A Groupunder the auspices of Edu/ Patigi Progressive Association (EDUPAPA) has soughtfor review of the nominations of the Alhaji Lai Mohammed and Sen. GbemisolaSaraki as ministers in the President Muhammadu Buhari Cabinet.
Like two elites athletes who have set their sights firmly on the finish line, Gbemi Saraki and Lai Mohammed are eyeing the ministerial slot for Kwara in President Muhammadu Buhari’s second term. The All Progressive Congress Consultative Forum and the Kwara South Elders’ Forum in the state are divided over the state’s ministerial slot. The APC consultative forum is rooting for the retention of the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed; the Elders Forum said the ministerial slot should be given to another person.
The groupsaid, in a communique signed by its Chairman and Secretary, Ahmed Dakaya andSuleman Yahya, in Abuja weekend, thatthe nomination of Mohammed and Saraki violated the principle and practice ofFederal Character and participatory democracy.
“The twoministerial slots were ceded to Kwara state but none of the nominees came fromKwara North Senatorial District, rather the nominees are from Kwara Central andKwara South Senatorial Districts that produced the current governor and deputygovernor respectively,” the group said.
Governor Abdul-Rahman Abdul-Razaq of Kwara on Tuesday congratulated Alhaji Lai Mohammed and Sen. Gbemisola Saraki, for their nomination as ministerial nominees by President Muhammadu Buhari. The governor, in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye, said it is a great honour to have two ministerial nominees from the state.
It also saidthat only twice was a person made a minister from Kwara North SenatorialDistrict since the return to democratic rule in 1999.
The groupsaid: “Hajiya Amina Ndalolo was appointed minister by former President, ChiefOlusegun Obasanjo in in 1999, and Hon. Ibrahim Bio was appointed minister byLate President Umaru Musa Yar’adua. This was made possible at that time becausethey adhered to the principle of participatory democracy and Federal Character,whereby every part of the state was given a sense of belonging. At that timethe governors, late Mohammed Lawal and Dr. Bukola Saraki were from Ilorinin Kwara Central Senatorial District,while the their deputies, Decon Sayomi and Chief Joel Ogundeji, respectively,were from Kwara South Senatorial District.
“The eventeventually turned after the 2015 general elections when Alhaji Lai Mohammed wasappointed minister, even though he came from the same Senatorial District withthe sitting governor, Alhaji Fatai Ahmed.
“Kwara NorthSenatorial District has the largest land mass in Kwara state and second largestpopulation after Kwara Central Senatorial District. In the 2019 generalelection Kwar North Senatorial District had over 32 percent total vote castfrom Kwara state, with 80 percent of the votes cast given to PresidentMuhammadu Buhari and other All Progressive Congress (APC) candidates.
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“ Althoughappointing a minister is a prerogative of the President, we believe justice,fairness and equity is what President Muhammadu Buhari stands for; and it isour believe that Mr. President will look at their nominations again.”
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