Ministers: Amina Mohammed Not From Kaduna, Reject Her -Rights Group

Ministers: Amina Mohammed Not From Kaduna, Reject Her -Rights Group

Saturday, October 3, 2015 2:20 pm


Amina Muhammed

Amina Muhammed

Femi Adi/Kaduna.

Kaduna-based human rights and good governance advocacy group, Centrum Initiative for Development and Fundamental Rights Initiative, CEDRA has asked all the three senators from Kaduna to reject the nomination of Hajiya Amina Mohammed as Kaduna minister shortlisted by the president in the list submitted to the Senate.

Though the group agreed that it is the discharge of the President’s constitutional duty to appoint a Federal Executive Council and submit the list of the Minister nominees to the Nigerian Senate vide the Senate President for screening and, possibly, clearance, it noted that the political offices in Kaduna State have always been fairly shared or distributed amongst the three Senatorial Districts in line with the principles of Federal Character enshrined in section 14 (3) and (4) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

According to the group, where the Governor comes from the North Kaduna Senatorial District, the Deputy Governor and the Ministerial slot will be zoned to South Kaduna Senatorial District while the Central Kaduna Senatorial District will then take the other key positions.

However, in a statement signed by the Board Chairman of the group, Dr. John Danfulani and made available to TheNEWS Saturday, it said the attention of CEDRA has been drawn to the Ministerial nominee representing Kaduna State in the person of one Amina Mohammed. “We strongly object to the nomination of the Ministerial nominee for Kaduna State, Amina Mohammed.” It stated.

The group posited that the objection Amina Mohammed is predicated on the fact that she is not an indigene of Kaduna State as provided in the Constitution. While pointing out that she is an indigene of Gombe State, it recalled that Section 147(1), (2) and (3) of the Constitution provides as follows: “147. (1) There shall be such offices of Ministers of the Government of the Federation as may be established by the President. (2) Any appointment to the office of Minister of the Government of the Federation shall, if the nomination of any person to such office is confirmed by the Senate, be made by the President. (3) Any appointment under subsection (2) of this section by the President shall be in conformity with the provisions of section 14(3) of this Constitution:
“Provided that in giving effect to the provisions aforesaid the President shall appoint at least one Minister from each State, who shall be an indigene of such State”.

However, it emphasised that from the above constitutional provisions, each State of the Federation must have a Minister who must be an indigene of that State. The rights group which said if the nomination of Amina Mohammed is allowed by the Senators, especially, those from Kaduna State, the indigenes of the State will be short-changed and this will be unconstitutional.

Meanwhile , it called on the senators to use their good offices to reject the nomination of Amina Mohammed and direct that an indigene of Kaduna State preferably from Southern Kaduna senatorial district be nominated and sent to the Senate for screening. “The need to have a nominee from Southern Kaduna is very important if the power sharing formulae in the state is to be maintained and give the people a sense of belonging at the federal level.” It added.


Join The Conversation

2 Comments

  • Aninta says:

    No one says she is not qualified. Its simple, let her nomination fill the slot of her state not another. She will fill Kaduna slot and another Gombe indigene will fill theirs leaving Kaduna indigenes without minister. It is highly unfair. Besides, southern Kaduna was expected to produce the minister as the governor has formed his cabinet with his kinsmen and other non indigenes excluding the entire southern Kaduna. I was expected they will be compensated them this.

    What i really wonder is, as a minister can the people of southern kaduna approach her as their leader? They dont know her!

    I will be surprised if she has ever been to anywhere in Kaduna other than Kaduna city.

  • Ade says:

    They should be honoured that such a person would serve them and serve them very well. Nonsense per usual, the constitution needs updating. She has a distinguished portfolio and 30 years experience! What more do you want from a candidate.

  • What do you think?

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.