants to dictate who gets what in Bindo’s government.

The question Atiku group is seeking answers from Nyako’s group is who bankrolled the campaign and election bills of Bindo’s election, and where was Nyako during the poll? The question seems
to be giving Nyako’s group problem to answer.

To prove that the Atiku group is presently in charge of Bindo’s government, the governor immediately after the election results were announced, relocated to the private residence of Atiku located at the Commissioners’ Quarters in the state.

Since the governor has been spending more hours at Atiku’s house than his personal house at Yola, the state capital.
The Guardian reliably gathered that there was a physical tussle in the residence of Nyako’s eldest son, Abdullaziz Nyako with the governor last month over sharing of political offices.

The governor told Nyako’s son that as a serving governor, no one could dictate for him, who becomes his commissioner or other political positions.

Recent appointments in the state have confirmed that Atiku group is in total control of affairs of the government under Bindo’s administration.

The governor has appointed Dr Umar Bindiri, Atiku’s long-time political son as Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Yohanan Mathias, Atiku’s political associate has been appointed Chief Press Secretary, while Nyako’s controversial Chief of Staff Alhaji Abdulaman Abba Jimeta had been retained by Bindo as Chief of Staff.

Barrister Bala Silas who is also Atiku’s ally has been appointed the Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General of the state. He was the only Commissioner appointed in the state so far by governor Bindo. He has since taken oath of office. The delay in further appointments in the state, The Guardian learnt was due to alleged Atiku’s long absence from the state as a result of his commitment at the Federal level.

The governor has since relocated to Abuja on Tuesday to consult with the former vice president on the list of commissioners and other important political positions.

Nyako’s group based on the present situation appeared to have lost the battle, but they have threatened to wreck the ship if they are abandon by Bindo’s government.