By Mumini AbdulKareem and Mike Adeyemi
More details emerged last night of how some of the former commissioners reacted to their sack by Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq last week.
The governor, it was learnt, relieved the former commissioners of their appointment in an email message sent to them.
The action reportedly left many of them shattered as most of the appointees including those considered to be close to the governor never had any hint of the impending dissolution prior the announcement.
Some of them who responded to the development while speaking with National Pilot expressed their regrets, pains and triumphs while their over one over tenure lasted.
The female dominated cabinet which has about 9 women, the first in the country, have come under sharp criticism
According to a source last night, some of the women wept following the sack and even vacated their offices during the midnight.
Hear Him: After the sack last week, two female commissioners (name withheld) wept. One of them even cried publicly at the ministry in the morning when she went to park her things around 11:30pm and left around past 1:00am Sunday morning. Another one, a man in one of the retained ministries told a close friend that he got the news when he least expected with less than N5000 on him.
“In fact, the individual has relocated from his apartment and now staying with some relatives, and his family, has left the house because of the embarrassment. Some people will come under the guise of coming to commiserate with them but they are actually concerned about their countenance.
“There was one that just renewed the house rent for another one year December 31st from Kwara North. Most of the commissioners were hit below the belt; they were not prepared for it at all and are lamenting seriously. They’re in a big dilemma and a very serious with lamentations here and there.
“They were banking and waiting for the passage of the budget which they expected will free up some fund for projects until they were told to go home for the New Year. Some of them have already prepared for the yuletide and have bought cloth and other things on credit. Others have just completed the renovation of their houses before the development”, the source noted.
Meanwhile, barely a fortnight after their unceremonial removal from office, some of the immediate past commissioners in Kwara State has opened up on their sack by the state Governor, AbdulRahman Abdulrazaq.
Some of them who spoke to National Pilot revealed their pains and regrets while in office.
In a telephone interview, ex- commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Arch. Aliyu Mohammed Saifudeen said he received the news of his exit from office with mixed feelings.
According to him, “It was news that was received with mixed feelings. It is not anything to jubilate about, but having been privileged to serve the state, is a rare honour and privilege.
“I have no regret per see. I had wanted to produce what will be a road map for the entire development of Kwara State, but that aspiration was cut short along the way, that is my regret,” he said.
Saifudeen, however, thanked the Executive Governor Abdulrazaq for giving him the privilege to serve two ministries.
“If you serve under the governor, you have a lot to learn. There is order and sincerity of purpose,” the former commissioner asserted.
He, however, said his period at both the Ministry of Environment and Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs were marked monumental achievements.
“At the Ministry of Environment part of my achievement include reorganisation of the waste management system, dredging of the River Asa, evacuation of street traders and illegal car parks at Challenge and Post office for free flow of traffic among others.
Similarly, the former Commission for Justice and Attorney General of the State, Barrister Salman Jawondo said his only regret was the perception of the people about those occupying people office adding that he hoped such will change with the way the Governor is going.
“If I have any regret, it’s about the perception of public service by our people that anybody in public office is there to be making morning and some of them when they come, they feel you don’t what to help them if your tell them the reality. But I know with time, this will change.
He said as a private person, he had always prepared for anything and “that is why after the announcement I resumed immediately to me office”.
Also, the immediate commissioner for Youths and Sports Development, Joanna Kolo in a statement commended the governor for his support while she served her ministry.
According to the statement, “It is pertinent to appreciate Almighty God for His unflinching support towards me while I was steering wheel of fortune in the Ministry of Sports and Youth Development as a Commissioner.
“The experience and all I gathered are beyond words. My sincere appreciation to His Excellency, Mall AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for the opportunity availed to me to serve the good people of Kwara State.
“Thanks to Kwarans for their support, love and encouragement showered upon me while in office,” the statement said.
She described her time in office as eventful, saying, “In the space of a year in office as a Commissioner, here are the sterling achievements recorded; Kwara State Government organized the 1st edition of Chess Junior Championship at State Stadium Complex, Ilorin, Kwara State Government funded National cycling Championship for promotion of Health and Fitness through cycling and institution of Governors Cycling Cup.
Also speaking, ex- commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Ahmed Fatimah Bisola expressed gratitude to the state governor for giving her the platform to serve the state.
“I thank Almighty Allah for the wonderful privilege and great experience of serving our dear State as the Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development.
“It is indeed a rare opportunity and I thank Him for bringing me this far. Also, I sincerely appreciate the Executive Governor of Kwara State, His Excellency, Mall. Abdulrazaq Abdulrahman for finding me worthy of the task for the period of one year and I sincerely pray that he succeeds in further piloting the affairs of the State”.
Governor, AbdulRazaq had on Thursday December 31, sacked all his commissioners.
A statement issued last Sunday said “His Excellency especially commends the Honourable cabinet members for their contributions to the development of the state while also wishing them the best in their future endeavours.”
However, the Secretary to the State Government Prof. Mamman Sabah Jubril escaped the axe, according to the statement.
The statement added that the Governor also directed the former cabinet members to hand over to the most senior officers in their respective ministries.
The cabinet members were sworn in on December 14, 2019, comprising at least 56.25% female, in what was remarkably a gender friendly cabinet. The cabinet also had the country’s youngest commissioner.
