Scrambling for ministerial positions in Kwara

Date: 2019-04-25

The intrigues and jostling are on the increase in Kwara State in the quest for ministerial appointments in the expected new cabinet of President Muhammadu Buhari. BIOLA AZEEZ writes.

TO all that worked in the electioneering leading towards eventual victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at all levels in Kwara State in the last general election, this is the time to reap their rewards for their contributions to the success of the party and its candidates in the elections.

Contrary to the thinking of some, the rewards for their individual and collective efforts in the just-concluded general election would not have come on a platter of gold as intrigues, scrambling and hustling for political positions have since commenced in earnest as politicians from the three senatorial districts of Kwara State are all out, trying to outsmart each other, as they engage in high-tech politicking to get what they believe should come to them.

While some political leaders in the state would say that there are laid down trends and tradition in selecting or distributing political positions in the state, some others are trying to use party structure and or party leadership to have their way in retaining or getting new federal appointments.

Sources claim that the present Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, from the Kwara South Senatorial District of the state, is planning to retain his position as minister, while some other party leaders, particularly from Kwara North Senatorial District, insist that it is their turn to produce a minister, more especially as they alleged that they had been out in the emerging political equation, judging by the outcome of the last elections.

As it is, the governorship slot has gone to Kwara Central Senatorial District, while the deputy governorship slot is with the Kwara South. There is a raging battle among lawmakers-elect from Kwara South and Kwara North on who is supposed to be the Speaker of the ninth state House of Assembly.

The people of Kwara North Senatorial District are of the strong view that such political positions as minister, Speaker and the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) should come to them, adding that doing so would just be in line with the previous trend in allocating political positions in the state.

On the other hand, some APC elders from Kwara South Senatorial District have called for the zoning of the position of Speaker of the state House of Assembly to the northern part of the state in the interest of fairness and justice.

In a statement signed by the chairman of the Elders of Kwara South Senatorial District, Chief James Ayeni and made available to newsmen in Ilorin, the group said no ambition should be allowed to threaten unity of the state. He said it was only fair to concede the speakership slot to Kwara North since the remaining two districts of the state -Central and South- have each got the elective positions of the governor and the deputy governor, respectively.

"While people reserve the right to pursue their ambition, Kwara South Senatorial District elders believe that ambition must be tamed and must not be wild to the point of threatening our unity which is capable of truncating our focus on good governance and commitment to providing dividends of democracy to the good people of Kwara State who have been so marginalised for so long. We can better achieve this in the atmosphere of fairness, equity and justice", the statement said.

They however called for support for the incoming administration, adding that, "while we must savour our hard-earned successes during the elections, we must not be complacent as it is not yet uhuru. The task ahead is humongous and requires total commitment in order to achieve our corporate objectives."

Except, there is a new twist to the usual practice, Kwara State is expected to produce one substantive minister or a minister of state. However, the 12 governorship aspirants on the platform of the APC in the 2019 general election in the state, in view of their contributions to the success of the party in the election, are looking forward to being rewarded with a ministerial portfolio.

Leading in this category are the former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin and 2019 APC governorship aspirant, Professor Oba Abdulraheem and a former chieftain of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) who also sought to contest the 2019 governorship election, Mallam Saliu Mustapha. Others included Alhaji Moshood Mustapha, Alhaji Lukman Mustapha, Alhaji Shuaib Yaman, Mallam Garba Gobir, Alhaji Hakeem Lawal and Mallam Modibbo Kawu.

According to inside sources in Kwara APC, three of the former governorship aspirants stand a better chance than the rest in the quest for the single ministerial slot meant for the state. The three being tipped for such an appointment are Professor Abdulraheem, Mallam Mustapha and Alhaji Yaman. This, the source disclosed to the Nigerian Tribune, is very certain.

However, against such likelihood is a possible return of the incumbent minister, Alhaji Lai Mohammed. Some APC leaders, especially, in Kwara Central Senatorial District, are not favourably disposed to the return of Alhaji Mohammed.

A source also said many members of the party from the senatorial district are not pleased with insinuation making the rounds in the state that the minister was behind the push from some quarters for the next Speaker of the state House of Assembly to come from Kwara South Senatorial District, where the Mohammed hails from. This move, the people believe, was meant to put the administration of the incoming governor in check by his favoured speakership contender.

However, another high ranking source in the party from Kwara South Senatorial District talked of the likelihood of the information minister retaining his position in the next cabinet, saying that he (Mohammed) has the ears of the party and President Muhammadu Buhari "being a Buhari person and judged by the political activities and programmes he has been put in charge to execute in the state."

"Intrigues are high, I must tell you. It is 50-50 chances among all of them. While some are taking their own politicking on the matter from the state and national party structures, some others are employing the influence of the presidency, among other fronts," he said.

One of the founding fathers of the party in the state who sought anonymity on the development also added his voice as he said "we are in a delicate period now. Until things take shape, one may need to tread with caution on such political discussions or issues."

The party bigwig, however, urged the party leadership to choose a credible and the right person that would deliver the dividends of democracy to the people. "There are many aspirants and interests jostling for the ministerial slot. So, it behooves on the leadership of the party to choose right to avoid unpleasant consequences," he said.

In one of the editions of its weekly radio programme, APC Gbode, the party leadership in the state urged all office seekers to allow for decorum and be patient in their angling for political positions. Confirming that its members had commenced scrambling for political positions in the incoming administration, it said the call became expedient so that activities of the ambitious politicians would not negatively affect governance negatively or put the party in disarray.

Source

 


Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

Olokoba     Olabanji Orilonishe     NaAllah     Kwara South     Olayinka Jelili Yusuf     Hassanat Bello     Abdulrasheed Akogun     Aishat Mohammed Lawal     Isiaka Danmeromu     Societe Generale Bank Of Nigeria     Temitope Ogunbanke     Face Masks     Ilesha Gwanara Road     Ayeyemi Sulaiman     Oro Grammar School     Lateef Ademola Olatunji     Mohammed Saidu     Alaro     Muslimah Entrepreneurship Forum     Sherif Sagaya     Yakubu Mohammed Abdullahi     Goodluck Jonathan     Isin     Kwara State Coalition Of Business And Professional Associations     International Aviation College     Garba Idris Ajia     Emmanuel Bello     Kayode Yusuf     Ilorin Descendants Progressive Union     Ibrahim Jawondo     Amoyo     Abdullahi G. Mohammad     Ilorin West/Asa Federal Constituency     Solomon Edoja     Ridhwanullah Al-Ilory     GRA     Egbejila     Olabode Towoju     Makama Of Ilorin     Ganmo Electricity Sub-Station     Sarafadeen Kayode Akorede     Ndama Al-hassan     Lithium     Ilorin Amusement Park     Sobi     Odo-Owa     Waheed Ibrahim     Shola Odetundun     Amos Bajeh     Mary Arinde     Suleiman Rotimi Iliasu     Baboko     Adijat Adebiyi     Afonja Descendants Union     Kwara Primary Health Care Development Agency     Moshood Kashimawo Abiola     Centre For Peace And Strategic Studies     Summit University     Aso-ofi     Ayoade Akinnibosun     Ibrahim Akaje     Shuaib Abdulkadir     Illyasu Abdullahi     Ahmad Olanrewaju Belgore     Apaola     Adeola Abraham     Kisira     Siddiq Adebayo Idowu Salawu     National Union Of Road Transport Workers     Olomu     Smart School     Shuaib Boni Aliyu     Adeleke Ogungbe     Ayo Opadokun     Musa Ayinla Yeketi     Olusola Saraki     Saliu Shola Taofeek    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

TIC     Third Estate     Yahaya Oloriegbe     Oluranti Idowu     New Naira Notes     Coronavirus     Folaranmi Aro     Ebola     Rotimi Atere     Bankole Omishore     Abdulkadir Orire     Bello Bature     UNIFEMGA     Salami Adekunle     Yusuf Mubarak     Umar Yakubu Jaja     Ibrahim Abduquadri Abikan     Kwara State Fire Service     Ilorin Emirate Stakeholders Forum     National Pilot     Bello Taoheed Abubakar     CELF     Kamaldeen Ajibade     Timothy Akangbe     AbdulRahman Saad     Salihu Ajibola Ajia     Temi Kolawole     Peter Obi     COEASU     Bareke     Umar Saro     George Funsho Adebayo     Raymond Olaitan     Olohungbebe     Olokoba Sulyman     Orisun Igbomina     Marufat Oladosu     Umar Sanda Yusuf     Okasanmi Ajayi     Abdulmumin Yinka Ajia     Medinat Folorunsho Salman     Sunday Fagbemi     Kwara State Television (KWTV)     Abdulganiyu AbdulAzeez     ENetSuD     Ahman Pategi University     Oluwole Dupe     Ambassador Kayode Laro     Tunde Yusuf     Kamoru Kadiri     Yusuf Abdulwahab     Alumni Association Of The Federal Polytechnic Offa     Village Alive Development Association     Sarah Jubril     Saduki Lafiagi     Gobirawa     Bayer Nigeria Limited     Kamaldeen Gambari     Galadima     Ubandoma Of Ilorin     SAPZ Project     Bukola Saraki     Sulyman Buhari     Niguel Gallando Marcias     Okin High School     Minimum Wage     Mansur Alfanla     Countryside Emerging Leaders Fellowship     Abdulganiyu Oladosu     Sarakite     Government Girls’ Day Secondary School Pakata     Olatunde Jare     Isiaka AbdulRazaq     Ahmed Ayinla Jimoh     Ibrahim Abiodun     Ghali Muhammed     Saheed Akinwumi