By Latiifah Amusan
Nigerians were taken aback by the sudden replacement of Maryam Shetty as a ministerial nominee just a few hours before her scheduled screening.
Shetty’s initial nomination raised eyebrows due to her relatively young age and relative obscurity in the political landscape, hailing from Kano State.
However, her replacement with Mariya Mahmoud has sparked intense speculation and discussion about the power play behind this decision.
Maryam Shetty gained national prominence as a member of the Presidential Campaign Team for President Bola Tinubu.
Her name was included in the second batch of ministerial nominees after the screening of the first batch, which raised expectations for her political career.
However, in a surprising turn of events, President Bola Tinubu sent a letter to the Senate, informing them of two additional ministerial nominees, including the withdrawal of Maryam Shetty’s nomination.
Reports indicate that Shetty was replaced by Dr. Mariya Mahmoud Bunkure, a former Commissioner for Higher Education in Kano State.
Additionally, Festus Keyamo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and former Minister of State for Labour, and spokesman for the All Progressives Congress (APC) Campaign Council, was included among the new nominees, adding further intrigue to the unfolding situation.
Just moments before the announcement, a short video of Shetty at the National Assembly for screening surfaced on social media, adding to the confusion surrounding the decision.
According to Daily Trust, the former Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, played a significant role in Shetty’s replacement.
Ganduje, who recently emerged as the new national chairman of the ruling APC, nominated Mariya Mahmoud Bunkure as a replacement.
The key reason behind the swapping of Shetty with Bunkure is that Shetty does not belong to Ganduje’s political circle.
Suspicions arose that Shetty’s name was “smuggled” into the list by a senior member of the presidency.
It was further revealed that Ganduje believed the ministerial slot given to Shetty should have been his, prompting him to nominate a replacement.
Moreover, another nominee from Kano, Abdullahi Tijjani Gwarzo, is an associate of Tinubu from their time in the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).
This strengthened Ganduje’s determination to correct what he perceived as an error in the nominations.
How the replacement was communicated indicated President Bola Tinubu’s assertiveness and displeasure towards those who allegedly manipulated Shetty’s nomination.
It was seen as a way for Ganduje to assert his influence and demonstrate his close relationship with the President.
Kano State holds strategic importance for the ruling party, which aims to regain control, and Tinubu’s alliance with Ganduje’s camp is viewed as a move to strengthen its position.
Talks with Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, whose New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) controlled Kano, reportedly broke down, further motivating Tinubu’s focus on consolidating his presence through Ganduje’s support.
Additionally, sources close to Shetty mentioned that her nomination might have been linked to the Chief of Staff to the President.
Her association with Abuja, despite being from Kano, and her vocal stance against some of Ganduje’s policies during his time as Governor may have influenced his decision to seek her replacement.
