Struggle For Kwara Ministerial Post: Igbomina Apex Body Backs Lai

The acrimony over the reappointment of Lai Mohammed as a minister representing Kwara State deepened at the weekend as another group came up to disclaim the recent opposition to the retention of the information and culture minister in the federal cabinet.

The acrimony against Mohammed was first stoked when a body identifying itself as the Kwara South Elders Forum issued a press statement where they alleged that Mohammed had performed below par in advancing the interests of the party. They also accused him of not being rooted politically in Kwara.

The press statement was jointly signed by its Chairman, Chief Bamisaiye Ayeni; and Secretary, Jide Usman.

Their press statement was also in opposition to an earlier communique by the All Progressives Congress, APC Consultative Forum in which Mohammed was endorsed for a second term.

Responding to the development, the umbrella body of the Igbomina in a press statement on Saturday described the assertions against Mohammed as mischievous.

The body in a statement issued by its spokesman, Comrade Oni Martins said:

“Our Socio-Cultural Body led by Engr Timothy Niyi Adebayo (FNSE) home and abroad would have let this matter fizzle out naturally, more so it is a dialectic of party politics affecting the entire Kwara south.

“However there is the need to put straight available records to the

teeming supporters of the Hon. Minister and those on the other side.

A careful study of their grouse against the Hon Minister shows

calculated mischief and blackmail. According to them, ‘the Hon

minister is not home-based, he doesn’t relate with the home-based

politicians; he is also accused of having mismanaged election fund and

materials.

“On the strength of the above figment of their imagination; they called

for the rejection of Hon. Lai Mohammed’s re-appointment as minister.

This demand as posted is not only callous, divisive, a gratuitous

insult, but unacceptable to Igbomina people home and abroad.

“There are always two sides of a coin. It is unfortunate these people

refused to see the sterling qualities of leadership which Hon Lai

Mohammed is endowed with. A documentary of the 2019 electoral victory will not be complete and authentic without the minister’s valuable

contributions.

“He is professionally prolific and versed in the discharge of his

assignment to the admiration of his employer as Minister of

Information and Culture. His carriage exemplifies maturity, discipline

and uncommon leadership template, a committed Igbomina citizen and by extension a senior stakeholder and political leader in Kwara State.

“He equally attracted lots of development push and projects to Kwara

State, a community leader per excellence and a man of the people. He

occupies a high orbit when records of the electoral victory of his

party in Kwara state 2019 is put on the table. The above his just a

dose of his hidden human asset and quality.

“On this note, the socio-cultural body of omo Ibile Igbomina

irrevocably resolves and recommends Alh. Lai Mohammed, the Hon.

Minister of Information and Culture, for a reappointment by Mr

President. We have implicit confidence in his ability to do better and

will not let down Mr. President and the good people of Nigeria.”

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