By Mohammed Abubakar Dutse

Governor Umar Namadi of Jigawa state has taksed the new Minister of State for Education, Dr. Suwaiba Saidu Ahmed to key into President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s reform agenda in the sector for the progress of the country.

The governor have the challenge when he received the minister in his office on Saturday also stressed the need for the minister, to work vigorously towards raising the quality of education in the state to a greater height, using her extensive experience in the sector.

The minister, who was accompanied by a large delegation of supporters and well wishers from her home local government of Babura and Ringim emirate was at the Government House on a thank-you visit to the governor for facilitating her appointment as the minister of the federal republic.

On the delegation were the District Head of Babura, who doubles as the Sakin Bai of Ringim, Alhaji Muhammad Nata’ala Mustapha; the chairman of the local government, Hamisu Muhammad Garun and other stakeholders thronged the Government House to thank the governor for considering the minister worthy of the appointment.

For the first time, the governor has opened up on the appointment of Dr. Suwaiba, which has generated a lot of controversy in the state, in view of the fact that the current Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar is also from the same local government.

He described the appointment of the minister as highly merited, noting, ” For about six months that she led the State College of Legal and Islamic Studies Ringim, she turned the college around beyond expectations and that has shown that she has the capacity and the opportunity came up we felt we should give it to somebody who should help the state and assist Mr. President.

“We felt she’s the right person and therefore, God has accepted it and she has now been appointed as the minister. We did not consult her and we’re confident that she would not disappoint Mr. President; we’re confident that she would not disappoint the people of Jigawa state.

“We can only charge her to key into Mr. President’s agenda, she should be able to drive Mr. President’s reforms and as long as she drive Mr. President’s agenda, we’re very sure that the benefits will come to Jigawa state.”

Speaking on the circumstances leading to the minister’s appointment, the governor said, “God gives power to who He wishes and any time He wishes, we were just instruments for realising the objective.

“God knows the reason why we did what we did. He is an all-knowing. Apart from that, God has given her the knowledge and competence. The brief period she held forth at Ringim, what she has done there cannot be quantified.

‘Again, if we come to the education sector, if you look at the contributions she has been making you’ll be surprised. As a result, if there’s an opportunity to lift Jigawa state upward and given the wrong perception of the state as a rural and backward state, we have no option than to show that we have very competent people who can make us proud and bring our the best in us.

“Dr. Suwaiba has these qualities and therefore, I’m rest assured that, given her capacity and track records, we have a an accomplished ambassador in her and i want to urge to continue to pray for her, give her the necessary cooperation and prayers for her to succeed.”

Earlier the minister had expressed her gratitude to the governor for facilitating her nomination, describing it as an evidence of her live for the state and it’s people

According to her, “We’re happy to formally thank you for what you have done for us Though this appointment is done on merit, it had however, shown the love you have for the state and the people. You have shown that the progress of Jigawa and its are your priority and that is why you took this decision.”

The minister, who described herself as ‘an escort” on the trip said she accompanied her elders, leaders and other stakeholders from her area to thank the governor for the privilege of serving the people of the state and the country at large.’

She thanked the governor for finding “me worthy of this appointment and I assure the governor and the people of Nigeria that I would do my best within my ability to fulfill the mandate given to me by Mr. President with the support of our governor.

“Specifically, I will work hard to fulfill the agenda of Mr. President, Baba Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR. Secondly, I’d like to extend my profound appreciation to the people of Jigawa state, especially the people of Babura LGA and Ringim emirate for the love they’ve shown by coming out en masse to accompany to see the governor of Jigawa state.”

The District Head, who spoke on behalf of the community expressed gratitude of the people of the area and Ringim emirate for the appointment and prayed for the governor’s successes in steering the ship of the state. Besides, the monarch pledged the continuous loyalty of the people to the government of the state.