Peter Aliyu: Meet the Cleaner Who Is Now Appointed As Nigerian Governor's Senior Aide against All Odds

From being a mere cleaner under the Kogi state government's partnership programme, Geemoney Cleaning Scheme, Peter Aliyu has risen to become Governor Yahaya Bello's Senior Special Assistant on Sanitation.

Aliyu's appointment was announced in a statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr Folashade Arike Ayoade, and obtained by VAM News on Saturday, May 8.

Governor Yahaya, Peter Aliyu

Mohammed said the appointment of Aliyu who is speech impaired was announced at the state executive council alongside other new government appointees of the state government.

Why Aliyu was appointed

Explaining the reason for Aliyu's appointment, the SSG said Governor Bello was impressed by the young man’s consistency, diligence and dedication after observing him for some time.

The SSG noted that the qualities observed by Governor Bello also endeared Aliyu to many people who have hailed his appointment Dr Ayoade added that Governor Bello did not consider Aliyu’s disability, speech impairment, "as a hindrance for him to effectively serve but rather, as a means to enlist him and prove to the world that true that in disabilities lie abilities as well.”

The statement read in part: “Governor Bello has always been known for his non-discrimination approach to leadership and how he has ensured that individuals of different class, group have equal rights in governance."

The SSG noted that the gesture by Governor Bello, recalling that the Kogi state governor has in the past given special considerations to people with disabilities by engaging them actively in his government and even signing bills that would enhance their ease and welfare.

In a related story, governor Bello of Kogi state is now a professor, courtesy of ST Thomas-A-Becket University, London.

The governor recent took to his social media pages to announce the good news.

According to Bello, the honourary professorship was given in Humanitarian Services, Human Resources Management and Peace Building.