Nigeria: Yakowa's Wife May Emerge Deputy Governor

 Strong indications emerged yesterday suggesting that the wife of the late governor of Kaduna State, Mrs Amina Elizabeth Yakowa, could emerge the deputy governor of the state following the death of her husband in a helicopter crash on Saturday.

The plan to tap Amina as the deputy to the newly sworn-in governor of Kaduna State, Dr. Mukhtar Ramalan Yero, is being championed by northern governors across party divide, top northern politicians and governors from other regions of the country with the aim of sustaining Yekowa's legacies.

The promoters of the move to install Yakowa's wife could meet with Vice President Namadi Sambo in about a week's time.

Members of the group, who refused to be named, told LEADERSHIP last night that they were convinced that Mrs Yakowa was the best candidate for the position.

She was a former deputy director at the Ministry of Defence and only retired after her husband became governor.

The promoters said they were also inspired by the example of the wife of the former Senate President, Mrs Margery Okadigbo, who emerged to take over her husband, Chuba's slot in the Senate. They also alluded to the recent example of a former Senator from Plateau State, Sen. Gyang Dantong, who was similarly succeeded by his wife, after he was killed by gunmen at a funeral in the state.

Mrs Yakowa was born on May 20, 1953 in Kwoi, Jaba Local Government of Kaduna State.

An educationist, she holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. She taught in many schools in Kaduna State before transferring her service to the Ministry of Defence, Abuja. According to the Kaduna State website, she is now on leave of absence.

A humane, humble and motherly person, Mrs Yakowa is known to be very compassionate, warm and accommodating. She is a patron to many associations, and sits on the board of many non-governmental organisations.

Within the short period of assumption of office as wife of the governor, Mrs Yakowa, in collaboration with the National Poverty Eradication Programme (NAPEP) conditional cash transfer project, was able to assist poor families to improve their economic status through presentation of cash to start small businesses. She has also been actively involved in the state immunisation programme as well as the fight against malaria.

Only recently, Mrs Yakowa successfully hosted the First Lady, Dame Patience Goodluck Jonathan, to launch the Kaduna State chapter of Women for Change Initiative (W4CI), making the state the third to launch the programme.