Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State yesterday explained that the current financial quagmire facing the country had prevented him from appointing commissioners and other political officeholders since he started his second term in office.

He said given the financial crisis in the country with states unable to pay salaries of civil servants, it would be out of place for him to appoint commissioners and other officeholders who would become another financial burden to him.

Besides, the governor explained that the current financial situation called for proper planning on how to prudently run the government.

Since the assumption of office for the second term on May 29, the governor had made only five appointments amid the politicians' jostle for appointment. So, those seeking appointments would have to wait for a longer period as the governor said the state was not financially buoyant to pay commissioners and other appointees.

Speaking during his monthly media chat broadcast live on the state radio stations, the governor said he would have appointed commissioners as soon as he was sworn-in but the financial crisis did not allow him.

He said, "You see ordinarily as a second term governor under a smooth running system, where you don't have financial constraint, I would have appointed commissioners the next day I was sworn-in. But you see no matter how much plans you have in running government, resources must be available.

"We are all aware that we are coming out of a huge financial deficit largely perpetrated by the last Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led federal administration which has brought us to a level where it was unbelievably difficult for states to meet up with their salaries. So, it would be very much out of place for me to come in and immediately appoint commissioners, commissioners to do what?

"We saw where we find ourselves even in the payment of salaries. You want me to appoint commissioners and other political advisers who would also put me under financial pressure for salaries and wages. The real reason why we have to move on is because we have plan".

The governor also criticized those tagging the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari as too slow, urging Nigerians to be patient with him.