Ex Gov remains our leader – Commissioner nominee
Some elements within Lafiagi Emirate who are believed to be former Senator Shaaba Lafiagi’s loyalists have reportedly ditched him for another camp.
The latest beneficiary of the new development is said to be the Makama Lafiagi, Alhaji Tajudeen Audu, who is reportedly warming up for the governorship race in 2019 in Kwara.
The new scenario in Edu is said to be the fallout of the last ward and local government congresses held in the council and has reportedly triggered a “cold war” between both leaders.
Notable political bigwigs in Lafiagi Emirate have reportedly thrown their weight behind the candidacy of the Makaman Lafiagi who is a former President of the Lafiagi Defendant Development Union (LADDU).
The likes of Alhaji Ahmed Yahaya Makama, Ndeji Lafiagi, Alhaji Abdulmalik Manzuna Kawu Dogo, Sodangi Lafiagi, Alhaji Haliru Sambo, Rani Lafiagi, among others including civil servants. youths, artisans and market women have reportedly embraced his candidature.
Also, about four of the ward chairmen among others the Youth leader and some other party members from other districts were said to have dumped him and pledged allegiance to Makama.
But Lafiagi was alleged of sponsoring protests to the party secretariat in Ilorin on Wednesday to call for the reversal of the ward and local government congresses conducted 5th and 12th May, 2018 respectively.
Speaking on the matter, the former Special Adviser to Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed on Forestry, Alhaji Manzuma Kawu Dogo said the leadership style of people like Senator Shaaba Lafiagi has made the people to desert him for people like the Makaman who they see as the their new hope.
The former organizing secretary of the party said Senator Shaaba Lafiagi is losing out everyday to the Makaman, adding that “the situation got worse that he had to sponsor demonstration over issue that he could have ordinarily resolve.
According to him, “We did not expect such from our leader sponsoring demonstrations to the party secretariat over such issue and that is why he is losing everyday.
“To us, we respect the leader of the Party and Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed and chairman of the party, Ishola Balogun who have been providing uncommon leadership. If not for them, things would have been worse than this.
“There are still those of us that joined from the legacy parties who are still seen as strangers and discriminated against. But people have seen the difference now in this new scheme of things”, he added.
However in an online piece forwarded to this medium on the issue, the commissioner nominee for Edu, Ahmed Alhassan said Senator Shaaba has been a respected democrat who didn’t impose candidate in the previous election, adding that he remained a leader in Edu.
“Having taken my time to put the record straight, I would like to dispel the gossips making round about the status of Alhaji Tajudeen Audu, Makama Lafiagi.”
He said he has respect for him but the political path may not be the best.
