Intrigues as Gbemisola Saraki Eyes Kwara Ministerial Slot

Date: 2019-05-21

If feelers seeping out from the Kwara State chapter of the ruling All Progressives Congress is anything to go, there is a titanic battle currently ongoing between two of the state's prominent people in what amounts to a straight shoot-out for control of the local chapter of the APC. Both camps have started beating the war drums ahead of the impending inauguration of the new administration.

In one corner with her followers stands Gbemisola Saraki, daughter of the late strongman of Kwara politics and second republic lawmaker Olusola Saraki. In the other corner is long-serving APC stalwart and former national Publicity Secretary of the party Alhaji Lai Mohammed.

Like two elites athletes who have set their sights firmly on the finish line, Gbemi Saraki and Lai Mohammed are eyeing the ministerial slot for Kwara in President Muhammadu Buhari's second term. While Gbemi is aiming to take her first bite of the ministerial apple, Lai Mohammed, the current minister of information and culture, is bidding to retain his position.

Over recent weeks, Gbemi has been on a charm offensive, trying to rally prominent Kwarans under the APC flag to her cause. She is also allegedly in contact with top APC officials at the national level. She is leaving no stone unturned to secure what she regards as just rewards for the herculean efforts she expended to unseat her blood brother and outgoing Senate president Bukola Saraki from his perch atop the Kwara political totem pole.

Expectedly, Lai Mohammed is not taking her recent moves lying down. They have been telling whoever cared to listen that Gbemi cannot match Lai in terms of loyalty or contributions to the cause. Lai Mohammed, they opined, has been a staunch loyalist who stayed in the APC under its various guises, unlike Gbemi who is a relative newbie having only decamped in 2015. They also pointed out how Mohammed has done a yeoman's job in his post and right from when he was the chief publicist for the APC.

As the battle heats up, Gbemi and Mohammed are banking on their respective networks at the national level to gain the upper hand. Gbemi is said to have wormed her way into the heart of the APC national chairman comrade Adams Oshiomhole such that he always consults her before making any important decision that affects the party in Kwara.

On the other hand, Alhaji Lai Mohammed is the designated leader of the party in the state and can count on the loyalty of much of the rank and file, despite Gbemi's recent moves to win them over. He is also said to be very close to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. In fact, he served as Tinubu's Chief of Staff during his first term as Lagos governor.

With the die cast and the stage set, all eyes are now on President Muhammadu Buhari and his advisers to see which of the two titans of Kwara politics gets the nod to represent the state as a primary minister in the 2019-23 executive cabinet.

Source

 

Cloud Tag: What's trending

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

Wahab Kunle Shittu     Ilorin General Hospital     Transition Implementation Committee     Agboola Babatunde     PAACO-PCL Consortium     Pius Abioje     Oloye     Logun     Aliyu Kora Sabi     EFCC     Monthly Sanitation     Busari Alabi Alausa     Niguel Gallando Marcias     AbdulRaheem Ahmad Shayi     Mohammed Abduraheem     Olatunji Bamgbola     Chemiroy Nigeria Limited     Adebayo Mohammed Kamaldeen     Muhammad Ghali Alaaya     Tunji Olawuyi     Tafidan Kaiama     Ado Bayero     Otunba Taiwo Joseph     Suraj Tunji Oyewale     HAMFAT Clinic And Maternity     Amada Jidda     Balogin Alanamu     UNILORIN Alumni Association     CLAY POT     Olokoba     Kwara Central     Danhawa     Playing Host     John Kehinde Salako     Kunle Okeowo     Kayode Laro     Ajidagba     Lateef Fagbemi     Oluwole Dupe     Frootify     Presidential Election     Abdulrasaq Alaro     Omar Bolaji Gambari     Moji Makanjuola     Saadu Alanamu     Federal Polytechnic Offa     Doyin Agbamu     Peter Amogbonjaye     Raliat Islamic Foundation     Societe Generale Bank Of Nigeria     AbdulGafar Tosho     Sambo Murtala     Kwara State University Of Education     Share/Tsaragi     Split Diamond Interchange     Adegoke Bamidele     Soffiyyallah Kamaldeen     James Ayeni     Alaiye     Amina Susa\'a De Ahmed     Metro Park     Vasolar Consultoria     Arinola Lawal     Barakat Community Secondary School     Savannah Centre For Diplomacy, Democracy And Development     Olatinwo     Valsolar Consortium     SARS     Yahaya Seriki     Ethical College     Aro Yahaya     Toyin Sanusi     Egbejila     Olaitan Adefila     Muhammad Yahya     Busari Toyin Isiaka     Suleiman Yahya Alapansapa    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

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

Muritala Olarewaju     Bukola Ajikobi     Makama Of Kaiama     Abdul-Rahoof Bello     Ita-Nmo Market     Saliu Oluwole     ANCOPPS     Igosun     United Nigeria Congress Party     Funmilayo Zubair     Boko Haram     Oyin-Zubair     Oke Sunna     Smart School     Logun     IDPU     Saraki     Ahmed Ayinla Jimoh     Babata     Shehu Salau     Saba Mamman Daniel     Monsurat Omotosho     Onikijipa     Okin Biscuits     Donatus Ejidike     Lanre Jimoh     Muhammadu Gobir     Mahee Abdulkadir     Yoonus Lawal     Ahmed Alhasssan     Kulende     Shoprite     Bisi Kristien     Apado     Muyiwa Oladipo Kanu     College Of Arabic And Islamic Legal Studies     Offorjama     Kwara State Infrastructure Development Fund     Oja-Oba     Mike Omotosho     Moji Makanjuola     Femi Gbajabiamila     Oba Mogaji Abdulkadir     Ayobami Seriki     Akeem Lawal     Khadijat Ayoola Yusuf     Mohammed Abdulahi     Adolescent Girls Initiative For Learning And Empowerment     Daud Adeshola     Owu Fall     ASMAU PLAZA     Ahmed Idris Mohammed     Akume     ER-KANG Mining Nigeria Company Limited     Kola Olota     Olukotun Of Ikotun     Mohammed Halidu     Amina Susa\'a De Ahmed     Saad Belgore     Rafiu Olasile     Joseph Alex Offorjama     Yaman     Bond     Omoniyi Ayinla     Demola Banu     Tunji Arosanyin     Idowu Aremu     Senior Special Assistant On Student Affairs     Abiodun Musa Aibinu     BECE     Kwara Coalition Of Business And Professional Associations     Kwara Central     Ike Ekweremadu     Yusuf Amuda Aluko     Kwara Poly     Abdulkadri Ahmad Alaiye     Radio Kwara