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Kano-born business mogul, politician and philanthropist, Abdussalam Abdulkarim Zaura, popularly known as
AA Zaura, says the continued absence of the suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Betta Edu, has slowed down the humanitarian momentum of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

Zaura said the suspended minister was touching lives of ordinary Nigerians in line with the renewed hope agenda of President Tinubu until her suspension.

President Tinubu had earlier in the year suspended the minister over alleged financial impropriety and directed her probe by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

However, as the investigation continues, well-meaning Nigerians and supporters of the Tinubu administration have called for transparency and fairness, urging the president to give the minister a second chance, considering her competence and humanitarian disposition towards ordinary Nigerians, in line with the “Renewed Hope Agenda” of the Tinubu administration.

According to Zaura, candidate for Kano Central Senatorial seat in the 2023 general elections, “the absence of Betta Edu in the ministry has reduced the visible impact the ministry made across Nigeria within a short time that president Tinubu came into power.”

He therefore expressed dismay why the investigation has continued unending, adding that “this matter should not be politicised and if she is found innocent, she should be reinstated quickly to continue the good works of using that ministry to touch the lives of the masses, especially under privileged Nigerians.”

“I think something should be done quickly because that ministry is a sensitive office and it means so much to the people of Nigeria.

“We all saw her efforts across Nigeria when she was in office, every Nigerian could testify of her impact within such a short time of this administration.

“Whenever there was natural disaster, she was always there, wherever there was issue of hunger, you saw this woman there; so she was a passionate agent of the renewed hope agenda of Mr President.

“Every Nigerian saw what she was doing as a minister, so her investigation should be fair and objective, and the president should expedite the process for Nigerians to know if she is coming back to office,” he said.

According to the founder of A. A. Zaura Foundation, a humanitarian NGO, “as Nigerians are faced with hunger and biting economic challenges, someone in the capacity of the suspended minister is needed to steer the Humanitarian ministry.”

He added that “despite being the youngest among all the ministers she demonstrated uncommon competence and passion in less than six months, and I think she is needed more in times like these.”