Nigerian Govt Makes U-Turn, Congratulates Tinubu’s Appointee Previously Rejected Over ‘Christian Background’
The Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, has hosted Dr. Maryam Ismaila Keshinro, the newly appointed Federal Permanent Secretary representing Zamfara State.
The governor’s reception comes after initial controversy surrounding Keshinro’s appointment, over her family’s religious background.
Dr Maryam Ismaila Keshinro and seven others were announced as new federal permanent secretaries last Friday following their appointments by President Bola Tinubu.
But the Zamfara State Government had earlier rejected the appointment of Keshinro as federal permanent secretary.
In a statement released on Sunday, the spokesperson for the Zamfara Governor, Sulaiman Bala Idris, revealed that Governor Lawal hosted Dr. Maryam on Sunday in a show of solidarity and support.
“While congratulating Dr. Maryam, Governor Lawal urged her to be a good ambassador of Zamfara State.
“I want to use this opportunity to congratulate you on your recent appointment as a federal permanent secretary.
“This is indeed a remarkable milestone that we hope and pray you will utilize for the service of our dear nation and also help us in our quest to rebuild our beloved state.
“Zamfara State government will provide you with all the support you need, and we are proud of your achievements.
“I host you today to appreciate you and to let you know that on behalf of the state, we are all proud of you,” he said.
It was earlier reported that the Zamfara State Government’s decision to reject Maryam Ismaila’s appointment as permanent secretary was motivated by her father’s religious affiliation, sources said.
According to the state government, Ismaila is not an indigene of Zamfara State.
In a letter to the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Zamfara State’s Head of Service, Ahmad Liman, expressed concerns about Maryam Ismaila’s selection, citing widespread unease in the state.
He requested that the selection committee reconsider her appointment, arguing that it would perpetuate the state’s underrepresentation at the federal level and exacerbate existing marginalisation.
However, sources said that Ismaila’s rejection by the state government had nothing to do with being an indigene or not but everything to do with her father being a Christian cleric during his lifetime.
“Tinubu’s appointment of Maryam from Zamfara as permanent secretary was rejected by the state government because her father was a pastor. Simple!” one of the sources said on Sunday.
Sources said that Maryam Ismaila hails from Tsafe Local Government Area of the state and that her father was a pastor in ECWA church, Tsafe.
ECWA is the Evangelical Church Winning All, previously known as the Evangelical Church of West Africa.
“She is Hausa and a medical doctor. She married a Yoruba Muslim and later converted to Islam. Their families are well known in Tsafe town,” another source said.
