Bauchi Emirates Council suspends former permanent secretary for disrespecting governor

BAUCHI Emirates Council has stripped a former minister of special duties Alhaji Bello Kirfi of his traditional title of Wazirin Bauchi and removed him from being a one of their members for what has been described as disloyalty and disrespect to Governor Bala Mohammed.

Alhaji Kirfi, a retired federal civil servant, was a minister in the government of President Shehu Shagari in the 1980s and also served as the pro-chancellor of the University of Ilorin from 1997 to 1999. He also became minister of special duties during the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo in the 2000s.

In what is now the second time this has happened within the last five years, the octogenarian’s removal was conveyed in a letter addressed to him by the secretary of the Bauchi Emirate Council, Alhaji Shehu Mudi Muhammad. Dated January 3, 2023, the letter was titled Removal From Office as a Council Member and Traditional Title of Wazirin Bauchi.

Alhaji Muhammad's letter read: “I am directed to refer to a letter received from the ministry of local government affairs dated 30th December 2022. The content of the said letter indicated your disloyalty and disrespect to the executive governor of the state and the government.

 "It therefore directed for your removal with immediate effect. In view of the above, you are hereby removed from office as Wazirin Bauchi and also as a council member of Bauchi Emirate.”

Back in March 2017, Alhaji Kirfi was suspended by the Bauchi Emirate Council by the then governor, Mohammed Abubakar. However, three years later, following the intervention of Governor Bala Mohammed and wider consultations with stakeholders, the Emir of Bauchi lifted the suspension in August 2020.

Following the lifting of the suspension, the governor personally visited the elder statesman in his house and presented him with the letter reinstating him as the Wazirin Bauchi. He then applauded him for his patriotism, commitment and sportsmanship, especially his efforts in the protection of the rights of Bauchi indigenes and Nigerians in general.