…denies stepping down
By Mumini AbdulKareem
As the inauguration of the 9th Kwara House of Assembly draws nearer, the lawmaker representing Balogun/Ojomu constituency of Offa, Hon Saheed Popoola, has denied that he had stepped down from the race.
Popoola who spoke with this reporter from Ghana over the issue noted said he has been quiet over the issue of the speakership because of the directive of the party to members to be silent on the issue of the speakership of the ninth Kwara Assembly.
The new speaker will be elected by other lawmakers on the day of the inauguration of the incoming legislature which is likely to hold next June.
Popoola is the only ranking lawmaker among the 24 members-elect and is said to be one of the most experience lawmakers among the new set of APC legislators.
However, stakeholders in Kwara North district have demanded for the speakership of the Kwara Assembly among other positions like the SSG and ministerial base on what they termed principle of fairness and equity and political exigencies of the political arrangement or positions in the state.
There online report last week in the state which vent viral that the lawmaker has stepped down from the race and settled for the Deputy Speaker.
But according to Popoola, who denied the report, he is still very much in the race.
“I have not stepped down; I am only silent because of the directive of the party to be silent about the issue of speakership. I can’t step down and I am not stepping down for anybody”, he noted.
Quoting a close source to Popoola, the report said Popoola allegedly stepped down out of respect for cohesion of the party and party leadership.
“As we all know, he has always placed party interest over personal interest, he displayed it when he stepped down his Senatorial ambition for House of Representatives and also relinquished his House of Reps ticket in the interest of the party to pick up a return ticket to the State Assembly.
“While he is eminently qualified to be the 9th Speaker of the Assembly, he has listened to voice of elders and therefore will support the consensus candidate of the party from Kwara North.
“It is only natural he be unanimously endorsed as the Deputy Speaker, he has sacrificed his ambition, he needs to be appreciated and even above that, with his emergence as the Deputy Speaker, he’ll help stabilise the House as the Speaker who is a first timer will still be learning the ropes”, the report added.
