Politico Politico News
A group in Kwara North Senatorial District, Edu/Patigi Progressive Association, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to consider persons from the district for a ministerial appointment in the future.
The association said the appeal became necessary to reflect the principle of “equity, fairness and justice, as well as federal character in future appointments”.
The association made the appeal in a communique signed by the association Chairman, Mr Ahmed Dakaya and Secretary, Suleiman Yahaya was made available to newsmen on Sunday in Abuja.
The association said Kwara North had been marginalised and therefore, urged the president to review the nomination of the two ministers from the state.
“The two ministerial slots were ceded to Kwara state but none of the nominees came from Kwara North Senatorial District.
“Rather the nominees are from Kwara Central and Kwara South Senatorial Districts that produced the current governor and deputy governor.”
It said that only twice was a person made a minister from Kwara North Senatorial District since the return to democratic rule in 1999.
“Hajiya Amina Ndalolo was appointed minister by former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo in 1999, and Ibrahim Bio was appointed minister by late President Umaru Yar’adua.
“At that time the governors, late Mohammed Lawal and Dr Bukola Saraki were from Ilorin in Kwara Central Senatorial District, while their deputies, Deacon Sayomi and Chief Joel Ogundeji, respectively, were from Kwara South Senatorial District.
“The event eventually turned after the 2015 general elections, when Alhaji Lai Mohammed was appointed minister, even though he came from the same senatorial district with the sitting governor, Alhaji Fatai Ahmed,” it said.
The association said the district which has the largest land mass in Kwara and second largest population after Kwara Central Senatorial District had not been treated fairly.
“In the 2019 general election Kwara North Senatorial District had over 32 per cent total vote cast from Kwara state, with 80 per cent of the votes cast given to President Muhammadu Buhari and other All Progressive Congress (APC) candidates.
“Although appointing a minister is a prerogative of the president, we believe justice, fairness and equity is what President Muhammadu Buhari stands for; and it is our believe that Mr President will look at their nomination again.
