Date: 2015-07-13

Since the second term of Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State took off May 29, 2015, fear loomed large among political gladiators expectant of re-appointment and appointment in the impending new cabinet. Ahmed 'Lateef writes on the shocker that awaits politicians in the state.

The last general elections marked a watershed in the political annals of the state. It was indeed an avenue for political juggernauts of different parties to test their wealth and strength. To say the poll paved the way for politicians to engage in profiling to woo prospective voters was an understatement.

Three parties were prominent among the lots- the then ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), All Progressives Congress (APC) and Labour Party (LP). The re-elected Governor Ahmed rode on the platform of the APC; Senator Simeon Ajibola was the PDP governorship flag-bearer while Dr Mike Omotosho stood as LP candidate.

For politicians, the atmosphere was frenzy and gave the candidates opportunity to sell their wares to the voters eagerly impatient to usher in the transition. There is no doubt that the poll conferred advantage on Governor Ahmed who used the avenue to remind the people of the state of the need to re-elect him to continue his governance principles encapsulated in shared prosperity.

On April 11, the mandate was renewed. Ahmed did not only win the much touted poll but subdued his opponents in a landslide. Despite the minefields placed in the way for the APC candidate to divert the attention of eligible voters, the love of the people for him warded off the plot.

However, ever since the election had been contested and won, politicians in the camp of the APC especially those eyeing offices in the second coming of Governor Ahmed have been shuttling between Kwara and Abuja to make the list of the yet to be constituted cabinet of the state government.

Members of the cabinet include the governor, his deputy, Secretary to the State Government, Commissioners and Special Advisers.

Shortly after the election with victory in favour of the APC, official and private residences of chieftains and stalwarts in the party had been turned to mecca of some sort where prospective office seekers pleaded to intercede for them to be included in the proposed cabinet.

The Herald reported in one of it previous editions that those seeking offices in the incoming cabinet of Governor Ahmed had laid ambush for the residences of the leader of APC in the state, Bukola Saraki, in Ilorin and Abuja, prior to his becoming the Senate President.

It would be recalled also that the governor had disclosed that the impending cabinet would largely comprise technocrats who can hit the ground running in line with his vision to accelerate the pace of development in the state.

Although the state chief executive, shortly after being sworn-in, announced the re-appointment of SSG, Sola Isiaka Gold and some aides believed to have performed creditably in the last cabinet.

In keeping to the faith of injecting new blood in the running of his government, Ahmed jolted some political heavyweights paraded to be considerably favoured in the appointment of Chief of Staff, Government by picking Alhaji Yusuf Baba Abdulwahab. Until his appointment, the new chief of staff was the immediate-past Director General, Bureau of Lands. In politics, he can be likened to a greenhorn but as technocrat, his resume is intimidating.

The appointment, as a surprise package, was a tip of the iceberg that it may not be business as usual especially now that states government confronted with the stark reality of cash crunch imposed on them by dwindling crude oil sales in the global market. The unforeseen situation, which led the states to be struggling hard to pay workers salaries, also forced them to renew revenue generating mechanism to mitigate the impact of the financial imbroglio.

Governor Ahmed also hinted, as exclusively reported sometimes ago by this newspaper, that the fallout of the current economic reality would manifest by pruning the number of government ministries. Though official pronouncement has not been made on the number ministries that would be affected, The Herald learnt that ministries such as Economic Planning; Tertiary Education, Science and Technology as well as some agencies of government might be scrapped in one fell swoop.

The development, ostensibly, appears to have shattered the hope of politicians oscillating back and front to make the list of the proposed cabinet.

To the consternation of those who have got their cups full and still looking inward for re-appointment, the senate president and political leader of the state ditched their dashed hope by reportedly saying that no more recycling in the cabinet of the state.

Saraki was said to have categorically told those who care to listen that the impending cabinet would be constituted base on equity, fair play and justice. This current disposition, it was learnt, was to ensure that political appointments go round so that those who also labourisly worked for the interest of the party in the last general elections, and yet to secure patronage of government also benefited to the optimum.

Following Saraki alleged shocker, some people nominated by the local government chapters of the APC to the state working committee of the party have had their names withdrawn for possible replacement. Most of them were said to have served for period of eight years in the state or indirectly benefited from the largesse of the government.

The development had sparked crisis at the local government level with members of the party accusing leaders of vociferous discreet plot to hijack the list.

From Ilorin West to Asa, Ilorin South to Ilorin, Ekiti to Irepodun, crisis of confidence had polarized the party while mutual distrust rages.

But the state APC chairman, Ishola Balogun Fulani, dismissed the brewing crisis over cabinet composition, pointing out that the present political game was not unexpected in polity.

He also vouched for Governor Ahmed that his second shot would focus on youth empowerment and developmental projects.

"To me, there is no crisis. As a party, we said we want to give everybody a say. We here as a party can sit and choose anybody to be commissioners, choose anybody to be advisers. But we want them to partake in this exercise. That is after that person might have been chosen, if he misbehaves, we will call the logal government leadership that this is the person you bring to us.

"But what you are saying whether there is wrangling, there is no wrangling. It is politicking. You don't fight in politics, but you do politicking so as to gain people to your side so that your name will come up. That is just what is happening. So there is no any infighting

"I can tell you that Governor Ahmed is going to do more. But he is going to focus on youth empowerment. We have multitude of them. And all the projects he is doing, he will do them towards enhancing his objectives as well as more developmental projects in Kwara State", the APC boss said.

With the current intrigues in the polity, anxiety has intensified within the political circle for those who might be eliminated from the new cabinet race if the statement credited to the APC leader in the state is anything to go by.