Yobe Governor Unhappy Over Minister’s Participation In Al-Mustapha Rally

Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Yerima Ngama, has incurred the wrath of his state governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Gaidam for actively participating in the rally for the recently released Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, who visited his ancestral home of Nguru, Yobe State last week. Governor Gaidam reportedly showed his disapproval of the Minister’s action on Tuesday as he refused to grant him audience when he came to hand over 222 trailer loads of grains and N150 million; being the Federal Government’s assistance to Yobe as one of the three states affected by the declaration of State of Emergency. The governor was reportedly at the Government House, Damaturu, when the Minister visited but declined receiving him due to his displeasure over the rally in which Dr. Ngama was said to have driven in the same car with Al-Mustapha despite the emergecy rule in the state. Meanwhile, the federal government’s gesture has reportedly led to controversy as the state deputy governor, Engr Danlami Ali, who played host to Dr. Ngama has frowned at claims by the Minister that he “personally sourced N200 million from individuals and organizations to transport the grains to Damaturu.” This claim by the Minister was said to have “baffled” the deputy governor, who hinted that the federal government’s business must be some sort of “mixed grill” if individuals could “donate to transport a federal government assistance” or that it should be “shared by NGOs” as stated by the Minister.