Confusion In Adamawa As Governor Appoints Man As Commissioner For Women Affairs

Confusion in Adamawa as governor appoints man
to head Women Affairs ministry
Adamawa State was thrown into confusion Friday
after Governor Jibrilla Bindow swore in Aliyu Tola, a
man, as the Commissioner for Women Affairs.
Mr. Tola was inaugurated alongside 20 other
commissioners in the state.
Women Affairs ministries at state and federal levels
of government, are seen as symbols of gender
balance, and are traditionally headed by females. The
ministry handles issues affecting women.
Mr. Tola is the first male to head the ministry in
Adamawa State.
The appointment has elicited reactions from women
groups and politicians.
A female activist in the state, Rahima Bala, said she
could not see the logic behind the governor's
decision.
"Actually I see no wisdom in appointing male
commissioner to oversee ministry of women affairs.
We will continue to educate him. The government is
already in confusion," Mrs. Bala said.
Also commenting, a supporter of the All Progressives
Congress, Rifkatu Dantsoho, said she saw the
appointment of most of the commissioners as
patronage by the governor merely to compensate his
cronies.
"It was just a payback to those he considers as
factors that helped him have the control of the state.
Well, four years is at corner, only time shall tell!" she
said.
Mrs. Dantsoho however called on the governor to
rescind his decision, saying, "I think it's not too late to
amend and rectify the anomaly".
She said the change people voted for should not be
seen in lopsided appointments that give women little
or no role in governance, warning that the decision
may lead to protests on the streets.
Another critic in the state, Muhammad Damare,
blamed the state lawmakers for screening some of
the commissioners, saying the lawmakers had since
shown that merit and professionalism were not
virtues worthy of recognition in screening nominees.
Contacted, the chief Press Secretary to the governor,
Yohannna Mathias, cited a precedent, saying Mr.
Bindow was not the first governor to appoint a male
commissioner for women affairs.
"It's a normal practice as it happened in Bauchi and
other states. He is to oversee ministry of women
affairs and social development. Those who are
making noise are just making mockery and being
mischievous," said the spokesman.
The controversy is the latest for the north east state
that has been in the spotlight lately over questionable
government decisions.
Mr. Bindow had earlier triggered anger after he was
reported as saying that the government will spend
N200 million for prayers against Boko Haram. He
later denied the reports.
In August, the State House Assembly also faced a
barrage of criticism following the lawmakers'
decision to clear the daughter of a former vice
president, Atiku Abubakar, Fatima Abubakar, and the
son of the state paramount traditional ruler, Lamido
Adamawa, Muhammad Barkindo-Mustapha, as
commissioners in absentia.
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