A former senior special adviser to the governor of Zamfara State, Yunana Shibkau, has described as bold and uncommon leadership displayed by the state governor, Dauda Lawal and the senator representing Zamfara Central District, Ikra Aliyu Bilbis, for supporting the appointment of Keshinro Ismail as a federal permanent secretary.

Shibkau, a leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Britain who said this in a statement issued in Abuja yesterday, noted that the actions of Governor Lawal and Senator Bilbis have “advanced to unprecedented heights, the ideals and spirit of inclusiveness, sense of belonging, equity and equality among all the component communities in the state.”

While contending that Keshinro Ismail (Mrs Maryam Ibrahim Aliyu) can trace her roots several generations back to her home town of Tsafe in Zamfara, he dismissed as, hogwash and reactionary the reaction of some Zamfara people to the appointment.

Shibkau said those with a negative disposition to the appointee were doing so on the “pedestrian and divisive sentiments on the grounds of her faith as a Christian who also got married to someone from the southwest of the country.”

He said all sons and daughters of Zamfara State should ideally celebrate and support Maryam’s appointment as a federal permanent secretary because “she has brought honour and glory to the state by her track records in service, rising to her present position of a renowned consultant pediatrician in the federal civil service.”

The APC chieftain expressed confidence that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will not submit to blackmail by reversing his decision on her appointment, given that he has been emphasising merit as the criteria for his appointments.