By John Joseph
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A startling turn of events has unfolded as President Bola Tinubu announced the appointment of two individuals as Managing Directors and Chief Executives of the Upper Niger River Basin Development Authority (UNRBDA). This development has sparked widespread confusion, with many questioning the rationale behind the dual appointments.
Initially, Aliyu Tajudeen was appointed as the Managing Director and CEO of UNRBDA about two months ago, as communicated in a letter dated October 30, 2024, and signed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume ¹. The letter, with reference number SGF.51/S.4/T/368, stated that Tajudeen’s appointment would take effect from October 29, 2024, for a four-year term.
However, in a surprising move, President Tinubu announced the appointment of Dangajere Shuaibu Bawa Jaja as the new Managing Director of the same Authority. This appointment was made alongside six executive directors for the UNRBDA, as contained in a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Wednesday.
The dual appointments have raised concerns about potential administrative conflicts and uncertainties within the agency. An insider source attributed the development to a lack of due diligence and alleged hijacking of the process by a cabal within the presidency. Furthermore, some political analysts in Kaduna State observed that the name Dangajere Shuaibu Bawa Jaja does not represent either Shuaibu Bawa Jaja, a former chairman of Kudan Local Government Area of the State, or Mr. Dangajere, who is a former chairman of Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna state.
The situation has heightened confusion, with many questioning how those responsible for the appointments could not realize earlier appointments made, hence the current embarrassment of announcing three names. When contacted for response, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, did not respond to inquiries on the mix-up as of the time of filing this report.
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