By Mumini AbdulKareem
Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulrazaq Abdulrahman last night neither confirm nor deny whether the government was in receipt of the last tranche of Paris Club Refund or not.
Report of the alleged release of the refund which vent viral online over the week indicated that Kwara State reportedly got over five billion naira from the N243.8 billion released to states by the Federal Government.
According to the online report, Kwara Stateโs figure was higher than that of Nasarawa, Gombe and Ekiti with over N4 billion while Kogi received over N6 billion. Among the highest receiving states are; Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa and Delta with over N10 billion each.
Several calls to the Governorโs Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Rafiu Ajakaye, to clarify the veracity of the report were not answered. Reply to a message sent was still being awaited before the paper went to bed last night.
The text message reads, โ…Sir, we want to confirm if Kwara has received another tranche of the Paris Club Refund as some reports have suggested and how do the Governor plan to utilise it and the N5bn tax refund paid to the state by the Federal Governmentโ.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State last night confirmed the receipt of over N7 billion of its share of the refund.
The partyโs publicity secretary, Dr Olatunde Azeez while speaking on the successful inauguration of the National Assembly noted that Governor Seyi Makinde has the opportunity to live up to its campaign promises with the release of the refund by the federal government.
In July, last year, during the administration of former governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, the FG released the second tranche to states across the federation which totalled N516.38 billion.
The fund was then deployed to finance some infrastructure in the state and also payments of arrears of local government workers salaries.
But there has been growing agitation for the new government to use the refund with other money that accrued to the state recently to defray the salary arrears of affected workers.
…APC group urges Gov to scrap First Ladyโs office
By Mumini AbdulKareem
A group within the fold of the All Progressives Congress (APC) under the aegis of the Kwara Youth Patriot has appealed to Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq to scrap the office of the first lady describing it as unconstitutional and illegal.
The wife of the Governor, Olufolake is presently the first lady of the state following the emergence of her husband in the gubernatorial election held March 9, 2019.
The group which urged the Governor to avoid engaging in any act of illegality advised the Abdulrazaqย to rather operate through the ministry of Women Affairs which is always headed by a woman.
In a statement signed by its Chairman and Secretary, Alhaji Yinka Adams and Hon Saheed Adisa respectively, titled โa passionate appeal to Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq to scrap the office of the first lady,โ the group implored the Governor to allow frivolous spending for unnecessary purposes.
The statement reads in part:
โHaving observed the tune of events in the state recently, we are of the opinion that the financial situation of the state is very bad and there are enormous task ahead if the situation continues.
โIf you want to succeed and deliver the dividends of democracy to the good people of Kwara, you have to buckle your belt. To this end, we want to implore you not to allow frivolous spending for unnecessary purposes. One of such unnecessary expenditure is the operation of the office of the first lady.
โWe critically examined the operation of the office in the past and come to the conclusion that it doesn’t worth it particularly at this period … It is a mere avenue for flamboyancy and means of showing wealth and power by the occupiers. The activities and operations of the office does not have any direct impact of either the women, children or elders and even the general populace.
โHowever the operation of the office is illegal and it was not provided for in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It’s a creation that doesn’t have any importance or relevance to governance and the people. We will advise our amiable governor not to involve himself in any form of illegality. Operating the office is an act of illegality. What the people voted for is the office of the governor and deputy governor and not the office of the first lady.
โOur group as a patriotic Kwaran is urging our governor to focus more on education, health, infrastructural development, capital and human resources development, job creation, poverty eradication etc that requires your serious attention.
โNevertheless, there is always a Ministry of Women Affairs through which the first lady can operate any kind of pet project by collaborating with the appointed commissioner who is usually a woman. You will agree with us sir that the ministry is legally established and its operation is within the ambit of the law. Through this ministry, the first lady can reach out to the women, children and others alike.
โFinally sir, we urge you to listen to the voice of reasoning and the masses by urgently proscribing the office of the first lady during your tenureโ, the statement added.
