Strong indications emerged last night that a Deputy Director in the House of Representatives, Mrs. Hajara Ibrahim Salim, may be named as the Deputy Governor of Gombe State any moment from now.
The development was sequel to the death of former Deputy Governor, Mr David Albashi, who died on November 4 in a German Hospital, following injuries he sustained from an auto accident.
Since Albashi’s passing, there has been intense jostling over who replaces him. Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo is under immense pressure by political associates in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who were behind his electoral success, to choose their candidate.
LEADERSHIP gathered that Salim is well poised to replace Albashi, given her sound academic background and solid personal achievements. She was the pioneer Clerk of Gombe State House of Assembly from 1999 – 2000 and also a former local government chairman in the state. Also, she is seen as a grassroots mobiliser who will strengthen the Dankwambo administeration.
Sources close to the governor told our correspondent that her appointment will not be anchored on gender basis but on merit. Governor Dankwambo is keen to constitute his executive cabinet and this, according to him, will be based on merit and not party affiliations.
Interestingly, the governor’s silence over the appointments has not helped matters, as it has further fuelled speculations over who gets what in the administration.???
LEADERSHIP checks however reveal that many political bigwigs in the state appear to be comfortable with Salim since she comes with little or no political baggage.
Also, whoever replaces Albashi will be in a strong position to determine who succeeds Dankwambo.