Members of the main opposition political party in Kwara state, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), have criticised the present All Progressives Congress (APC) government in the state over its failure to conduct local government elections since its assumption of office about four and a half years ago.
In their separate statements, the PDP stalwarts, namely, Yusuf Salihu and Salaudeen Lukman, lamented the alleged prolonged absence of executive chairmen in the state’s 16 local government areas, saying that the development had caused unease among residents.
Yusuf, who took to his Twitter page and Facebook page, said that Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq had not conducted local government elections to elect democratically elected council chairmen since he assumed office, adding that, instead, the governor had been using the Transition Implementation Committee (TIC).
Also, Comrade Salaudeen Lukman berated the Governor Abdulrazaq-led government over its inability to produce commissioners for the state or make the reported nominees public.
Lukman, who is a former Kwara State House of Assembly candidate for Ojomu Balogun Constituency under the PDP, also blamed the emergence of different lists of commissioner-nominees in the state on the attitude of the state government.
“It is worrisome to have a state like Kwara, where the Governor recently benefited from the Nigerian zoning system to become Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF), but leaves the state he governs to suffer a great setback in governance.
The state has no Secretary to the State Government and no Chief of Staff to the governor. This is akin to autopilot.
“Kwarans seem to be deceived by a public statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker, Mr Sheu Yusuf, on the 27th of July, 2023, stating the Governor requested the screening and approval of 20 commissioner-nominees sent and 10 Special assistants.
This has been proved to be a washed-up press statement as the Kwara State House of Assembly refuses to commence screening of the said nominees.
Comrade Salaudeen called on the leadership of the House of Assembly to come clean on the constitutional matter to enable Kwarans to know who wants to make the state stagnant.
“Some over four years ago Saraki dynasty was ousted in Kwara State by Kwarans, which gave birth to the current government. I believe every conversant and political analyst will know what the struggle was then to unseat the Senate President of Nigeria in the polls.
“Our question now is, are we getting it right or wrong with the current government? That is the thought of every well-meaning stakeholder in the state that has the interest of the masses at heart.
“It has been almost three years since the current administration appointed the unconstitutional TIC party men to run the affairs of the local government, which have paralysed and turned the local government into a non-functioning state.
“At the state level, the majority of the retired civil servants still manage the affairs of the government, instead of allowing the next in line to be promoted and take charge.
“Recently, about a week ago, the governor of the state held a meeting with some selected stakeholders informing them of the reasons why local government will be next year.
“Through a powerful delegation, we made findings with INEC and ICT departments, asking them how many days it will take them to move data to the state level. We were made to understand that it will take less than six weeks for everything to be done.
“Kwara State should not be governed like this, Our governor is the chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum and he should lead by example.
“It is about three months now, sir. No Commissioners, No Special Advisers, No Senior Special Assistants, No Special Assistants, No Kitchen cabinets; the affairs of Kwara State are being saddled by shadows and proxies; this is not what Kwarans deserve from Mr Governor.
“We desire Local Government Council Elections, stop toying or with the lives of the common man”.
YOU SHOULD NOT MISS THESE HEADLINES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
VIDEO: Alema of Warri buys customised 2023 Maybach for wife, Natasha
Chief Emmanuel Uduaghan, the Alema of Warri Kingdom, in Delta, has bought a new vehicle worth millions of…
Call on God to kill me if … — Pastor Adeboye
Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, the general overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, has said to call on God to kill him if…
Military rejects requests to topple Tinubu’s Government — DHQ
The Armed Forces of Nigeria, AFN, has rejected requests by Coup instigators to topple the democratically elected Government of…
Petrol pump price may jump to N750/litre — IPMAN
The association’s national spokesperson, Mr. Chinedu Ukadike gave the hint while speaking to…
#BBNaijaAllstars: Food crisis looms as housemates lose weekly wager
Big Brother Naija All stars Housemates have lost the first Wager task, which means for the next week, there will be…
Heavyweight bout: Anthony Joshua knocks out Robert Helenius in seventh round
Robert Helenius was defeated by Anthony Joshua at the O2 Arena in London on Saturday after..
