By Bala Ajiya

DAMATURU — Yobe State Commissioner for Rural Integrated Development, Mr Mohammed Saleh and three Special Advisers to Governor Ibrahim Gaidam have resigned from the Cabinet.

Vanguard learnt that the decision of the political appointees to resign was to enable them actualise their political ambition in the 2011 polls.

While  Saleh, an All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, stalwart has already defected to the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, the three special advisers, Alhaji Matawali Zubairu, Alhaji Zanna Machnama and Alhaji Jalaba were yet to make their political intention known.

The erstwhile Commissioner for Rural Integrated was rumoured to be eyeing the Yobe North Zone C Senatorial seat currently occupied by Senator Ahmed Lawan of  the ANPP.

An ANPP elder who preferred anonymity told Vanguard in Damaturu: “The party is already disturbed by the wave of resignation of political appointees in Governor Ibrahim Gaidam’s government,” adding that the leadership of the party has commenced moves to stop further defection of party members and supporters to the opposition parties before the forthcoming primaries.

Abacha makes case for privatisation
Meanwhile, Chairman of the Yobe State Advisory Committee on Revenue Enhancement, Alhaji Mohammed Abacha, has said that privatisation of government-owned industries would help in the growth of industries in the state and consequently encourage the payment of revenue to government coffers promptly.

Abacha who spoke with Vanguard in his office in Damaturu, said government-owned industries in the state had not been forthcoming in the payment of revenue because of their unproductivity.

“It is only Yobe State Investment Company that declared a dividend of N1 million in the 1990s and since then, no dividend has been offered by any government company till date.

“But we believe that if such companies are privatised, the owners would be able to run it like any other business organisation and not to deliver social services as they are,” he explained.

He said the privatisation of the companies would enhance the revenue generation drive of the state, and urged government to look critically into the area.