Why Ex-Governors Matawalle, Ganduje, And Bagudu Cannot Be Tinubu’s Ministers

With the yet-to-be-verified list of ministerial nominees, the media is awash with the potential appointment of some former governors as Ministers in the coming cabinet of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Some of those prominently touted as possible ministerial nominees include but not limited to ex-governors Bello Matawalle, Abdullahi Ganduje and Atiku Bagudu, who were immediate past governors of Zamfara, Kano, and Kebbi States respectively.

It would be morally abominable and politically reprehensible to seek to appoint the referred ex-governors as ministers in the Federal Republic of Nigeria, taking into consideration their pedigree, which is laced and odorized with allegations of corruption which they have yet to disprove.

Their poor leadership and political marksmanship while serving as chief executives of their states resulted in the pauperization of Nigerians and the underdevelopment of their states.

Former governor Matawalle was accused in a briefing by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, of embezzling and misappropriating over N70 billion while in office.

He was also accused by his successor in office of having looted the property of Zamfara State, including official vehicles. This resulted in the Nigeria Police Force raiding two of his houses to recover some of the vehicles.

Most of the contracts awarded to cronies and fronts were allegedly paid up front.

As a former governor of Kano State, Ganduje is famously known for converting his ‘agbada’ to private banking services focussed on dollars.

He was caught in a video collecting dollars allegedly from contractors in his office in Kano.

Due to the immunity he enjoyed then, he was never prosecuted. However, this is the right time to prosecute him and the EFCC is already on his tail.

Also, with sundry allegations of corruption against him, such as conversion and diversion of government property to self and family use, Ganduje is facing trial at the Kano State Anti-Corruption Agency. Rather than reward him with a ministerial post, Ganduje should be made to face the wrath of the law.

The case of Bagudu is quite intriguing. He was one of the allies of late General Sani Abacha, and according to reports helped the deceased Military Head of State to launder money in foreign vaults.

Surprisingly, as an Abacha man he crawled his way into the nation’s politics, first becoming a senator and later served as governor of Kebbi State for two terms.

Today, Kebbi State is one of the most underdeveloped states in Nigeria.  

Indeed, Kebbi State was the only state former President Muhammadu Buhari never commissioned any project throughout his eight-year tenure.

Also Bagudu as a Governor never visited any country in Europe and America throughout his eight years in office. Why? He is said to be on the wanted list of some of these countries for money laundering and other related financial crimes.

Therefore, the Presidency of Bola Ahmed Tinubu should avoid these three men like a plague.

They are corrosive agents that will taint and corrode his government.

Nigerians and the international community will not take the Tinubu administration seriously if any of these men get close to Aso Rock. A stitch in time saves nine.

Matawalle, Ganduje, and Bagudu should be arraigned for economic crimes, which are crimes against humanity, not rewarding them with ministerial appointments.

God bless Nigeria!

Osa Director Esq.

Mr Director is a Biochemist, Veteran Journalist and Lawyer

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