By Mumini AbdulKareem
After months of expectation and seeming endless wait, Kwara State
Governor, Mallam Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq will finally inaugurate his
cabinet on Friday (tomorrow), National Pilot, has gathered.
Although there was no statement to this effect from the Governorโs
Office, a top member of the commissioners-designate who does not want
to be identified because of lack of authorisation to officially speak
on the matter confirmed the inauguration date, last night, in a
telephone chat.
The event, the source noted, will be held 10am at the state Banquet
Hall, opposite Government House, Ilorin, the state capital.
Expectations were rife that the event will be held last Monday before
the last minutes withdrawal by the Governor.
The postponement came on the back of a three-day retreat held for the
Commissioners-designate and Special Advisers in Patigi, Kwara North
Senatorial District, which terminated last Friday.
A member of the yet-to-be inaugurated cabinet who only agreed to speak
on the issue without being quoted had told this reporter that although
many of them have been told unofficially that the inauguration has now
been shifted.
โIt was shifted to Wednesday, though nothing is official yet and
considering the style of the Governor, it may even be indefinite.
โNo, there is no time for the inauguration yet. Yes, initially the
commissioners-designate were supposed to be sworn-in today (Monday)
but it was decided that the Special Advisers should also be
inaugurated together as they are all council members.
โThe Special Advisers will commence documentation as from Monday
(today). So for now, all I know is that it has been postponed
indefinitely. They can now decide to call us on Wednesday or any other
date. That I canโt say, the source added.
The Governor had in a statement by the Chief Press Secretary, Rafiu
Ajakaye last Wednesday called on the officials to make the required
sacrifice in the task of rebuilding the state during the retreat aimed
at preparing them for the task ahead. The event was held at Ahman
Patigi University.
According to the Governor who was represented by his Deputy, Kayode
Alabi, โThe objectives of the retreat are clear, unambiguous and
straight forward. It behooves on us all to participate effectively and
evolve plausible ideas that would help our administration to quickly
chart a course that would make the difference.
He said the retreat has been designed to sharpen the appointees and
place them on a better pedestal to impact positively on the people.
Apart from the commissioners-designate, Special Advisers and other
government functionaries, Secretary to the Government, Prof Mamman
Saba Jibril; Chief of Staff to the Governor Aminu Logun; Head of
Service Mrs Modupe Oluwole; and Chairman of the Kwara State Internal
Revenue Service (KW-IRS) Mrs Folashade Omoniyi; among others also
attended the event.
