GOVERNOR MASARI DID NOT ORDER REMOVAL OF SHEMA'S NAME FROM PUBLIC PROPERTY.

The attention of Katsina State Government has been drawn to a story published in the Daily Trust edition of Thursday 24th September, 2015 captioned "Masari orders removal of Shema's name from public structures". The order, according to the story, written by their Katsina State correspondent Habibu Aminu Umar, was purportly given when the Governor, Rt. Honourable Aminu Bello Masari inaugurated a committee on street numbering, house and property naming in the state. For the avoidance of doubt and putting the records straight, Governor Masari did not order, direct or command for the removal of Shema's or anybody's name from public buildings or streets. To be sure, far from mentioning names, Governor Masari only advised members of the committee to critically study the way and manner streets and public buildings are named, and where they discover that things were not done properly, they should correct it and do the right thing. In giving the advice, he had observed that it was morally wrong for sitting leaders to name public buildings and or streets after themselves, instead of allowing posterity to decide who is worthy or not of such honour. He also suggested that worthy of such honour were people who are adjudged by society to have contributed positively to societal development at the expense of their comfort or even life. Contrary to Habib's false report, nowhere in his narrative did the governor mention Shema or any person by name. We are therefore at a loss how Habib, who was not even present at the inauguration of the committee, came about the story published in the Daily Trust. On second thought however, we think we know where the reporter is coming from, because this is not his first time of reporting and or writing falsehood against the nascent administration of Rt. Honourable Aminu Bello Masari, which is barely four months in office. He has done it severally before. Abdu Labaran, SSA Media to the Katsina state Governor.