Date: 2014-07-23

We have received with delight, the appointment of Dr. Abubakar Suleiman, senior lecturer of international repute, consummate administrator and bridge builder, as the substantive Minister for National Planning.

The Ministry of National Planning, for which Dr. Suleiman has been graciously assigned by Mr. President, is no doubt the heartbeat of Nigerian growth and development. And it is by every means the engine room of the President's much coveted Transformation Agenda.

The Ministry of National Planning spearheads the development of macroeconomic framework for short, medium & long term development plans of the country. It is responsible for maintaining surveillance on the economy. From the statutory mandate of the ministry, it is crystal clear that none of the other federal and even state MDAs would be able to function properly or develop results-focused templates without the active consultation of the National Planning ministry.

By this appointment therefore, the President has fulfilled a major part of the promise he made to the good people of Kwara State to make our dear state first among equals; he has proven beyond doubt that Kwara indigenes would not play second fiddle in his cabinet again.

The other half of the promise, which is germane and even dearer to the people, is his avowed commitment to lift Kwara out of the doldrums that the APC usurpers have left it. Kwara people fervently await this! Together with the President, Kwarans are ready to use the instruments of democracy and the rule of law, to flush out the present clueless, remote-controlled APC administration in Kwara State.

It is instructive to note that the PDP-led Federal Government has appointed Kwara indigenes into other challenging positions in recent times, including the Governor of Central Bank (CBN), the Director-General (DG) of PENCOM, the Chairman of Federal Character Commission (FCC), and Vice-Chancellors of UNILAG, UNILORIN, FUT-MINNA, among others.

However, for this appointment, there could have been no better hand than Dr. Abubakar Olanrewaju Suleiman. As a thorough bred professional and a varsity don of repute, Olanrewaju comes across as a round peg in a round hole. For a man that has successfully administered several departments, institutes and committees relating to planning and strategy in the academic sector, there could have been no better choice!

We hereby assure Mr. President and the Nigerian people that the new appointee will give a good account of himself. We beat our chest that as a bridge builder, he shall rally the party in Kwara State towards the continued actualization of the Transformation Agenda of the present administration.

Therefore, for continually reposing his confidence in Kwara, we say Thank You Mr. President!

Signed:
Chief Rex K. Olawoye