By Mumini AbdulKareem
Their appointments came as a surprise and jolted many political analysts in the state especially with the inclusion of fresh faces who formed bulk of the nominees in the list sent by Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed to the Kwara State House of Assembly, last week.
About seven of the earlier ones made the list of 19 nominees, which include three women, who are all expected to be screened tomorrow (Tuesday) at the House of Assembly complex.
While still waiting for their portfolios with many already predicting that people like Demola Banu, Wasiu Odewale, Aro Yahaya and Kamaldeen Ajibade will return to their former ministries of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Works and Transport and Justice because of the strategic importance to the stability and progress of the state, the portfolios for the fresh faces is expected to be clearer after the screening.
But who are the new commissioners-designate in the state?
Barr. Abdullahi Alikinla
He replaced Hajia Funmilayo Oniwa in the slot for Moro and is a member of the Good Governance Forum in the council in the forefront of championing the growth and development of the area. From Jeunkunun ward in Malete district, Alikinla who was born on 2nd March, 1970 is a graduate of Law from the University of Ilorin and attended Nigeria Law School (Yola campus). He practised briefly in the Law firm of Adebayo Adelodun (SAN) in 2013 before crossing to the chambers of Saka Isau in 2014 where he remains till date. Described as a core party man who has been involved in the political struggles of the local government, the chairman of the Kwara State Based Project monitoring committee and Majority Leader in Moro legislative council from 2007-10 has been described as a deserving nominee who has worked for the success of the party at various level.
Hon Surajudeen Akanbi
He is from Iponrin ward in Ilorin East Local Government who is regarded as a ‘grassrooter’. Akanbi was born on 27 March, 1972 and obtained his first degree in Political Science from the University of Ado-Ekiti in 2002. He worked briefly as a teacher at the Local Government Education Authority and was also councillor from 2010-13. He is currently the National Secretary for Iponrin community home and abroad.
Hajia Balikisu Oniyangi
Oniyangi who hails from Oke-Ogun ward in Ilorin South Local Government replaced Atolagbe Alege in the commissioner slot of the local government. Balikisu is the wife of Kwara South politician, Khaleel Bolaji and was a two-time House of Representatives contestant on the platform of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and now a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). She was initially based in Abuja before she relocated to the state.
Yusuf AbdulKadir
From Magaji Ngeri, same constituency where Kale Ayo and Ladi Hassan among other top party members hail from, Yusuf AbdulKadir is one of the three nominees from Ilorin West. He was said to be a council staff in 2013 and retired in 2016. Popularly known as Baba Eleyin in political circles, this is reportedly his first political appointment though sources described him as a very loyal party member with grassroots appeal.
Taiye Eleja
He is from Ajikobi ward in Ilorin West Local Government and the former chairman of All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) in the state. Before now, he had reportedly been nominated for various political appointments and was among the pioneer executives of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State following the merger ahead of the 2015 election. Taiye is the twin brother of notable legal practitioner, Barr. KK Eleja (SAN).
Taibat Ayinde Ahmed
She is from Offa but a widow of an Ilorin. Taibat Ahmed Ayinde is described as a very loyal party member who had served the party diligently. From Shawo Central precisely from Alubata/Okeoro compound in Offa, she holds a Higher National Diploma (HND) certificate in Accounting. She joined politics in 1999 during late governor Muhammed Alabi Lawal’s regime but has since been a core Sarakite. Said to be a grassroots mobiliser, this is Taibat’s first political appointment. She founded the Marvellous group in Offa during the first regime of former governor, Dr Bukola Saraki and also served as a member of the pressure group championing the cause and welfare of women in the state. In 2016, she emerged the Organising Secretary of the Kwara South Women in Politics.
Agboola Justus Babatunde
From Edidi ward in Isin Local Government Area, Babatunde is a sociologist and a 1995 graduate of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. Described as a party man to the core, he was ANPP councillorship aspirant during Governor Muhammed Lawal’s regime and the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) coordinator for the governorship ticket of Dele Belgore in Isin and that of Hon Anu Ibiwoye for the Senate ticket then under the same party. A former House of Assembly aspirant, he was also nominated for the post of commissioner in 2015 but was said to have been dropped based on ‘gender’ issue.
Saidu Habeeb
He is from Ibudo-Egba in Asa Local Government and served under late Ahmed Giwa (Elefo) council chairmanship tenure. Described as a civil servant and educationist with “Political Inclination,” he succeeded former chairman of the Kwara State Independent Electoral Commission (KWSIEC) and now INEC Nasarawa resident Electoral commissioner, Dr Uthman Ajidagba in office.
Muhammed Sabi Baba Ishak
From Okuta ward in Baruten Local Government, Muhammed Sabi Baba Ishak’s nomination caused ripples in some quarters within the council with complaints that he was not originally on the list. He is a retired director of the Kwara State House of Assembly.
Usman Kolo Rifun
Described as a typical politician with a ‘good control’, Usman Kolo Rifun is from Kpada III in Rifun village of Patigi Local Government. He had served as the Supervisory Councillor in the local government before.
Ahmed Alhassan
Ahmed Alhassan is from Lafiagi and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Bayero University Kano. He served as a corps member in Jigawa State and as focal person for Hygiea Community Health Insurance Scheme when the scheme was extended to Lafiagi from Shonga where the pilot scheme was launched. He later became the secretary of BOT Hygiea Lafiagi district. He joined the services of Kwara State Government at the Teaching Service Commission. Until his nomination as commissioner, he is an admin officer with the state Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
Shayo Amos Justus
He is the former Special Adviser on Forestry and contested the last local government election which later produced the incumbent Comrade Yinka Dallas.
Nurudeen Demola Banu
An Engineer chartered Accountant from Ajase-Ipo in Irepodun Local Government, he worked in the banking sector before his political appointment as Special Assistant to Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed on Economic Matters and Investments. He also served as Special Adviser on Economic Planning, Budget and Project Monitoring. He was in the last cabinet as Commissioner for Finance. The chartered Accountant had his MBA from the University of Ilorin.
Wasiu Odewale
From Omupo ward in Ifelodun Local Government, Odewale had his first degree in Economics from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and his MBA from University of Ilorin. He worked with Eleganza Industries Limited, Lagos. He was former Special Assistant to Governor Ahmed on Development Strategise before his appointment as commissioner for Planning and Economic Development in the state.
Bamidele Adegoke
Bamidele is from Odo-Owa in Oke-Ero and graduated with BSc in Computer Science from the University of Ilorin before he proceeded to the United Kingdom for his Masters degree. He worked briefly with Shell Petroleum Development Company, Warri and was the Youth Empowerment Coordinator in Oke-Ero before his appointment as commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources in the last cabinet. He operates a private security outfit in the state.
Olaniyi Muideen Alalade
Alalade hails from Ilemona in Oyun Local government Area of Kwara State. He served as Commissioner II in the Local Government Service Commission and member, Kwara State Electricity Board. The Public Administration graduate of Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, was the commissioner for Housing and Urban Development in the last cabinet.
Dr Ahmed Susa’Ade Aminat
A native of Kaiama, Dr Ahmed Aminat had her first degree in Adult Education from the Bayero University Kano. She is a member of the Nigerian Institute of Management (chartered). The educationist worked with a Local Education Authority in Borgu LGA and Ibrahim Babangida University, Lapai, among other places before her last appointment as the commissioner for Tertiary Education, Science and Technology in the state, in the last cabinet.
Barr Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN)
Kamaldeen Ajibade filled the last slot of Ilorin West in the new cabinet and is a 1988 graduate of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. He attended the Lagos campus of the Nigerian Law School and was called to the Bar in 1989. From Alanamu ward, Ajibade was a former Special Assistant on Legal Matters to Governor Bukola Saraki and sole administrator, Kwara Investment and Property Development Company (KIPDC) in 2009. He also served as the Director-General, Bureau of Lands from 2009-11 before his appointment as Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice where he had served twice. He is also the principal of Ajibade & Co law chamber.
Aro Jamiudeen Yahaya
From Oke-Ode, Ifelodun Local Government Area of the state, Aro Jamiudeen Yahaya is a former banker. He had served as a Special Assistant on Inter-Governmental Affairs to Governor Ahmed and SSA Security before his appointment as commissioner for Works and Transport. He is an Alumni of the University of Lagos.
