The newly sworn-in governor of Kaduna State, Mukhtar Ramalan Yero yesterday criticized members of the State Executive Council, accusing them of what he termed as disrespect when he was deputy to the late Governor Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa.
The governor, while speaking at the valedictory Executive Council meeting in honour of the late Yakowa, said he was disappointed that the commissioners had never given him any regard and had abandoned him to be by himself as deputy governor, while some even went behind his back to blackmail him.
According to him, the late Yakowa had sought his advice on who to pick as deputy governor from a list of six nominees prior to him (Yero) being appointed.
“I told him to allow the spirit of God in him to lead him in picking somebody, and he thanked me and I left,” Yero said, adding that the late Yakowa told him that he was at some point under pressure from some people to relieve him as deputy governor of the state.
Yero also said that himself and the late governor had amicably resolved their differences two weeks ago, after Yero complained to him that they were farther apart when he was deputy governor than when he was Commissioner of Finance, a situation which was not to be so.
He also promised the widow of the late governor that the government will do everything within its powers to ensure that the family is catered for, and that she should call on him anytime the family is in need.
The Speaker of the Assembly, Muazu Usman Gangara, who was also present described the late Yakowa as a very good man who never interfered in the affairs of the Assembly.
“Death is an inevitable end. Sir Yakowa was a very good man who never intruded in our affairs as the House of Assembly. He always said to us to live in peace and interact with the people of Kaduna State and bring to them what will benefit peace.”
He advised the new governor to emulate his late predecessor and also be a man of the people, as the late Yakowa was.