Dr. Isa Muhammad Inuwa
Judging by the available facts and standards, the appointment of Comrade Abdullahi Ibrahim Wayya as Kano state Commissioner for Information has paid off its goals and purposes.
A state Commissioner for Information is basically expected to man all the state-owned media apparatus, to coordinate activities of public information channels, to bridge information gap between the state and the general public, as well as to shop for and shape the image of the state authorities.
Nowhere Commissioner Wayya is found wanting among the aforesaid aspects.
Comrade Wayya’s appointment by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf shortly after the former Commissioner Halilu Dantiye dropped, has by now proved viable and appropriate, in view of what he has so far delivered in office.
Wayya has indeed delivered his responsibilities to expectations.
He has achieved everything with acumen and official dexterity.
Wayya’s position as Information Commissioner is fortunately in tune with Governor AKY’s workaholic tendencies.
The two coincide in the way Kano state is fast-tracked to progress and transformation.
Beside his basic roles of overseeing the state media establishments and controlling the public information, he goes an extra mile to act as news maker for the state.
He makes good news carraying good image for Kano on front pages of newspapers and lead headlines on Radios and Television screens.
No wonder his name rings through all manners of the media, in his quest of beefing up the image of the government and the entire state to the zenith.
This goes to maintain and promote Kano’s long existing prestige towards attracting visitors and investors to the booming commercial Citadel.
What we all need to know is that serving as Commissioner for Information is not the exclusive preserve of some few individuals who call themselves “experts” in the field.
The job isn’t solely for so-called “old journalists” or “one-time PR officials.”
Information Commissioner is virtually the job for every hardworking person.
It’s for every zealous and dogged government personnel. It’s for every pragmatic, accomodating and sociable character.
Wayya, through his actions has automatically changed the old narratives about what Commissioner for Information means.
He just doesn’t need to wait and delay his job.
His role doesn’t stop at reading out the report of the monthly Executive Council’s meeting.
He knows quite well that his job includes saving and protecting the ship of Kano government from sinking, even when and however the tides are turbulent. We have witnessed how Wayya is able to, through information management, fix things together even at the zenith of Kano’s political turmoil.
Practically, historical facts proved that about one third of the Commissioners appointed to the Ministry of Information were of different career backgrounds and they performed wonderfully.
Recalling the list of ex-Commissioners from the earliest such as Alhaji Tanko Yakasai, late Ibrahim El-Yakub, late Alhaji Magaji Dambatta, to the later generation of Alhaji Ya’u ‘Yanshana, Garba Yusuf and Barrister Haruna Isa Dederi, only a handful of them had previously, at one time or the other, had any link with journalism or information management.
After all, managerial efficiency is the major requirement for a commissioner to handle any ministry.
The Permanent Secretaries, the Directors, other specialists and staff are there to cooperate with the Commissioner in the successful running of the ministry.
Through the grace of Almighty Allah, Wayya is seen to have achieved and delivered the needful about his office.
With information being dynamic, sensitive and central to the smooth running of the government, he has really achieved and is still achieving.
He is weathering Kano’s storms of Information management.
Dr. Inuwa writes from Kano. He can be reached through: isaruhullah@gmail.com
