By Mumini AbdulKareem
Speaker, Kwara State House of Assembly, Dr Ali Ahmad last night reacted to allegation that his recent political activities in his constituency were connected to his alleged gubernatorial ambition in 2019.
Ahmad told National Pilot in a telephone chat that his frequent visitation in recent time to wards and party leaders in Ilorin South was in response to accusation by his supporters that he has reduced fraternity with them since his emergence as Speaker of the 8th Kwara Assembly.
He also explained that there was never a time that he bought or distributed rams for party chieftains and top politicians to celebrate the Eid-El-Kabir celebration.
Reports making the round in the state which also went viral on the social media alleged the Kwara speaker of engaging in “subtle moves to mend alleged frosty relationship with key stakeholders in his constituency with a view to give him soft landing for the 2019 guber seat.
But, Ahmad debunked the allegation and challenged doubting Thomases to verify his claim from his constituency.
According to him, “I am the Speaker of the House and of course I engage in many political activities. But as regards the issue of recent visitations to wards and leaders in Ilorin South, my constituency challenged me that I visited them more as a federal Representative than as the Speaker of the House of Assembly.
“That was the reason for that, but anybody can go to my constituency in Balogun Fulani III or Opomalu to verify my position on this matter.
“They have accused me that I’ve not been coming home even though I am now resident in Ilorin unlike when I was living in Abuja”, he added.
On the issue of his alleged 2019 gubernatorial ambition in the state, the former chairman House Committee on Justice in the 7th National Assembly said he has reduced his political activities in contrast to some of the allegations of the critics.
“In fact I have lessened my political activities because of the directive of the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki.
“The leader has said it’s not yet time for 2019 politicking and that was why I have scaled down the level of political activities in line with that statement, so as not to be seen to heating the polity unnecessarily”, Ahmad submitted.
On the allegation that he bought and distributed Sallah rams during the last Eid-El-Kabir celebration to politicians and government officials, the speaker noted that there was nothing of such.
“I did not buy Sallah ram for one single person; I did not and you can quote me on this. I never distributed a single ram during Sallah to anybody,” he insisted.
Allegation that the Speaker bought and distributed several rams for political office holders and top government functionaries few days to the Eid celebration dominated discourse in high quarters in the state allegedly as part of “reach out” for his purported 2019 ambition.
