Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano State has ordered the immediate suspension of Ibrahim Rabi’u, a Senior Special Reporter (SSR) attached to the Ministry of Transportation, following the release of an unauthorized statement regarding the political status of Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
The suspension was announced by the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Umar Farouk Ibrahim, and takes effect immediately. In addition to the suspension, Rabi’u has been issued a query over his recent public comments on Senator Kwankwaso’s alleged defection, which the senator has since denied.
Over the weekend, Rabi’u had made statements concerning Kwankwaso’s stance on the rumored defection—statements that the former governor, a two-term leader of Kano State, swiftly rejected as false.
According to a statement released by Governor Yusuf’s spokesperson, Sanusi Bature, the government has firmly disassociated itself from the claim and emphasized that the remarks were made solely by the suspended aide.
“The government has distanced itself from the purported claim, describing the statement authored by the suspended aide as solely coming from the author for reasons best known to him.”
The government also reminded all political appointees of the protocol surrounding official communications, stressing that only designated officials are authorized to speak on its behalf.
“The government, therefore, reminded the general public that only the Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Comrade Ibrahim Waiya, is authorized to speak on behalf of the government, while the Director General, Media and Publicity, Sanusi Bature, speaks for the governor.”
In a stern warning, the statement cautioned political appointees against making unapproved public remarks, especially those outside their official responsibilities.
“The government cautions all political appointees against unauthorized comments, especially outside their jurisdiction.”
“Any political appointee must get clearance before making public comments on issues that have to do with the position of the government on matters of public importance or of sensitive political decisions,” the statement reads.
