9th Kwara Assembly: How Abdulrazaq influenced choice of 34-yr-old Danladi as Speaker

…court sacks lone female lawmaker-elect

…as Kwara set for inauguration of all-male Assembly, tomorrow

By Mumini AbdulKareem

Strong feelers emerged, last night, that 34-year old lawmaker-elect, Salihu Yakubu Danladi from Ilesha-Baruba/Gwanara constituency of Baruten Local Government has been positioned as the next Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly following endorsements by his colleagues as consensus candidate for the position.

The decision of the lawmakers-elect from Kwara North to settle for Danladi, it was learnt, followed the alleged directive of state Governor, Alhaji Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq that he preferred Danladi as the Speaker of the 9th Kwara Assembly.

Sources who spoke on the issue, said the interest of the governor now play vital role in the state APC and is supreme in the decision making process of the party against any other consideration.

AbdulRazaq reportedly worked closely with Danladi during the electioneering period and his choice was reportedly finalised after the Ghana trip organised for the lawmakers-elect by Governor Abdulrazaq.

The choice, another source noted, may have been influenced by the Governor’s decision that Danladi is of like mind and may easily yield to his biddings.

“If we were given chance to give advise as politicians and stakeholders in the party, Moro has not gotten anything and Baruten already has a House of Representatives member-elect who is also from Ilesha Baruba as Danladi. If it was to be geographically spread, SSG is from the same axis with House of Representatives member-elect from Edu Local Government which has about the lowest votes in Kwara North.  And, there may be consequences unless the Governor finds a way around it,  in order to take care of interests of others”.

But, reacting to the issue last night, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Rafiu Ajakaiye said his principal is not a member of the legislature and could not have nominated anyone for the position of the Speaker.

In a text message, last night, Ajakaiye, added, “Only members of the House of Assembly can decide who leads them – ideally in consultation with the ruling party and other stakeholders since the lawmakers had been elected on a political platform”.

In his reaction to the issue, the lawmaker-elect from Moro, Bello John Olanrewaju who had earlier been touted as the next speaker after the only returning lawmaker, Saheed Popoola, stepped down from the race, told this reporter that they have to succumb to the choice of the party after being briefed about the interest of the Governor.

Speaking on the issue last night, a lawmaker-elect from Moro, Bello John Olanrewaju who had earlier been touted as the next speaker after the only returning lawmaker, Saheed Popoola, stepped down from the race, told this reporter that they have to succumb to the choice of the party after being briefed about the interest of the Governor.

‘The executive called us to Savanna Hotel in Ilorin and told us that Danladi was the choice of the Governor on the issue of speakership of the 9th Assembly. So we were just looking.

“We had thought Moro would be considered for the position because for the past 20 years, we have not gotten anything unlike other Kwara North local governments that produced House of Representatives and Senators-elect. It is only Moro and Kaiama that are yet to produce speaker. This time around, we thought we will be vindicated but now there is nothing like that. But since that is what they want, we have to agree and we don’t have anybody who can help in this regard.

“There is nothing we can do now as our people who supposed to fight for us have kept silent while also looking for same position. That is it,” he added.

Online reports last night however said the decision to support Danladi was taken during a meeting attended by all eight members at the residence of Hon. Babatunde Abdulkareem, representing, Ipaye/Malete/Oloru state constituency following the decision of Kwara APC leadership and Governor Abdulrazaq to zone the position to the senatorial district.

Also speaking on the development, lawmaker-elect from Kaiama, Hon Abdullahi Halidu Danbaba said the party called them on Friday that they had resolved to anoint a candidate and other aspirants should step down for him. I don’t know the criteria the party put in place before picking somebody from Baruten, they only told us it is to strike political balance and all of us unanimously agreed to respect the party’s choice”.

In a brief chat with newsmen after the meeting, Hon. Mohammed Baba Salihu was quoted to have said they unanimously picked Salihu Yakubu Danladi due to his competence, capability and in the spirit of equity, justice as well as fairness.

Hon Baba Salihu noted that the Speaker hopeful is the youngest among them and supported to further encourage youth participation in politics.

The eight Kwara North lawmakers-elect urged their colleagues from Kwara South and Central to support Hon. Danladi during their inauguration on Tuesday in the spirit of oneness, unity and cohesion of the party.

But reacting to the issue last night, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Rafiu Ajakaiye said his principal was not a member of the legislature and could not have nominated anyone for the position of the Speaker.

In a text message, last night, Ajakaiye, added, “Only members of the House of Assembly can decide who leads them – ideally in consultation with the ruling party and other stakeholders since the lawmakers had been elected on a political platform”.

Meanwhile, the 9th Kwara Assembly will be male dominated as the Supreme Court has sacked the only female lawmaker elected from Offa, Hon Maryam Joy Adeniran.

The apex court, it was gathered, recently declared Hon AbdulWaheed Gbenga as the winner of the APC primary election for the Essa/Shawo/Igboidun constituency and directed INEC to issue him Certificate of Return, an exercise the Publicity Secretary of the commission said had been carried out.

Adeniran in a telephone chat on the issue last night, “congratulated AbdulWaheed. This is not a do- or- die affair. Its either you lose or win. I tried my best to protect the interest of women but if their interest is not protected, it is not my fault that is left for God. If the woman had wanted it, they would have joined me all and we would have arrived at a point. And you know injury to one is injury to all”, she added.