Kwara Cabinet: No more recycling

….as APC’s hierarchy rejects Commissioners’ list

The Senate President and the leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State, Dr. Bukola Saraki, has made fresh case for the injection of new blood into the yet-to-be constituted second term cabinet of Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed.

The Senate President, who reportedly spoke on Monday at a meeting held with the various local government caucuses in the state at his Ilofa GRA residence, Ilorin, said the leadership of the party will no longer recycle political appointees who had held various positions in the past.

It will be recalled that Saraki had after the April 11 guber election shocked all the politicians in the state that fresh blood will be injected in Ahmed's second term cabinet.

Also, the state governor had at different fora re-echoed Saraki's position of appointing fresh blood and technocrats into his government.

But in complying with Saraki's new 'order, some Local Governments caucuses have reportedly started rejigging of the list earlier submitted as commissioner and special adviser nominees after the earlier one submitted was trailed by ‘numerous petitions’.

National pilot can however authoritatively report that the affected LG caucuses had since gone back to the drawing board to forge a common front after which they will forward a consensus list to the party leadership.

Although it was gathered that while the finale list is meant to be ratified at a meeting with the party leaders scheduled for Friday, some LGs have not agreed on whether to stick to the earlier submitted list or present a new one.

Local council list that are reportedly affected, this medium gathered, are Ilorin West and East Local Governments respectively.

While in Ilorin East LG, stakeholders are spoiling for war as they alleged that the commissioner nominee belongs to the camp of the embattled party's Chieftain, Alhaji Abdulganiyu Cook Olododo, who was recently suspended for anti-party activities.

Stakeholders from the LG were, however, alleged to have written a strongly-worded petition to the party leadership, which led to the party's rejection of the nominee.

The caucus, according to a party source, however, submitted the name of a former House of Representatives Aspirant, Ambassador, Yahaya Gambari Seriki to replace him.

Majority of the other 14 LGs are, however, said to have a united front, and they have since harmonised the various interest in the LG and forwarded the consensus list to the party leadership.

A close party source gave the list of the six names submitted to the party leadership by the Ifelodun caucus as follows. Chief Yahaya Aro who is a former Special Assistant on security to Governor Ahmed, he hails from Oke-Ode ward1; Captain I.O Ahmed (rtd); Alhaja Ajibike Alabi; Olawale Olawomo; Adenike Ayilara and Adebayo Adetumo from Ora to complete the list.

According to an ahighly placed party source from Ekiti LG, the six proposed cabinet members as follows. Chief C.T Ayeni, the immediate past Deputy Chief of Staff as the commissioner nominee. Others on the list are Leke Ogungbe; a former Mandate Women Leader, simply as Bukola, who also doubles as a former member of the transition interim committee (TIC); Mr Olu Ayeni; Orlando Adio Odunjo and Yinka Aje.

The list purportedly submitted by Asa LG consist of Alhaji Wahab Bolakale Lawal; Alhaji Lamidi Akanbi and Alhaji Abdulateef Oloyin all commissionership nominees; while Alhaji Abdulfatai Solagberu and Dr. Yunus Lawal are said to have been shortlisted as Special Adviser nominees respectively.

The immediate past commissioner for Finance, Hon. Demola Banu; Anu Ibiwoye,Hon. Raheem Adedoyin are expected to slug it out as commissioner nominees from Irepodun LG; while Yinka Olawoye; Barr. Teju Oguntoye; Barr. Ayantola Atolagbe are all battling for the Special Adviser and Special Assistant slot respectively.

A highly placed local government source, however, confided in this medium that the LG caucus is yet to ratify the list, adding that while some leaders are suggesting the adoption of the first list others are clamouring for the adoption of the harmonised list.

In Oke-Ero LG, though the caucus had sat severally and came out with the list of the successful nominees, it was learnt that the 'caucus of the whole will' sit to ratify the list on Friday (tommorow).

A source from the area, however, gave the name of the nominees as Joseph Olaniyan, who is a former chairman of the council; Goke Bamidele, who is the immediate past LG youth empowerment coordinator and Yemisi Ajayi, all from Odo-Owa where the commissionership has been zoned to.

Kayode Bankole, Olabode Towoju and Mrs Ope Ibikunle have all been shortlisted for Special Adviser and Assistant respectively.

#kwara #Politics