By Adebayo Olodan
On Tuesday, the Kwara State Governor Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed forwarded the list of 19 commissioner nominees to the state House of Assembly for screening and confirmation by the legislature.
While was expecting the usual suspects to make the list of the new cabinet, the name of a certain level 10 civil servant, Ahmed Alhassan finds its way into the list forwarded to the lawmakers.
Alhassan who hails from Edu Local Government Area of the state is presently the Administrative Officer of the Kwara State Ministry of Culture and Tourism and interestingly, he goes about turn on a motorcycle (otherwise known as okada) as he does not have a car he can call his own at the moment.
Since his nomination, Alhassan said to be in his 40s has continued to receive torrent of congratulatory messages from friends, colleagues and kinsmen.
The inclusion of Alhassan and a few other new names on the list of commissioners jolted many political observers but according to a source close to the state government, the development is not unconnected with the directive of the All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership in the state to ensure more people especially youths get more political patronage.
Recall that Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed had in January, 2018 dissolved his cabinet which include Commissioners, Special Advisers, Senior Special Assistants and Special Assistants. Many politicians and their patrons had waited with deep breath for the constitution of a new cabinet following the submission of names by leadership of the APC across the 16 local governments of the state.
Though the Governor had made a number of appointments in the area of special assistants and special advisers, he however kept the list of commissioners close to his chest until Tuesday.
The Deputy Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Chief Mathew Okedare, while reading the Governor’s message dated May 8th addressed to the Speaker, Dr Ali Ahmad at the floor of the House.
The Commissioner nominees, according to Okedare, who presided over the Tuesday’s sitting, are; Ademola Banu (Irepodun), Taiwo Eleja (Ilorin West), Ahmed Alhassan (Edu), Uthman Kolo Rifun (Patigi), Hon Amos Sayo Justus, (Ekiti), Hon Sabi Baba Isiak (Baruten), Bamidele Adegoke Olamide (Oke Ero), Hon Olaniyi Muideen Alalade (Oyun), Kamadeen Ajibade (Ilorin West), Aro Yahaya (Ifelodun), Hon. Surajudeen Akanbi (Ilorin East) and Hajia Taiba Ayinde Ahmed (Offa) and Alhaji Saidu A. Habeeb (Asa).
Others are Agboola Julius Babatunde (Isin), Dr. Ahmed Susa’ade Aminat (Kaiama), Barr. Abdullahi Alikinla (Moro), Wasiu Odewale (Ifelodun), Hajia Bilikisu Oniyangi (Ilorin South) and Yusuf Abdulqodir (Ilorin West).
The Governor, who said he had taken cognisance of the provisions of the nation’s constitution, called for speedy confirmation of the nominees to fast track implementation of policies and programmes of his government.
The Deputy Speaker then directed the Clerk of the House, Alhaji Ahmed Katsina Mohammed to ensure that all nominees completed necessary documentation for their screening and confirmation next Tuesday.
