The appointment of Hon. Yazid Danfulani as the Executive Secretary (ES) of the Solid Minerals Development Fund was met with widespread jubilation. Hon. Danfulani, a promising youth leader, is well known for his selfless contributions, using his personal resources to promote the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the “Renewed Hope” agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
In a statement issued by Mohammed Usman
Convener, Concerned APC Youths and Students Forum However noted that, this excitement was short-lived. The reversal of his appointment — and worse still, the reappointment of the incumbent ES for a third term — has left many disheartened.
Hon. Yazid Danfulani has made significant contributions to the Zamfara community through various impactful initiatives. His efforts include:
Educational Support: Sponsoring the education of over 3,000 students, giving them the opportunity to pursue their academic dreams.
Housing Projects: Funding the construction of homes for vulnerable families, providing shelter and security for those in need.
Healthcare Assistance: Settling hospital bills for women, children, and the elderly, thereby easing the financial burden on affected families.
Medical Care Abroad: Sponsoring patients in need of specialized medical treatment abroad, ensuring they receive life-saving care that is otherwise unavailable locally.
Through these initiatives, Hon. Danfulani has significantly improved the lives of many individuals and families in Zamfara, fostering hope and advancing the well-being of the community.
In addition to his humanitarian efforts, Hon. Danfulani played a key role in the political landscape. As the Director of Youth Mobilization for the APC Campaign Council during the last general elections, he championed youth participation and engagement. Notably, he singlehandedly organized and sponsored the One Million Man March for President Tinubu in Zamfara, a landmark event that swayed the opinions of many former critics of President Tinubu’s presidential agenda.
A Critical Look at the Incumbent ES
In contrast, the current ES, Fatima Shinkafi, is widely perceived as having failed to serve the interests of the citizenry and the APC. Throughout her two tenures, she has been viewed as a close ally of Zamfara’s current governor and his political godfather, Gen. Aliyu Gusau. While APC loyalists worked tirelessly during the elections to secure victory for President Tinubu and Governor Matawalle, Shinkafi was reportedly absent, indulging in a lavish lifestyle in another state.
It is believed that the reversal of Hon. Danfulani’s appointment occurred due to misinformation provided to the Hon. Minister and the President. They were reportedly misled into believing that Fatima Shinkafi had only served a single term and was, therefore, eligible for reappointment. We categorically state that this is her second term, which is set to expire on May 24, 2025.
Our Stand and Call for Urgent Action
In light of the foregoing, we, the Concerned APC Students Forum, call on President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Hon. Minister of Solid Minerals to urgently reverse this decision and reinstate the appointment of Hon. Yazid Danfulani as the ES of the Solid Minerals Development Fund. Failure to do so would set a dangerous precedent of appointing an executive to lead an agency for a third consecutive term — a move that is unjust and contrary to good governance principles.
We firmly state that if this error is not corrected, we will be compelled to withdraw the support of our members in the 2027 general elections.
