By Mumini AbdulKareem
The Youth Wing of the Kwara South Forum have challenged the immediate past Minister of Information, Culture and Tourismm Alhaji Lai Mohammed and his supporters to list his achievements in Kwara State.
This is coming on the heels of a call for President Muhammadu Buhari and National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) not to consider for reappointment as minister from the state by Kwara South Elders Forum.
The group accused him of lack of responsibility to the people of the state he represented as minister in first tenure of Buhari administration.
They challenged those calling for his reappointment as minister to come out boldly and mention the achievements of the former minister in the state throughout his three years, in terms of facilitating federal appointments and attracting projects to the state, apart from two roads facilitated for his own selfish interest.
This was disclosed in a statement signed by the representatives of the group from six Local Government Area of Kwara South, namely: Kayode Adesina, Oyun, Deji Aina, Ekiti, AbdulRahman Oyinloye, Ifelodun, Rasheed Shogo, Offa, Sunday Adekeye, Isin, AbdulRahim Lawal, Oke-Ero and made available to the journalists.
The group refuted the statement issued recently and signed by seven APC chairmen from seven local government in Kwara South, calling for renewal of Lai Muhammed as Minister, adding that they were being sponsored at the detriment of collective interest and developmental projects.
According to the group “For clarity sake, Kwara South elders forum precedes APC as it had been in existence over the years, it is on record that all the governorship aspirants including His Excellency, Alhaji AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and all Senatorial, House of Representatives aspirants of Kwara South consulted the forum for endorsement and support in the last election. That is to show you their recognition and importance.”
The statement further reads:“The author of the said press release have failed to address pertinent and fundamental issues of facts on the “beautiful performance” of the Minister to warrant his second coming, rather they were busy insulting our elders”
“They should rather focus on interrogating him on the number of Kwarans engaged in over 28 boards and parastatals under his ministry, physical projects/development and youth unemployment plaguing the state”
“What were his contributions for three years that he served as a minister until he traded with the last election”
“Worthy of mention are the two physical projects implemented by the Minister which are very personal to him. He tarred one of the major roads in Oro (his home town) from the federal highway to his personal house of about 4-kilometer in length and it terminated at the entrance of his building, the federal road leading from the highway to the National Museum, Esie, under his ministry and other Oro township roads were neglected and are in deplorable state”
“The second project was the 5-kilometer road he constructed and tarred from a distance after Igbesi town in his Irepodun Local Government Area to his farm. He abandoned the only road from the federal highway to the town and bypassed the community to commence the tarring of the 5-kilometer road to his farm. What a leader”
“Our leaders have alleged that the Minister was fast tailoring himself along the pattern of tyrant, oppressor and dictator by unilaterally collecting vehicles, motorcycles campaign materials and funds without consulting the elected governor, state elders, party executives in the distribution”
“We therefore appeal to the author of the press release to retrace their steps and be objectively guided so that they will not be a laughing stock for promoting anti people interest”
“They should let us unite and promote someone who will care about the welfare, interest and aspiration of Kwarans as a minister and not a greedy, self-centered person who is not interested in the development and progress of our dear state” the group states.
