The Kebbi State government has suspended Dr Nasiru Abubakar Kigo, the permanent secretary of the cabinet office over his recent claim that the state and neighbouring Sokoto have the highest numbers of registered gay and lesbians.
The Governor, Nasir Idris, in a statement, Friday, by his Chief Press Secretary, Ahmed Idris, placed the permanent secretary on an indefinite suspension.
Recall, the permanent secretary while delivering a lecture during an Islamic gathering, claimed that the initial census revealed that the state has a high number of registered homosexuals and lesbians, specifically 15,979 and 18,567 respectively
He further said that Sokoto State had 9,978 registered members practising homosexuality, placing it second in the federation.
He also stated that Sokoto had 10,456 registered lesbians, ranking third nationally.
In a swift reaction the state government distanced itself from his claims, calling them “fictitious and baseless.”
However, the Governor followed up the earlier reaction with a letter from the Kebbi State Head of Service, Malami Shekare, regretting that Kigo’s comments violated civil service rules and amounted to “social misconduct” that tarnished the state’s reputation.
“The statement is misleading and unacceptable in a morally decent society. The official is to remain suspended pending an investigation,” the Governor’s statement said.
