Tinubu and I were unaware of how Maryam Shetty’s name appeared on ministerial list — Ganduje

Maryam Shetty from Kano was a ministerial nominee scheduled for screening when President Bola Tinubu had her name removed.

Alhaji Abdullahi Ganduje, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), revealed that Maryam Shetty was delisted as a result of the online outcry over her nomination.

Shetty was a ministerial nominee scheduled for screening when President Bola Tinubu had him removed from Kano State.

The President removed her and replaced her with Mariya Mahmoud Mairiga Bunkure, a former commissioner for higher education during the period of Ganduje as governor of Kano, in a letter to the Senate that was read by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, on Friday.

However, the former governor claimed that Shetty was dismissed because people questioned her competence in an interview with a few Kano radio stations on Saturday, as reported by Daily Trust.

The power of social media was also mentioned by him.

According to Ganduje, appointments to the position of minister should be made to individuals who possess moral character, expertise, and a dedication to both the party and the candidate’s role in the formation of Tinubu’s cabinet.

He said,

“The president has advisors on selection of ministerial nominees at the national and state levels. The president has the prerogative to nominate whomever he wishes and he has the right to consult people in states because they know those capable of discharging the duties.

“Maryam Shetty’s name emerged from the top, and since Mr President has the right to do as he wishes and we are his followers, one has to be patient; we did not object to it. As well, she was not well-known to us. We could not appraise her.

“But suddenly, she (Maryam Shetty) came under attack on social media. People questioned her integrity and experience, with many of them doubting her credentials to represent Kano at the national level. There were growing disaffections. The dissatisfaction is not from Ganduje, but the people of Kano.

“President Bola Tinubu’s attention was drawn to the torrent of criticisms greeting Shetty’s nomination. The president asked whether I had nominated Maryam Shetty. I said no. He asked how then her name appeared on the list. I told him I had no idea whatsoever.

“When he asked whether there was a need to replace her, I answered in affirmative, because the ministerial slot requires someone with integrity, knowledge, experience and commitment to the party – what one contributed to the making of the Tinubu administration. To satisfy these requirements, we are in the best position to nominate somebody from Kano. Even if someone recommended somebody, we should have been consulted on the matter.

“For this, we were given a chance to nominate someone from Kano and since the slot was meant for a female, we consulted widely. Females had contributed to our development agenda in Kano State. Dr Mariya Bunkure, my commissioner for higher education, is a certified medical doctor. Kano South had been complaining about marginalization, even though I gave them SSG and other important political offices. These are some of the reasons we gave her name.

“But at least we are happy because the people of Kano are happy with the current development. The clarification is not to insult anybody but to tell the truth of what exactly happened. People questioned her suitability that was why he was dropped, but that does not mean she will not get another appointment.”