Date: 2014-10-08

*Saraki, APC knock Suleiman

Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed and National Planning Minister Abubakar Suleiman have disagreed on the minimum wage in the state.

Addressing some Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) supporters yesterday in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, Suleiman said Kwara civil servants were the least paid. He said: "It is despicable and unthinkable that great as this state is, its civil servants remain the least paid in the country.

"The civil servants are being gradually pauperised. People must ask questions.

There must be an end to this and the time to do that is now. An individual must not hold the key to our political survival. What we see here are not new roads but the rehabilitation of old ones, which ordinarily should be fixed by the local governments. Is it not a cause for worry that N2 billion was used to rehabilitate our General Hospital in Ilorin? What then will it cost us to construct new ones? Kwarans ask questions about how you are being governed.

"Today, Kwarans are wiser and our mothers, fathers and even the youths are done with the politics of eba, amala and a pittance. They are ready to take their destinies in their hands. It is not about money but our future." he added.

Ahmed, through his media aide, Dr Muideen Akorede, said: "We expect a minister to be more circumspect and factual in his claims against the Ahmed administration. What is the basis of this clearly fallacious claim that our workers are the least paid? Kwara was among the first to pay workers the minimum wage.

"Despite the huge drop in the FAAC allocations, which we assume the minister is aware of, Kwara State is one of the few states with a prompt pay day. This feat is unlike the situation in several PDP-controlled states, which are owing workers salary for several months.

"We urge the minister to stop playing politics with the welfare of Kwara workers, who have cast their lot with the worker-friendly Ahmed administration, and focus on making an impact in his ministry.

"On hospitals, it makes more sense for the state government to fix existing structures before establishing new ones. We invite the minister to visit the re-modelled Ilorin General hospital and see how it has been transformed into a first-class facility before questioning the cost.

"We are also bewildered that the minister questions the administration's rehabilitation of existing roads, including those abandoned by the Federal Government. Where was Suleiman when the Ahmed administration revamped over 40 rural roads in partnership with local governments? Or when the state government intervened on Federal roads, such as Zango/Oyun Bridge Road, Fate Road, Ilorin and parts of the Ajase-Ipo/Erin Road?

"We urge the minister to back his criticism with data, instead of indulging in unsubstantiated claims in the name of politicking."

Kwara All Progressives Congress (APC) Chairman Ishola Balogun-Fulani and Senator Bukola Saraki also lashed Suleiman for describing the state as a potential hotbed for Boko Haram.

Saraki said: "It was a very irresponsible statement from the minister and he should withdraw it."

Balogun-Fulani said: "The minister is an Abuja politician. He doesn't know we have gainfully employed youths in Kwara. The government has empowered youths. The statement emanates from somebody who does not know that the state is known for harmonious co-existence. Kwara is the most peaceful state in Nigeria."

I wonder why he was chosen as a minister since he is not on ground in the state.

"Both Muslims and Christians cohabit peacefully in Kwara as they believe in God. Presumably, seeing that the state is peaceful, the minister plans to start using people to disrupt the peace. Possibly he has a different agenda for the state, but we will not allow him to succeed."