It has been long since I read a biased and unfair report as the one Daily Nigerian newspaper reported of Vice President Kashim Shettima GCON issuing warning to the Chairman of the National Hajj Commission, Professor Abdallah Saleh Pakistan.
The negative reports included the VP Shettima refusing him the permission to hire three retired staff on contract, warning him to never again submit official letter through personal channels, as well as accusations of running the Commission solely (like Tinubu running Nigeria🥴).
While I’m in no place counter the allegations, as someone who once worked as a Personal Assistant, I know what it takes (for a political appointee) to drive a positive change in an MDA especially that which is being notorious with negative feedback like Hajj Commission.
Bypassing some protocols to effect the much desired change is necessary. VP Shettima does that, you (in the Daily Nigeria) do that. Everyone does that. We all take letters through back doors. We feel more comfortable and secure hiring (or working closely) with staff we share same zeal. Except if we want to believe in delusion.
As for running the affair solely, i.e. like a sole administrator as you (or the VP) put it, I’ll reserve my comment. Though it’s usually the accusation whenever some people in any MDA couldn’t manoeuvre their way to the business as usual, I’ll still reserve my comment especially that the petition to the VP was unanimously by all the eight representatives.
Daily Nigerian newspaper, I only blame you for sparing effort to report this very damning negative report with that sensational buh demeaning headline, yet you can’t spare a minute to balance your story with the other side. It’s surprising you see it unnecessary to contact Professor Pakistan for his side.
As if that’s NOT enough, you accused his son, his nephew, his detail of doing work other than theirs, even going ahead to call on the DSS Chief to reengage him, yet you didn’t think of contacting any of them to balance the story. That’s very unbecoming of your status. We thought you’re one of the very few reliably unbiased news outlets. Little did we know.
Thank God the petition didn’t accuse the professor of any misappropriation of funds or working towards making Hajj difficult for ordinary Nigerian. And we all know Hajj Commission is better off with him than without. It’s an undeniable truth