IF-K: KWHA issues 6 days ultimatum to Gov Ahmed to produce KP 3 boss, Yomi Ogunshola

By Mumini AbdulKareem

Kwara State House of Assembly (KWHA) has issued six days ultimatum to Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed to produce the Director-General of the state Bureau of Public Private Partnership (BPPP), Yomi Ogunshola before the House over allegation of unaudited funds spent by the Bureau.
The ultimatum was the resolution of lawmakers during Wednesday’s plenary when Ogunshola failed to respond to Tuesday’s summon by the lawmakers.
The Deputy Speaker, Mathew Okedare, who presided over Wednesday’s plenary while reading the resolution of the House urged Governor Ahmed to produce the D-G between now and next Tuesday, saying he is surprised by the sudden disappearance of Ogunshola from the state in the past few months.
The lawmakers vehemently refused to entertain explanations from the Bureau’s Computer Analyst and Secretary, Oluwatosin Aremu, and the Bureau’s manager, Falode Oluwaseyi, who both appeared on the floor of the House for the BPPP.
Most of the members who spoke after the introduction by the representatives of the KP3 D-G, expressed displeasure over the non-appearance of the invited Director-General and urged the House to further invoke its constitutional power to compel the affected officer to appear before the parliament.
While describing accountability and over sight functions as cardinal responsibilities of the Parliament, members said the two officers were not competent to answer questions to be posed to the D-G, pointing out that they were not the appropriate officers summoned to appear before the House.
They all unanimously condemned the appearance of the two officers and demanded the presence of the D-G.
According to the House Leader, Hon Hassan Oyeleke, the House is one of records and will not tolerate a process whereby its powers are being undermined by any employee of the state.
Hon Ishiaku Aliyu Adams had earlier demanded that the House issue a warrant of arrest on Ogunshola (wherever he may be) to come and answer to the call of the lawmakers who are representatives of the people of the state.
In his reaction, Hon Kamal Oyekunle Fagbemi said the House may be forced to invoke section 129 (D) of the 1999 Constitution as amended to compel the D-G’s appearance, adding that it was an insult on the entire House for Ogunshola to refuse appearance before the lawmakers  despite several calls to that effect.
Other members who spoke on the issue included; Hon Ahmed Mohammed (Kaiama), Hon Saheed Popoola (Offa), Hon Segilola Abdulkadir (Ilorin Central), Hon Jimoh Akani (Ifelodun), Hon Taiwo Abdullahi (Asa), Hon Aishat Bodunrin (Ilorin East), Hon Victoria Bunmi Afolayan (Oke-Ero) and Adamu Usman (Baruten) among others.
Speaking with National Pilot shortly after being walked out of the plenary, the two representatives of the BPPP, who informed the House that they were only delegated and cannot stand in the capacity of the D-G, said the office will go back to study whatever decision the House arrived at before taking the next action.
Hon Fagbemi (Oke-Ogun) had raised the matter on Tuesday under Matter of Urgent Public Importance and informed the House of the refusal of the D-G to appear before the House Committee on Finance and Appropriations on why the funds utilised under the BPPP were not audited.
The House, during its Tuesday’s sitting, summoned the Director-General, KP3 and Head of Finance to appear before it, to answer audit query raised by the office of the Auditor-General of the state in a Matter of General Public Importance, raised by Barr. Fagbemi at the floor of the House.
Meanwhile, the House has passed International Aviation College Bill 2017 into law, following the consideration of the report on the bill at the committee of the whole.
The Deputy Speaker then directed the Clerk of the House, Hajia Halimat Jummai Kperogi to prepare a clean copy for the Governor’s assent.