Ramadan Lecture: Gov-elect, Lola Ashiru, Oloriegbe, MM allegedly turndown Lai Moh’d’s invitation
By Adebayo Olodan
The 12th Annual Ramadan lecture organised by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed may have come and gone but the event which was held in Oro, Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara State has continued to generate debate among members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.
Among the questions raised by loyalists of the party after the annual event is why did major APC stakeholders in the state such as the Governor-elect, Alh. Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, Kwara Central Senator-elect, Dr Yahaya Ibrahim Oloriegbe, his Kwara South counterpart, Lola Ashiru and the party’s governorship aspirant, Hon Moshood Mustapha stay away from the lecture despite being reportedly invited by the minister?
Being the very first public programme organised by the minister after the 2019 general elections, one would have expected the major stakeholders in Kwara APC to rally round Alhaji Mohammed for the role he played in the electoral victory of the party but he minister was said to have been left disappointed over the lack of appearance of Abdulrazaq, the Senators-elect and Hon Mustapha among others.
It was gathered that an invite carrying the minister’s emblem was officially dispatched to all APC stalwarts about one month to the occasion and reminders were sent accordingly, last week.
Although reasons for the absence of the APC stalwarts could not be ascertained as Moshood Mustapha was sighted yesterday in Ilorin at the fidau for Hajia Hannatu Nagode. The event was also attended by the Deputy Governor-elect, Kayode Alabi and the younger brother of the Governor-elect, Alhaji Isiaka Abdulrazaq.
Similarly, Dr Oloriegbe on Saturday hosted his Kwara South and Kwara North compatriots, Lola Ashiru and Umar Sadiq respectively for iftar at his Ilorin residence. Pictures of the event went viral on the social media at the weekend.
Speaking on the absence of APC stalwarts at the Ramadan lecture, a source in the party said the action may be a plot to further ‘whittle down’ the Minister’s power as the leader of the party in Kwara.
“Not many of those in the APC are at home with the leadership of Alhaji Lai Mohammed. You will recall that there was a time he called for a meeting in his country home, Oro but many of those expected to attend did not show up.
“No doubt, Alhaji Lai played a huge role in the victory of the party in the last general elections but now that the election has been won, many loyalists of the APC see the Governor-elect, Alhaji Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq as the new leader and not the minister. “They may have resolved to relegate the minister after some of them have emerged. Let the Governor-elect, Abdulrazaq organise similar event and I can assure you they will all be in attendance,” he said.
Another source from the party last night claimed Alhaji Mohammed recently made futile efforts to manage a cold war brewing in Kwara APC as an in-house affair.
He said the minister called the Governor-elect barely 24 hours to the programme and he assured of his presence in Oro but refused to pick the minister’s calls on Saturday.
Other prominent APC stalwarts who shunned the Ramadan lecture included; Senator Makanjuola Ajadi, Senator Simeon Ajibola and Ilorin East/Ilorin South House of Representatives member-elect, Alhaji Gani Cook Olododo and Hon Yinka Aluko.
This medium also gathered that the APC Chairman in Kwara State, Hon. Bashiru Omolaja Bolarinwa, his wife and member representing Ekiti/Isin/Irepodun/Oke-Ero at the House of Representatives, Hon. Abdulraheem Olawuyi (Ajulo –Opin) arrived the event late.
Prominent among those in attendance were the Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu and Governor of Kebbi State Abubakar Bagudu.
