OPINION
Don’t Make Hon Veronica Alhassan a Political Scapegoat
By GlobalTimes
The recent controversy surrounding the redeployment of Mr. David Dinshiya as Cashier of Bali Local Government Council in Taraba State has sparked heated debates. Mr. Dinshiya has accused Hon. Veronica Alhassan for orchestrating his removal, but it is essential to understand the administrative limitations of Hon. Alhassan’s role as a member of the Taraba state legislative arm.
Hon Veronica Alhassan
Hon. Alhassan’s influence had initially secured Mr. Dinshiya’s appointment as the cashier, but his subsequent removal was reportedly due to his alleged incompetence and gross insubordination. The decision to remove him was made by the local government legislative arm, with Hon. Alhassan’s consent, after he ignored warnings and failed to correct his awkward behaviour.
According to sources, Mr Dinshiya had ignored all warnings and pieces of advice to change his ways, including embezzlement of staff salaries for over 10 months. When all efforts to stop his excesses proved abortive, the local government legislative arm met to discuss the issue, and it was resolved that he be removed and replaced with Mrs Afiniki David Nyishi, a qualified staff member with decades of experience as a pay clerk.
It is essential to note that, in the civil service, there is room for redeployment, transfer, and even suspension and other forms of disciplinary measures, but these can only be applied when an individual has erred.
Therefore, the replacement of the cashier should not be seen as promoting political and ethnic sentiments.
David Dinshiya
According to the leader of the Local Government Legislative arm, Hon Emmanuel Saleh, Dinshiya’s removal was based on his inability to handle the affairs of the office, which affected the livelihood of some local government staff. His behaviour was described as gross insubordination, particularly when he refused to hand over the office and absconded for over a week.
Mr. Dinshiya’s replacement with Mrs. Afiniki David Nyishi is due to the fact that she is a qualified staff member of the finance department with many years of experience. Her appointment should not be seen as nepotism, as she is a married woman from a different family and has served the local government in various capacities.
Recall that during the time of Mamoud Abubakar as Chairman of the Local Government, it was his younger brother who worked as a cashier for good 8 years but the fact that he was effective, no body raised questions. How is it now a sin against Hon Vero and Afiniki ?
It is unfair to blame Hon. Veronica Alhassan for Mr Dinshiya’s removal, as it was a decision made by the legislative arm due to his alleged misconduct. Making her a political scapegoat would be unjust and unfair.
While Hon. Alhassan’s influence may have played a role in Mr Dinshiya’s initial appointment, his removal was reportedly due to his alleged misconduct. It is essential to avoid making Hon. Alhassan a political scapegoat and instead focus on the facts of the matter.
In conclusion, the facts behind Mr. Dinshiya’s removal should not be twisted to promote political and ethnic sentiments. Hon. Veronica Alhassan should not be made a political scapegoat for something that does not directly concern her.
