Disquiet in Kwara North over alleged zoning of seat to Moro
…as Saheed Popoola steps down
Inauguration ceremony holds, Monday
Mumini AbdulKareem
As the inauguration of the 9th Kwara House of Assembly scheduled for Monday draws near, one of the contenders for the top seat and the lawmaker representing Balogun/Ojomu constituency of Offa, Hon Saheed Popoola, has finally stepped down from the race, National Pilot can authoritatively confirm.
Popoola who spoke with this reporter over the issue last night, confirmed date of the inauguration of the lawmakers-elect, saying that his decision to step was in line with the position of the party.
According to him, โI had to step down after I was informed by the party that the position has been zoned to Kwara Northโ.
Asked whether he will be contesting for the position of the Deputy Speaker, a slot currently being occupied by Hon Mathew Okedare from Moro Local Government, Popoola said the party has not made any position regarding that, adding he is waiting for their decision.
Meanwhile, top party sources who spoke on the issue preferring anonymity, said the decision by the party to zone the speakership to Moro in Kwara North attracted differing reactions from stakeholders from the region.
One of the sources said Moro was being considered for the position to give the Local Government a sense of belonging in the present political calculation as it was not considered for other elective position in the House of Representatve or the Senate except the state constituency election where it hasย two slots.
“It was for such โpolitical correctnessโ that the leadership of the party was reportedly considering the local government for the position of SSG, which has come under serious opposition from the core Local Governments in Kwara North and Kwara Central.
It was gathered that other local governments like Baruten, Kaiama, Patigi and Edu considered as core north feel that giving the ticket to Moro represent an extension of the dominance of the Kwara Central in the agitation for portfolios in the present APC administration.
But speaking on the issue, the Publicity Secretary of the Kwara State chapter of the APC, Alhaji Tajudeen Aro told this reporter in a telephone chat last night that โthere has been a mutual agreement among local governments in Kwara North and the general consensus is that the speakership should be zoned to the district.
Asked whether a particular member-elect has been specifically agreed upon for the speakership, Aro said he couldnot speak on that, adding that there is a consensus among the affected local governments.
