Date: 2014-08-13

If blackmailing,character assasination and campaign of calumny are precious gift,one would have humbly said that one faceless Abdullahi Imam Abdullahi is blessed with such for his fruitless attempt to damage the exceptionally fine personality and integrity of a woman who has used all her life to serve humanity beyond the shores of her country. The writer attempted in vain to tint the ever reliable qualities of Hajia Bola Shagaya just because she has decided not to be an on looker in the political issues of her state of birth despite the fact that she has nothing to loose if she decides not to intervene, but for the love of her people and posterity,she decided to join force with other stakeholders and used her influence to contribute to the freedom struggle of her people. Instead of her to be praised,some misguided elements like the said spoiler went online to cast aspersion on a woman of excellence like Shagaya for some unfounded six issues.

For the benefits of unsuspecting Kwarans and others who might have read the said publication,it became imminent to respond thus;

Before the current dispensation, Hajia Bola Shagaya has never being a politician but a business mogul and as such, one would not have expected her publish whatever she has done to help her state and people but now that she has picked up interest in helping to free her people,we might be forced at a later time to name names and institutions she has helped to build for Kwara and Kwarans. The distractors are hereby warned to desist from their campaign of calumny otherwise,their paymaster might equally be affected.

Her business labels has always considered Kwara state for location not only to contribute to its development but also to provide employment opportunities for its citizens. We must remind the writer that a giant branch of one of her businesses-Foto fair was located at Umar Zaro road,Ilorin,then,it had hundreds of Kwarans as staff before the unfortunate close down of the branch due to the financial unreliability and mismanagement of some Kwarans who were entrusted with the business. The writer blindfoldedly claimed same Kwarans have never benefitted from the woman's investment. There are equally hundreds of Kwarans especially from Ilorin whom she has used her connections with the powers that be to get jobs for in several governmental and non governmental places.

For the writer to allege that the Hon. Minister is a lackey and houseboy of Shagaya is not only ridiculous but shows his naivety and daftness. How on earth can somebody who has obtained a PhD even before the writer's maturity and an associate professor be anybody's houseboy? The minister is not in anyway a new entrant in politics as the writer's paymaster always want people to feel, he possesses more grassroot political track record than even some acclaimed leaders,he has contested for LG council chairmanship and House of Representative in 1992 and 1999 respectively not for self aggrandizement but for service. It must be stated that,he was never appointed by Hajia Muinat Shagaya but by a multitude of stakeholders who saw his sternly qualities. We may also be forced at the appropriate time to upload the minutes of the meeting during which his appointment was ratified,though, Sen. Gbemisola Saraki objected his nomination,she later gave him support having realized that he merited it. How come some people are crying foul where there is none?

It is important to state clearly that; Hajia Shagays's sole interest in Kwara now is to see the state liberated and developed,she has no personal interest and neither aspire to hijack the state nor the PDP has done by Bukola Saraki whom the writer used as a comparison. We should reflect that during the last PDP congress,she was only an observer as she never sponsor any candidate. While the ministerial slot became vacant, she could have used her influence to appoint one but instead, she joined hand with other PDP gladiators and it took them 3 months before the suitable choice was made.

If the writer is so interested in questioning the genuineness and qualification of Hajia's son, Sherif, to contest an election, has he queried the pedigree and merit of the duo of Rasak Atunwa and Mashood Mustapha before they were handed tickets to contest? What had Atunwa and Mustapha done for the people of Asa-Ilorin west constituency that Sherif Shagaya has not done? The young man is qualified for the job not because he is Hajia Shagaya'son but because he is an adult who merits such, let him contest if he so wishes and the people shall decide and not one paid agent who does not find out facts before going to the press.

While it is true that Hajia Shagaya has always being helpful to the Sarakis and Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed when they were in the PDP, it is rather completely untrue that she still maintains any cordiality with them now that it is clear that the current leadership in her state is not beneficial to the people they claim to lead as evident in their recent selfish defection to the APC. Abdullahi Imam and a few like him might have mistaken the exchange of pleasantries between Shagaya and the duo of Bukola Saraki and his governor at Saudi Arabia for a relationship. He should be reminded that, these people are matured and can greet themselves even while they represent different interests and agenda.

The good thing is that the pillar of Kwara freedom, Hajia Muinat Shagaya, never dreamt of becoming a self acclaimed leader or dictator even as it continues to be glaring that Kwarans are ready to vote out the current leadership. All she is bent of seeing is a new Kwara that belong to all of us and not one person or his family.

Next time Abdullahi and his co-travellers desire to exhibit their character assasination trait,it is better to find a different subject person because Hajia Muinat Shagaya is too big a fish to be caught by their net of big lies,campaign of calumny and deception. Kwarans are wiser now and have certainly moved beyond that myopic era.

God bless the state of harmony.

Statement signed by Kwara New Dawn