The answer that Senator Allwell Onyesoh wants from ministerial nominee, Bello M. Goronyo

By Auwal Ahmed Ibrahim, Goronyo

Senator Allwell Onyesoh didn’t know that he was saved from Bar. Bello Muhammad Goronyo by his question on how the ministerial nominee gained admission into Usman Danfodio University in 1997 with his secondary certificate.

Senator Allwell Onyesoh who has a Bachelor’s of Arts B.A degree in Communication Arts as highest academic qualification, a two times commissioner in Rivers state was a lecturer of Rivers State School of Basic studies forgot that JAMB is not the only gate way into Nigerian university.

The dodged tactics of Barrister Bello Muhammad Goronyo before the senate was good for saving senator Allwell from buzz as skilful Barrister Bello Muhammad chose the second option for his qualification for a minister despite his robust academic records.

As a Fulani man who obsessed shy and mutual respect for people don’t need to tell Senator Allwell Onyesoh that JAMB is not the only means to get admission into Nigerian university being him a senator and once a lecturer.

The Interim Joint Matriculation Board Examination (IJMB) was set up by the Federal Government of Nigeria in the year 1974 under status 5 of the Ahmadu Bello University law to run the interim joint matriculation board examination (IJMBE) as an alternative “A” level Examination for northern institutes to create access for deficient students to get admission into universities. While Usman Danfodio University was an affiliate of ABU.

Another means of getting admission into Nigerian University is through the Remedial study program. The Remedial program started in 1976 as a special programme for students with deficiencies in their O-Levels to gain admission in Nigerian universities.

With his quantum of experiences and academic excellence, Barrister Bello Muhammad Goronyo had “Masters in Energy security management from the Nigeria Defence Academy (NDA) Kaduna, another Masters in business management and leadership from London Graduate School, London UK, thereafter had another master Masters of Philosophy in Leadership and strategic studies from NDA in 2021 and presently pursuing his Ph.D in Leadership and strategic studies from the same NDA, Kaduna.”

“Barrister Bello Muhammed had very meritorious working experiences. He worked as Vital Registration Assistant (VRA) with National Population Commission (NPC) from 1991-1992, Legal translator with the Sokoto State House of Assembly from 1992-1993, Principal Orientation Officer (POO) with National Orientation Agency (NOA) from 1993-2001 and took up a lecturing appointment with the State College of Legal and Islamic studies, Sokoto from 2001-2006, practiced with the Adamu Umar and Co (law chambers from 2001-2006 and also with Rafi Law chambers, Sokoto from 2006-2007.

“Barrister Goronyo was elected member Sokoto State House of Assembly to represent Goronyo Constituency from 2007- 2015. He became the interim organising Secretary of the party in Sokoto State in 2014 and Goronyo local government campaign coordinator for the 2015 general elections, he was Secretary APC legal committee election petitions of 2015.

In recognition of his political sagacity, Barrister Bello Muhammed Goronyo was appointed as Commissioner Ministry for Solid Minerals & Natural Resources Development, Sokoto State. from 2015-2017, deployed as Commissioner Ministry of Energy Development, Sokoto State in 2017-2018 and then further deployed as Commissioner Ministry of Information, Sokoto State, a position he held from 2018-2019 before he voluntarily resigned after serving meritoriously in all the Ministries he served as Commissioner. Barrister Bello got elected as Zonal Secretary APC North West in 2022 and appointed into the APC campaign council as Director National Youth mobilisation North West of the Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) in 2023, a position he served with proven results.”

Therefore, with few of the above record of achievements and academic excellence; Barrister Bello Muhammad Goronyo deserved all accolades to be a minister of Nigeria, and with what he knows he need not to argue with his interviewer. But, for me, I decided to explain the thought in Barrister Bello Muhammad Goronyo’s mind.

Auwal Ahmed Ibrahim Goronyo is a political analyst and writes from Kaduna state, Goronyo can be reached via auwalgoronyo@gmail.com