Isiyaku Ahmed
The Director of Climate Change in the Kano State Ministry of Water Resources, Environment and Climate Change, Umar Saleh Anka, has urged the newly appointed Acting Chairperson of the Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC), Hafsat Ada’u Kutama Esq., to demonstrate courage, integrity and sincerity in the fight against corruption.
Anka, on Thursday, in a congratulatory message to Kutama Esq. on her appointment, said the elevation from Secretary of the Commission to acting Chairperson reflected the confidence reposed in her competence and integrity by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf and the people of Kano State.
He, however, advised her to recognize the enormous responsibility that comes with leading the state’s anti-corruption agency, particularly in protecting vulnerable citizens who may have nowhere else to seek justice.
According to him, corruption could quietly spread through public institutions, security formations and paramilitary structures, eventually exposing ordinary citizens to victimization, extortion and denial of essential public services.
“The people who suffer most from this are rarely the powerful.
“They are the poor, the voiceless and the vulnerable, those with no one else to turn to but institutions like the one you now lead,” Anka said.
He said the assignment required more than administrative competence, stressing that Kutama Esq. would need mental strength to identify schemes designed to frustrate accountability and the resilience to withstand pressure from individuals who might resist scrutiny.
Anka also urged the acting chairperson to demonstrate sincerity of purpose by pursuing justice without allowing political considerations, personal interests or public pressure to compromise the commission’s mandate.
He further reminded her that every complaint received and every investigation conducted by the PCACC could represent the last hope of a citizen seeking redress.
“Kano, and indeed Nigeria, needs institutions like the PCACC to be more than symbolic,” he said.
Anka also referenced Governor Yusuf’s recent admonition that public officials who are unwilling to discharge their responsibilities should “deliver or step aside,” saying the statement underscored the seriousness expected in the performance of public duties.
He expressed confidence that under Kutama’s leadership, the commission could strengthen its effectiveness and restore public confidence in the fight against corruption in the state.
The Climate Change Director prayed for divine guidance, wisdom and courage for the acting chairperson, particularly in dealing with pressure and opposition that could arise in the course of carrying out her responsibilities.
Anka also prayed that Allah protects her and grants her the strength to uphold truth and justice throughout her tenure.
Kutama Esq. was appointed acting chairperson of the PCACC on Wednesday by Governor Yusuf following the resignation of the commission’s former chairman, Saidu Yahaya, on Tuesday.
