Date: 2014-07-19

Our attention has been drawn to a report online at e-Kwara.com and the National Pilot Newspapers over a purported plea by Hajia Muinat Bola Shagaya to the duo of Senator Bukola Saraki and Governor AbdulFatah Ahmed over the confirmation of Dr. Abubakar Sulaiman as a Minister of the Federal Republic.

Ordinarily, we would not have responded to what any casual observer would understand to be blatant falsehood and sheer innuendoes but we realize that falsehood left unchallenged will pass for the truth especially among some undiscerning citizens. It is because of this that we will set the records straight.

1. The last time Hajia Muinat Bola Shagaya and Senator Bukola Saraki ran into each other was about three Saturdays ago in the United Kingdom while both were attending a birthday celebration of a mutual friend of theirs.

2. We state emphatically that Hajia Muinat Bola Shagaya did not at anytime visit the duo of Senator Bukola Saraki and Governor AbdulFatah Ahmed on the ministerial nomination of Dr. Abubakar Sulaiman

3. For the record, Kwara's representative in the Federal Executive Council, Dr. Abubakar Sulaiman in company of a high ranking Senator of the Federal Republic visited almost all Senators of the Federal Republic. This is the tradition of ministerial nominees aimed at familiarizing themselves with the distinguished members of the Senate before the confirmation proper. In carrying out this traditional homage to all the Senators of the Federal Republic - a list which includes Senator Bukola Saraki - there was never a time that Dr. Abubakar Sulaiman begged or prostrated for any of them and especially to Senator Bukola Saraki. We challenge e-Kwara.com, National Pilot Newspapers, their sponsors and collaborators to furnish any proof of such or forever hold their peace.

4. Also for the record, Dr. Abubakar Sulaiman does not have any criminal indictment from the University of Abuja or from any other quarters. Isn't it curious that the Bukola Saraki that we all know will sit on a criminal indictment of Dr. Abubakar Sulaiman simply because he was begged? We all know that if such exist, Bukola Saraki and his hirelings would have exposed such with the speed of Jack Robinson. The truth is that there is no such indictment! Dr. Abubakar Sulaiman is a thoroughbred intellectual - grounded in ethical morals - you would not find him in any unholy or immoral activity. Besides, Dr. Sulaiman was investigated thoroughly as part of the screening process in the run up to the nomination as a Minister by Mr. President. If all the security agencies in Nigeria did not find him wanting, where did e-Kwara, National Pilot and their collaborators came across this spurious claim? Again, we challenge e-Kwara.com, National Pilot Newspapers, their sponsors and collaborators to furnish any proof of an indictment or forever hold their peace.

5. It is necessary to state that Dr. Abubakar Sulaiman was nominated by Mr. President with the active support of all Kwara PDP stakeholders – a list which does not include Senator Bukola Saraki and the APC.

All of these facts are necessary in order to assuage our teeming supporters in the Peoples' Democratic Party that neither Hajia Muinat Bola Shagaya nor Dr. Abubakar Sulaiman will engage in any activity that will bring disrespect to the millions of Kwarans yearning for change.

We state emphatically that in Kwara state today and by extension the Peoples' Democratic Party, Hajia Muinat Bola Shagaya has become our rallying point. She is not desirous of becoming a Governor, a Senator or possessing of any inordinate ambition to dominate others; posterity however has saddled her with the responsibility of working with other Kwarans who are yearning for good governance and democracy.

Wasiu Adekunle
For: Kwara Alliance 4 Change
Ph: 081 28212632 (sms only)
Email: Kwaraalliance4change@gmail.com