By Mumini AbdulKareem
A Kwara South socio-political group, Igbomina Emancipation Youth Forum
(IEYF) has called on the Minister for Information, Culture and
Tourism, Alhaji Lai Mohammed to desist from any act that is capable of
bringing disunity among citizens and political class in Igbomina land.
The group stated this in a release by its Director of Public
Orientation, Akinwoye Olumide, over the ongoing road project on Oba
Charles Oladele Ibitoye Way, Omu-Aran, Kwara State.
According to the group, the road project was initiated and captured in
the 2017 budget and later re-introduced in the 2018 budget as
facilitated by an aide to the former president of the Senate, Dr
Abubakar Bukola Saraki, as against the signpost erected on the site of
the project with inscription that Alhaji Lai Mohammed is the
facilitator.
This, according to the IEYF did not go down well with the entire
community, hence the need to enlighten the public and to apportion
glory/applaud to the appropriate channel.
The statement read in parts: “We …condemn in totality the claim by
whosoever and whatsoever reason that Information Minister Lai Mohammed
facilitated the road project ongoing on Oba Charles Oladele Ibitoye
Way, Omu-Aran, Kwara State.
“It is a white and careless lie. We are aware of posterity and the
need to set the record straight on community issues for future
references. That is why we are out to add our voice to the unbefitting
show of shame as displayed by the contractor who erected the signpost
on the site after being misinformed.
“Much as we do agree that the contractor must have been fed with
craps, we won’t let it go unraveled that verifiable information at our
disposal has confirmed that, Alhaji Lai Mohammed knew nothing about
how the project was initiated and captured in the 2017 budget and
re-introduced in the 2018 budget due to paucity of fund in the initial
fiscal year for the benefit of the community.
“It is therefore, worthy to change the erroneous impression as not to
mislead or misinformed the entire community and general public on this
note.
In view of this, we have taken our stand on this matter for the love
of our people and to avoid unnecessary political unrest in our
community. The followings are the resolution of Igbomina Emancipation
Youth Forum:
That the contractor must remove the name of Alhaji Lai Mohammed as the
facilitator of the project as it is presently inscribed boldly on the
signpost at the site. Also, the contractor must tender an unreserved
apology for his error which is capable of causing chaos in Omu-Aran
and the entire Igbomina communities. In addition, the contractor must
replace Alhaji Lai Mohammed’s name on the signpost with the name of
the authentic facilitator of the road project. Also, the association,
IEYF, is assuring the contractor of mutual cooperation from the entire
community while advising the firm to do the needful on the subject
matter and that the minister or any political gladiator from Igbomina
land must desist from any act that could cause division among the
people.
Olumide, said that the group will keep an eye on the project and
ensure the will of the people is done. While promising a robust
co-existence amongst the Igbomina people, he noted that no single man
on earth will be pleased seeing his glory taken by a third party.
