By Fatai Ahmed
The Kwara Advancement Initiative (KAI) has raised concern over the failure of the state governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, to nominate nominees for the commissioner positions before the expiration of the 60 days after swearing in deadlines provided for by the constitution
KAI also chided the State Governor for deceiving the people and running the state like a personal business in defiance of the law.
The group’s reaction follows the failure of the Kwara State House of Assembly to make public the state commissioner nominees list and commence their screening.
The House of Assembly had since been receiving backlash from Kwarans following the decision to postpone plenary indefinitely.
Speaker, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Danladi, in a statement through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Sheu Abdulkadir, last Thursday, disclosed that it had received an executive communication from the state Governor, for the confirmation of twenty (20) Commissioner-nominees and 10 Special Advisers.
Reacting to the development in a statement by its coordinator, Hajia Adeola Bashiru, in Ilorin on Wednesday, the pressure group accused the state legislature of shielding the governor and condoning executive excesses.
The statement read, “From all indications, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has not forwarded the nominees’ list to the state house of Assembly.
“The Speaker had earlier stated that the Honourable House will diligently attend to His Excellency’s request in due course, but instead of doing the needful as required by law, the house decided to go on break for no just reason.
“This move by the lawmakers is obviously to shield the Governor from contravening the law of the land.
“Kwarans deserve to know why those elected and paid from the public purse have chosen to abandon their official and constitutional responsibility without any plausible justification.
“The development in Kwara is disturbing because it is coming at a time when other states are already near conclusion or have concluded the process and have hit the ground running.”
“It is more worrisome that this is coming from a second term Governor, who is no alien to the office. This only shows that Gov AbdulRazaq seems never prepared for the task of governance.
“It also amounts to gross violation of the constitution and taking the people of Kwara for granted.”
The group also challenged the Assembly to produce the letter with which the governor communicated the list of commissioner-nominees to it as proof that it is not just aiding illegality. It also, asked the All Progressive Congress (APC) government to stop wanton violation of the law and do the needful.
