Dear Engr Sale Mamman,

I want to use this opportunity to congratulate you once again on your appointment as the Minister of Power of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Your appointment to this exalted office comes at a time the nation is grappling with a plethora of problems in the electricity sector, which currently requires your urgent attention.

Nigeria is endowed with large gas, oil and hydro as well as solar resources. Although it already has the potential to generate 12,522 megawatts (MW) of electric power from existing plants, but most days it is only able to generate around 4,000 MW; which is grossly insufficient for a large country like Nigeria.

Hon Minister, Sir, your state, Taraba, alone has the largest number of power projects in the West African sub-region. I’m talking about the Mambilla and the Kashimbila hydro projects which I am told has attained 95 per cent completion.

Tarabians, and Nigerians by extension, trust your ability and capability to see towards the successful completion of these and other associated projects across the country; not only that, but also revitalise the ailing electricity sector.

Because power supply is an unavoidable prerequisite to any nation’s development, particularly developing nations like Nigeria.

Taraba APC and associated challenges

It is not by accident that you were appointed a Minister of the Federal Republic by President Muhammadu Buhari. He had clearly stated in his public statements that he would appoint those he personally know. And he knows you, sir, as you were the pioneer chairman of the Congress for Progress Change (CPC) in Taraba State; one of the legacy parties that merged to form the All Progressives Congress (APC).

It is because of that trust he has in you that necessitated your appointment to not only change the fortunes of the power sector for good, but that of members of the All Progressives Congress in your state, by ensuring they are carried along in government through appointments into boards and agencies, and all other aspects of governance in the country.

You must, as a matter of urgency, initiate the process of recalling members of boards of agencies and parastatals who have decamped to other political parties; particularly the UDP and the PDP in Taraba State, but have refused to relinquish their board positions. Their names should be replaced with those of “deserving and committed party members who have stayed put with the party since 1999 through thick and thin”.

It would be an understatement to say that members of the APC in Taraba state are operating like "orphans". They are repeatedly forced to ask whether they are still members of the party in power at the centre. You must also be careful of later day APC apologist, who joined the party yesterday night but are desperate to reap the fruits of the party, which they never sowed.

I must commend you sir, for promptly resuming office sequel to your inauguration and receiving briefings from relevant sectors and stakeholders, all in a bid to move the sector forward and also appointing capable and trustworthy hands as your aides. And they should be mostly members of the APC in Taraba.

Wishing you a successful, eventful and rancour-free tenure!

•Gaddafi Ibrahim Tanko writes from Abuja and can be reached via gaddafi_i@yahoo.com

Dear Engr Sale Mamman,

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