Councilor appoints 18 aides, gives reasons as Nigerian graduate turns to akara frying business , hopes to succeed

There was a mild drama in Kano when a councillor in the state, Muslihu Yusuf Ali, did the unusual by appointing 18 persons who would work with him in carrying out his responsibilities.

Councillor, representing Guringawa Ward of Kumbotso local government area, inaugurated the 18 aides at the local government secretariat on Thursday, March 11, with the help of the vice-chairman of the council, Shamsu Abdullahi.

Speaking after the inauguration, Ali said it had always been his dream to bring changes if he had the opportunity, to carry everyone along and work for the development of his people.

Ali said, as a leader, there was a need for him to appoint even more than 18 aides so that they would assist him and report what the people needed at the grassroots.

A Kano state councilor has appointed 18 aides to help carry out his responsibilities. Credit: Daily Trust.

He added that the nature of the responsibilities they had as leaders that were close to the masses called for the appointments, hoping that it would bring positive change in his ward from which others across the country would emulate.

He explained that:

“This is one of my plans and I have been praying for it. If you look carefully, the system of representation from the National Assembly down to the state assemblies, lawmakers are not given the opportunity to appoint enough aides that will support them in their work – and they are those that are closer to the masses."

Ali who is the chief whip of the council, said the encouragement he got from the chairman of the council motivated him to go ahead with the appointments, adding that the work he was willing to do called for more aides that would assist him.

He added that a councilor is a servant of the people and he is in politics not because of money, but to bring positive development.On the ways he will source money to pay the aides, the councilor said politics was not always about money, but the development of people and their community.

Ali said he served as an aide to a governor and other political leaders and did not get paid because it was a voluntary service that provided faster development.

Meanwhile. Salihu Tanko Yakasai, a former special adviser on media to Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano state, described his sack as an "honourable exit".

It was reported that Governor Ganduje had sacked Yakasai for making a statement termed critical to the President Muhammadu Buhari administration. 

In a related story. Justice Emmanuel Onehi, a Nigerian  graduate went  into akara (beans cake) frying business  after he could not get a job with his certificate.

He revealed that he could never be discouraged from what he is doing, saying that he learned how to cook at home.In an interview with BBC News Pidgin, the man said that being the firstborn of seven children, he knew he had to make ends meet the hard way to look after his siblings.

The man said he is determined to succeed in his akara frying business. Photo source: bbcnespidgin

The akara seller said he realised that the business is what puts food on his family's table.

With a voice laced with strong determination, the man said that he one day hopes to stop using firewood and switch to gas as soon as he gets funds.

He added that his business would one day grow to the level that CEOs who refused him employment would come and buy his snack.