Youths in Kwara South under the aegis of Coalition Groups of All Progressives Congress (APC) members, Friday in Ilorin protested against the nomination of Alhaji Lai Mohammed as minister from the state.

Spokesman of the group‎, Prince Adetoyese Omokanye who led the protesters had earlier went to Ajase-Ipo, the political headquarters of Kwara South to express their anger to the senatorial Chairman, Alhaji Jimoh Balogun who also brought them to the state secretariat in Ilorin.

Omokanye demanded immediate replacement of Alhaji Lai Mohammed while presenting the letter of protest to the state chairman, Alhaji Ishola Balogun Fulani at the party secretariat. He said that the ministerial nominee did not contribute in any way to the success of APC in kwara state in the last elections.

“His permanent voter’s card (PVC) was registered and collected in Lagos and all his contributions for the emergence of APC at the federal level are through Lagos. He was not in Kwara all through the electioneering exercise and couldn’t influence our electoral successes at the poll. His son is presently a member of Lagos State House of Assembly,” Omokanye said.

“We are baffled when newspapers claims indicated that he represents Kwara state in the ministerial list submitted by the president to the national assembly for screening.”

“Our assumption was that two nominees have been taken from Lagos; Alhaji Lai Mohammed and Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola,” he added.

The spokesman also said that “confirming Lai Mohammed as representing Kwara state in the ministerial position is denying Kwara state of being represented at that level.

“It will be justice denied and a promotion of unfairness and political exclusion of Kwara state in the affairs of our country.”

“To this end, we request that Mr President chose among qualified individuals with impeccable character from Kwara South senatorial district to represent the state at the federal council. Kwara south senatorial district is made up of seven local government out of the sixteen in the entire state.

“We have great minds, success stories that could bring more and positive impacts to the nation building,people with unbeatable track records and have impacted positively to the social,political and economic integration of Kwara state. These group contributed greatly to the success of APC at all levels in Kwara state,‎” he added.

In his response, the state APC chairman, Alhaji Ishola Balogun-Fulani commended the youths ‎for conducting themselves peacefully. He assured that their concern would be forwarded to the appropriate quarters.

He also told journalists that the party hierarchy in the state was not consulted before the nomination of Alhaji Lai Mohammed.