Disregard call opposing Lai Mohammed’s reappointment, Kwara South APC Leaders tell Buhari, say callers don’t speak for them

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File: Lai Mohammed during a visit to Ilorin following defections of federal lawmakers in the Kwara State August last year.

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Seven Local Government Areas of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State have dismissed a statement calling that President Muhammadu Buhari should not re-appoint Alhaji Lai Mohammed, signed by two “self acclaimed elders” of Kwara South APC as one to be treated with a pinch of salt.

They said the signatories of the statement purportedly issued by two elders, Chief J.B. Ayeni and one Jide Usman neither represent nor speak for the senatorial district of the state.

In a statement titled “Re: Don’t reappoint Lai Muhammad as Minister”, signed by all the seven LGs chairmen and copy of which was sent to The DEFENDER, they said the party hierarchy in the seven local government areas of the district had, at the moment, not constituted any elders forum or committee to speak for them either collectively as a district or individually.

Signatories to the disclaimer were Hon mohammed Shilo Awobimpe: Chairman Ifelodun LG; Hon Aransiola Oyeyemi Samson: Chairman Irepodun LG; Hon Bamidele Ogunbayo:         Chairman Isin LG; Engr Muhideen Shittu: Chairman Oke Ero LG; Hon Olawale Awelewa: Chairman Ekiti LG; Hon Taiye Olaniyi: Chairman Oyun LG. and Hon Yusuf Abdulganiyu Kehinde: Chairman Offa LG.

According to the statement they said: “Our attention had been drawn to the press release issued on the 22nd May 2019 by some elders claiming to be speaking for Kwara South APC elders. This should be disregarded in its entirety and whatever it stands for.

“We are bold to say that the signatories of the said release, Chief J.B. Ayeni and one Jide Usman, are not speaking for Kwara South let alone their local government areas.

“At the moment, the party hierarchy in the 7 local government areas of the senatorial district have not constituted any elders forum or committee to speak for it. And as we all know, there’s legally-constituted party structure at all levels. These are the only legally-authorised body to speak on behalf of the Kwara South APC on all matters relating to the members of the party in the senatorial district.

“The illegal body, as represented by Ayeni and Usman, that is castigating the Hon. Minister, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, as regards the last general elections forgot to intimate the general public with the extraordinary effort they put in to the party victory in their domain that makes them to be more important than the Honourable Minister.

“We wish to state unequivocally that Alhaji Lai Mohammed as Minister provided all the necessary apparatus required of a leader in making the APC to record a resounding victory in the last general elections.

“We know the antecedent of all individuals involved in this act as this is the only way they know in getting patronage, especially during the period of appointments.

“They are doing all this to get appointment in the state. We even have it on good authority that the septuagenarian, Chief J.B. Ayeni, is lobbying AA and his family members for the position of SSG for himself.

“Is it a hatchet job? Or is it the hand of Esau and the voice of Jacob? Ayeni has no good political record in the state other than having been a member of the Saraki dynasty for 40 years. He should then be regarded as one of those who compromised the growth of the district and the development of the state in general. The same Chief Ayeni was against the creation of Ekiti LGA from the old Irepodun LGA, and when the local government was created, he was struggling to be in control of the council. He was still one of those who endorsed a petition against the self determination project of Kwara South people during our agitation at the 2005 National Political Confab.

“Jide Usman, on the other hand, is an AGIP (Any Government In Power)). He is a minus in his Agunjin ward for APC. Even in his home, he is nobody than a baby sitter and whose only responsibility is domestic duty in the house. Let he who cares go there to find out.

“It is always very painful when where you supposed to meet wisdom you now meet foolishness. When it’s always said that “Agba ki wa loja, kori omo tuntun o wo”. The elders that supposed to be defending and preserving their district are now the ones that have chosen to wash their dirty linen to the world. Haba! How is this world changing?

“We the seven local Government party chairmen that constitute Kwara South Senatorial District implore the general public to disregard their press statement and advise the party at the  State to take appropriate action against these men so as to serve as deterrent to others.

“In addition, we urge all well-meaning Kwara Southerners to see Chief J.B. Ayeni and his cohorts as enemies of the district and should be treated as such.

“May Allah guide AA in the midst of the hawks surrounding him. Thank you all.”


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