Insecurity: For Asking Nigerian President To Resign, Governor Sacks Media Aide

Abdullahi Ganduje, Governor of Kano State, Northwest Nigeria, has sacked Salihu Tanko Yakasai, his media aide, over his criticism of how the government responds to the security situation in northern Nigeria.

Yakasai, on Twitter, said the Nigerian government has failed to secure the lives and properties of citizens. He called on the Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari to deal with the terrorists decisively or resign.

He made the comment after the reports of the abduction of over 300 female students of Government Girls Secondary School Jengebe in Zamfara State, northwestern Nigeria, on Friday.

Yakasai, also known as Dawisu, had since disappeared after the criticism. Several people have taken to Twitter, accusing authorities of his mysterious disappearance and calling them to release him by trending #FreeDawisu.

However, the Kano state Director of State Security Service (SSS), Muhammad Alhassan, denied arresting Dawisu after insinuations that he was arrested by the operatives of the SSS.

Muhammad Garba, the state Commissioner for Information, who conveyed the governor’s directive in a statement Saturday, said the sack of Yakasai was with immediate effect.

Garba said the sacked aide had failed to differentiate between his official duties and personal opinion on matters of public concern and therefore cannot be allowed to continue to serve in a government he does not believe.

Ganduje warned political appointees and public servants to guard against making statements capable of drawing attention and controversies that could undermine the government.

He said his government is committed to the policies and programmes of Buhari’s regime.