Governor Abba Yusuf has directed immediate suspension of Ibrahim Rabi’u, a Senior Special Reporter, SSR, attached to Ministry of Transportation for unauthorised issuance of statement on former governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso.

DAILY NIGERIAN reports that the aide had issued a statement purportedly on behalf of the NNPP leader, claiming that President Bola Tinubu had reached out to Mr Kwankwaso on multiple occasions, seeking his return to the APC.

The aide also claimed that Mr Kwankwaso made it crystal clear to him [Tinubu] that he would rather quit politics entirely than return to the APC.

Reacting, Mr Kwankwaso distanced himself from the statement.

Similarly, the governor, in a statement by his spokesman, Sanusi Dawakin-Tofa, suspended the aide and directed the issuance of query to him.

Mr Dawakin-Tofa said the suspension, which took effect immediately, was issued by the Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Umar Farouk-Ibrahim, on Saturday.

Mr Dawakin-Tofa disclosed that the governor cautioned all his political appointees against unauthorised statements, insisting that any official comment must get clearance.

According to the statement, “the government has distanced itself from the purported claim, describing the statement authored by the suspended aide as solely coming from the author for reasons best known to him.

“The government therefore, reminded the general public that only the Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs Comrade Ibrahim Wayya is authorized to speak on behalf of the government while the Director General, Media and Publicity, Sanusi Bature speaks for Governor.

“The government cautions all political appointees against unauthorized comments, especially outside their jurisdiction.

“Any political appointee must get clearance before making public comments on issues that have to do with the position of the government on matters of public importance or of sensitive political decisions,” the statement reads in part.