THE sack of former minister Alhaji Muhammadu Bello Kirfi as Wazirin Bauchi and Senior Councilor by the Bauchi Emirate Council has nothing to do with his relationship or association with the PDP Presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the state government has said.
In an interview with BBC Hausa, monitored by News Point Nigeria, Saturday, speaking for the first time on the matter, the govt through the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftancy Affairs, Hon AbdulRazak Nuhu Zaki made the clarification.
According to the commissioner, the former Waziri has several times in the past dragged the good name of the Bauchi Emirate in the mud and after several heedless warnings, it became imperative for the Council to take disciplinary action against him.
“It’s totally untrue that the former Waziri was removed because of his association with Alhaji Atiku Abubakar or because he is a supporter of the PDP candidate. These reports are false and deceitful.
“When Atiku Abubakar came to Bauchi, after his speech, the governor was scheduled to speak but from nowhere, the then Waziri requested for the microphone and the governor insisted on having the mic, and to everyone’s surprise, the former Waziri went back to his seat saying some not-too-nice things about the governor.
“And as a matter of fact, this is not the first time the former Wazirin Bauchi was removed. He was also suspended in 2017 by the Emir of Bauchi, Dr Rilwanu Suleiman Adamu for some unpalatable activities and it was His Excellency, Senator Bala Muhammad who pleaded on his behalf and got him reinstated two years ago.
“Therefore, his removal has nothing to do with politics or his support for Atiku Abubakar, it’s strictly a chieftaincy decision to protect the honour and good name of the Emirate”, the commissioner concluded.
News Point Nigeria reports that the former Wazirin Bauchi clocked 90 years two weeks ago and immediately after his sack, his daughter, the state commissioner for cooperatives and SMEs development, Hajiya Sa’adatu Bello Kirfi, tendered her resignation letter to the state government with immediate effect.
