By Mumini AbdulKareem
Candidates of top loyalists of Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq dominated the appointees for the Transition Implementation Committee (TIC) chairmen that have been approved by the Governor, National Pilot learnt last night.
Names of the AA leaders whose candidates featured significantly according to findings last night include former APC gubernatorial aspirant, Ambassador Yahaya Seriki whose sister Hajia Ayobami Seriki was appointment as caretaker chairman in Ilorin East, Prince Suleiman Omotosho Yusuf (Sai Kai) who is the candidate of Barrister Kunle Suleiman and Hon AbdulGaniyu Alikinla for Moro, nominated by former lawmaker and the Governor’s lackey, Hon Ibrahim Iliasu and former House of Assembly aspirants, Suleiman Sheh (Sule Cement) who was the party’s candidate for the Ilorin South constituency seat before court sacked him and Hassan Elewu respectively, his successor.
Others are Alhaji Yusuf Bello for Asa, Muhammed Aliyu for Ekiti local government and Kehinde Bayode as TIC chairman for Ekiti who was described by some last night as among the candidate of Prince Sunday Fagbemi, a staunch loyalists of the Governor.
The swearing in ceremonies and announcement of the remaining names has been scheduled for this week Monday or Tuesday pending any last minute change of decision, it was learnt last night.
The list has however generated serious disquiet in the party.
Governor Abdulrazaq, in what some party leaders described as a clandestine appointment reportedly sent the list of the caretaker appointees to the Ministry of the Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Community Development.
Although the Governor has failed to make any official pronouncement or directed any of his aides to do so regarding the appointments, many of those picked have displayed their letters of appointment on many social media platforms in the states with congratulatory messages from friends and well-wishers.
Some of the aspirants whose names were missing from the list expressed disappointment and frustration accusing the Governor of foisting action that can only lead to the escalation of the party’s crisis.
When contacted, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Community Development, Alhaji Abdulrazaq Alabere confirmed the appointments to National Pilot during telephone on Sunday adding that more names will be announced this week.
“All the 16 local government area will be involved, it’s a gradual process, which we’re still going through. But all the councils will have their TIC. That is why no announcement has been made until when we’re through with the process,
“We started calling them on Friday so by Monday we will continue, when we’re fully satisfied with the process, then we will come out with the list”, he added.
Asked to explain the process talked about, Alabere said “we want to make sure there are no mistakes made. We want to meet them physically to avert any mistake whereby the names will be out and we then realized there is a mistake in the appointment. So just be patient with us, the full list will be out (this) week. He added.
Meanwhile, the caretaker chairman appointed for Ilorin West, Prince Suleiman Omotosho Yusuf who also confirmed his appointment told National Pilot that he is determined and ready to develop programmes and policies that will advance the cause of the local government in line with the aspiration of Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq.
“Yes, I and about seven of us have been invited by the ministry regarding our appointments as caretaker chairman. For me, I know and I am aware of the responsibilities and I want to use this medium to assure Kwarans that I will not disappoint but work to actualize the developmental plans of the Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq for the state”, he submitted.
