Hajiya Rabi Shinkafi, Commissioner for Women and Children in Zamfara State, has confirmed her resignation from her position as a member of the state’s executive council via her social media page.
Shinkafi, in a statement posted on her Facebook page in reaction to rumours that she resigned due to friction between her ministry and the Office of the First Lady, stated the actual reason for her decision.
“The truth is that I actually resigned my appointment as a commissioner in Zamfara State, but not for the reasons that there was a friction between the First Lady and myself,” Shinkafi said.
She, however, stated that she had picked up another appointment as commissioner in Imo State.
“I was actually appointed a commissioner by my state governor by birth, Senator Hope Uzodinma, almost the same time my state governor by marriage, Dr Bello Matawalle Maradun, also appointed me a commissioner in Zamfara State.
“Don’t forget that prior to that, I was already serving under the government of His Excellency, Governor Bello Matawalle Maradun, as Special Adviser on Investment and Public Private Partnership.
“I decided to pick Zamfara’s commissioner offer against that of Imo, because of my close relationship with His Excellency, Governor Bello Matawalle, and his wife, the Zamfara State First Lady, Hajia Aisha Bello Matawalle, who I both see as my family, and I have enjoyed a lot of their goodwill and benevolence over the years.
“In fact, they have always been my benefactors and I am eternally grateful to them.
“The real reason I resigned my appointment as a commissioner in Zamfara State is never connected to any ill-feeling or dissatisfaction of any kind on the part of His Excellency the governor, who has treated me favourably, or on the part of Her Excellency the First Lady, who has been absolutely wonderful to me.
“I resigned my Zamfara appointment because my father, His Royal Highness, the oldest monarch in Imo State and the Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma, who is also quite close to His Excellency, Governor Bello Matawalle, as a fellow APC governor, pleaded with me to serve in Imo State.
“I kept His Excellency, Governor Bello Matawalle, in the picture from the onset. In fact, both Governor Hope Uzodinma and Governor Bello Matawalle discussed it at a certain stage.
“I had to resign as I cannot be a commissioner in two states at the same time,” Shinkafi said.
