By News Desk
24 hours after Kano State Government sacked and banished Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi, Kaduna State Government has appointed the monarch into the board of the state Investment Promotion Agency (KADIPA), as Vice Chairman.
The appointment came barely hours after legal practitioners condemned banishment of the monarch after his sack, claiming Kano State Government action was unconstitutional.
A statement from the State Governor’s spokesman, Muyiwa Adekeye, on Tuesday, explained that the appointment was part of the reconstitution of the board of KADIPA, which was statutorily chaired by the Deputy Governor.
Other members on the board of KADIPA, according to Adekeye, were internal members and senior officials of the Kaduna State Government.
“Kaduna State hopes to benefit from the profile, experience, intellect and networks of His Highness, Muhammad Sanusi, who before becoming Emir, had built a solid reputation in global financial circles.
“Malam Nasir El-Rufai said that Kaduna State is honoured to be able to call on the services of a man of such calibre to drive its development,’’ the statement added in parts.
According to the statement, the Deputy Governor, Dr Hadiza Balarabe, will chair the board, while His Highness Muhammadu Sanusi II will be Vice-Chairman.
Other members of the board include Malam Balarabe Abbas Lawal, the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Jimi Lawal, Senior Adviser and Counsellor and Aisha Dikko, the Attorney General of Kaduna State.
The KADIPA board also includes the Head of Service, Hajiya Bariatu Yusuf Mohammed, Commissioner of Business, Innovation and Technology, Idris Nyam, Commissioner of Housing and Urban Development, Fausat Ibikunle and Commissioner, Planning and Budget Commission, Thomas Gyang.
Other board members are the Director-General of Kaduna Geographic Information System (KADGIS), Altine Jibrin, Muhammad Hafiz Bayero, the Managing Director of Kaduna Market Development and Management Company, Farida Dankaka and Umma Aboki, the Executive Secretary of KADIPA.
“The Governor also said that he is confident that the new board, which contains the most senior officers of the state will further propel KADIPA to greater success in attracting investments to Kaduna State,” the statement read in part.
It also disclosed that the government carefully chose the external members to further reinforce the investment credentials of the state.
“El-Rufai has expressed his gratitude to members of the reconstituted board of KADIPA for agreeing to serve”.
