Kwara cabinet: Rancour in Asa, Ilorin East, South, West, Ekiti, others
- Abdulrasheed Akogun
- Jul 2, 2015
- 4 min read
...as aspirants accuse LG caucus of bias, imposition
The purported directive by the Kwara State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the 16 Local Governments in the state to submit 12 names each in consideration for appointment in the next cabinet of Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed has reportedly created infighting among stakeholders across the state, National Pilot can report.
Political gladiators in the respective local governments in the state are said to be spoiling for action which may implode the party if not nip in the bud on time, according feelers in some quarters
It would be recalled that this medium exclusively reported in its last edition (June 18 2015), that the state chapter of the party had directed LGs' party executives to forward three names each for the post of commissioner, Special Adviser, Special Assistant and members of the state owned boards and parastatals respectively.
This medium gathered that some party stalwarts had reportedly started outwitting one another in the race for who gets appointed in the next cabinet which has generated frenzy across the state.
A highly placed party source from Ilorin West Local Government narrated how the party executives from the ward informed all interested party members to submit their curriculum Vitae (CV).
“We were told to submit our CV to the committee headed by Alhaji Amasa Okodo which we did on Sunday (June 14 2015). The committee came out with its report on Monday but we were however surprised they opted for a consensus candidate, who was a member of the last cabinet, citing examples from other wards that had toed the same line and enjoined us to lend our support.
“But this is the same person that has been in government for six years running and we believe others that have worked for the party should also benefit.
“I believe we need somebody who has laboured for the party through thick and thin, I am not saying I must be appointed; but the fact remains we have so many other qualified professionals who will perform and our people will also benefit from them”, he added.
But the Chairman of the screening committee, Alhaji Amasa Okodo, while speaking with this medium on the issue, denied the allegation of favouritism leveled against the committee, adding that the onus lies with the party hierarchy to choose amongst the names the local government is putting forward.
"We are not supporting anybody above the other, it is the party's hierarchy that has the final say; we are however praying that as many as possible, our members are appointed because we have quality candidates that can occupy any post in the state", he added.
Another aspirant from Ilorin South, who did not want his name in print, however, denied the perceived scheming by the party's stalwarts in the local government and maintained the he expected the party to compensate those that had worked and delivered for the party during the last general elections.
He said, '' Though the party hasn’t approached us, I believe, I stand a good chance as it was only my polling unit that delivered more than 70 per cent as required by the party.
“I am hopeful that the party will adhere to its promises and compensate those of us who toiled day and night to deliver our wards'', he said.
It was also gathered that the situation in Asa has pitched some party heavyweights against one another as two strong party stalwarts are reportedly slugging it out on who produces the list of the Local Government for onward submission to the party.
To this end, the party bigwigs involved in the scheming are reportedly bandying different lists containing names of their loyalist and allies.
A source within the LG said: “A repeat of what happened during the last local government election where both party chieftains cued behind different chairmanship candidates is likely to occur”.
In Ilorin East, it is said to be a torn between loyalists of the embattled Alhaji Abdulganiyu Cook Olododo and other party members who are insisting that the appointment must come from their camp as against the former.
Narrating the reason for their complaint, a member of the group, told this medium that that current scenario if upheld is like “Monkey dey work, Baboon they chop” and queried the party’s rationale on the issue.
''When Olododo abandoned the party tacitly during the last general election, we worked very hard to deliver the local government and we are only harping on the fact that those that worked against the party must be sanctioned and not rewarded with appointment”, he added.
In Ekiti Local Government, the issue, this medium further gathered, has divided stakeholders in the party into three camps of Hon. Ebun Owolabi of the Kwara State House of Assembly, the Chairman of the local government, Akintoba Fatigun and the former Deputy Chief of Staff, Government House, Chief Christopher Ayeni, respectively.
A highly placed party leader from the LG who spoke anonymously with this medium on the matter noted that, “Though the three party leaders enjoy a seemingly cordial relationship, they are tacitly supporting different candidates, with an eye on the local government election next year and the 2019 elections respectively.
In Ifelodun local government, the issue is, however, said to be rancour free as majority of the stakeholders are said to be on the same page as to who gets what.
A member, who is privy to the happenings in the LG, confided in this medium that the local government has a long standing arrangement which entails zoning and spreading of offices to take care of the diversity and various interests in the local council.
"Though we may have some dissenting voices on the arrangement, I can however assure you more than 95per cent of the stakeholders are carried along throughout the process and I want to assure you that once the list comes out, it will express the wish of all and sundry”, the source submitted.
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