The immediate past governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, has hailed Salihu Yakasai after he was sacked by the Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje.
Yakasai was sacked as the media aide to Ganduje a day after he criticised the government led by the All Progressives Congress at all levels over the issue of insecurity in Nigeria.
He had aired his criticism on social media amid the abduction of over 300 schoolgirls from Government Girls Secondary School, Jangebe in the Talata-Mafara Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
“Clearly, we as APC government, at all levels, have failed Nigerians in the number 1 duty we were elected to do which is to secure lives & properties. Not a single day goes by without some sort of insecurity in this land. This is a shame! Deal with terrorists decisively or resign,” he wrote on Twitter.
His criticism was followed by a statement issued by the state Commissioner for Information, Muhammad Garba, which revealed his sacking.
The statement said Yakasai was sacked “over his continued unguarded comments and utterances which are deemed contrary to the stand of the All Progressive Congress government which he is serving”.
“The aide had failed to differentiate between personal opinion and official stand on matters of public concern and therefore cannot be allowed to continue to serve in a government he does not believe,” the statement added.
Reacting to the news, Fayose said Yakasai’s ability to speak truth to power has made him a hero of democracy.
“I commend the courage of Salihu Yakasai, the sacked Gov Ganduje’s Aide for being able to speak truth to power. This singular action of his has made him the latest hero of our democracy, and in turn, confirmed that there is hope for a united Nigeria.
“Nothing can be more honourable than what he has done by standing tall amidst darkness & selfishness of leadership. His sack is the beginning of his rise politically. I sincerely congratulate him & indeed the ordinary Nigerians seeking good governance & leadership.#BuhariMustResign,” he wrote on Twitter.
