How ex-Rep emerged Kwara Speaker

Date: 2015-06-24

The emergence of Ali Ahmad as speaker of the 8th Kwara Assembly is devoid of bickering and horse trading as was the case in other states of the federation. The process that resulted in the election of Ali Ahmad as the Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly penultimate week was not different from that of the emergence of his predecessor.

Kwara State has a peculiar political terrain where consensus institutionalized by the late strongman of Kwara politics, Dr. Olusola Saraki, has become the norm. The consensus politics has been the hallmark of Saraki's politics which he once said was the best measure to minimize intra-party conflict.

With Saraki's demise, his first son, Bukola Saraki (now Senate President) took over the political dynasty of his late father and sustained the consensus arrangement in determining positions for his political family.

The emergence of Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed as the candidate then under PDP in 2011 was a product of consensus. His second term ticket was borne out of an in-house arrangement where others who wanted to contest were persuaded to shelve their ambition to allow Governor Ahmed complete his second term in office.

Other offices are usually allocated to loyal members of the dynasty including the speakership, and so primary elections are usually formalities in the state. It would be recalled that former Speaker of the House, Razak Atunwa, who is now a member of the House of Representatives, was commissioner for works before a member from his constituency was persuaded to step down for him to enable him represent that constituency and ultimately emerged as Speaker.

So when Ahmad, who was elected to represent Ilorin East/South Federal constituency in the House of Representatives in 2011 was asked to come home and contest for a lower position as a member of the state House of Assembly, it was glaring from the beginning that the lawmaker was not being demoted as some observers suggested.

With Ahmad contesting for Ilorin South constituency, it was more like a fait accompli that he would emerge the next Speaker of the House given his personality and track record. As a member of the 7th House of Representatives, Ahmad did not only head the Justice Committee, he was also a member of the ad hoc committee which investigated the fuel subsidy regime.

In a report, titled, "Status of Bills, Petitions and Other Legislative Measures," released on the authority of the former House Speaker and now governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, 169 lawmakers sponsored bills within the period.

However, among the total bills sponsored and co-sponsored by the legislators in the four years, Ahmad topped others overwhelmingly with a total number of 36 bills sponsored.

He was followed by Uzoma Nkem Abonta with 32 bills and Femi Gbajabiamila with 20. It would be recalled that 10 of his bills were passed in a session, having scaled all the processes. The 10 bills bother on criminal justice system. So on 8th June when the 8th Kwara Assembly was to be inaugurated, it was seen as a formalization of the selection of Ali Ahmad as Speaker of the 24-member House wholly populated by All Progressives Congress (APC) members. He was nominated by Hasan Oyeleke representing Ojomu/Shao constituency of Offa local government council and seconded by Adamu Usman (Okuta/Yashikira constituency of Baruten local government. He was unanimously elected by other members of the House. Speaking after his inauguration as new Speaker, he said he was honoured to be elected as Speaker considering the status of Kwara State in Nigeria's political history.

Ahmad, who said the tasks ahead were daunting, added that economic reality in the country was frightening as youth unemployment remained high. His words, "We must be creative in finding short and long term solutions to the challenges, including security of lives and property." He urged his colleagues not to be complacent just because there was no opposition.

And to stave off any wagging of tongues, especially by the opposition party, the ruling APC issued a statement commending the process which produced the Speaker. The ruling party in a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Sulyman Buhari, noted that the lawmakers in their "own volition chose their leaders without let or hindrance." The party urged all other state assemblies "to take a cue from the maturity and decorum which were the hallmark of the inauguration of the 8th Assembly in Kwara State."

It also admonished the newly inaugurated lawmakers to support the administration of Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, especially at this critical time when the nation grapples with the challenge of dwindling allocation.

"We however remind the legislators that they are coming on board at a time the state and the country at large is witnessing a shortfall in revenue needed for critical infrastructure and economic advancement. It therefore behoves on them to rally round the Gov. Abdulfatah Ahmed-led government in the onerous task of governance of the state at this critical period," the statement said.

It added, "We particularly commend the choice of Dr. Ali Ahmad as the Speaker of the Assembly. Coming at a time that reports emerged that Dr. Ahmad was the sponsor of the highest number of bills during the life of the out-gone 7th Federal House of Representative, the choice of Ahmad couldn't have come at a better time.

"Over the years, Dr. Ahmad has proven his mettle as a brilliant and cosmopolitan team player, as well as a loyal and disciplined party man who is ready to sacrifice personal interest for the larger interest of his party. As a party, we are convinced that Dr. Ahmad will consolidate on the achievements of his predecessors."

The people of the state expect the new Speaker to bring his experience to bear in driving legislative business. Analysts express optimism that the newly inaugurated assembly would build on the performance of the last legislature through passage of people-oriented bills and motions and thorough supervision of the executive arm of government towards delivering the much desired democratic dividends to the people.

Source

 


Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

Kwara United     Aliyu Salihu     Okin High School     Rabiu Kwankwaso     Ajike People Support Centre     NIPR     Abubakar Suleiman     Babata     T And K FOODS     Oyeyemi Olasumbo Florence     Pakata Development Association     Iliasu     Oyawoye     HAMFAT Clinic And Maternity     Babatunde Ajeigbe     Kwara State Government     Apaola     Rotimi Atere     Ilorin Innovation Hub     Biliaminu Aliu     Muhammad-Mustapha Suleiman     Simeon Ajibola     Aminat Omodara     Sobi     Akanji     Budo Egba     Abdulraheem Olesin     Seni Saraki     Olufolake Abdulrazaq     Olukotun Of Ikotun     Ilorin Talaka Parapo     Prince Sunday Fagbemi     Yahaya Muhammad     AGILE Programme     Ayodele Kuburat Olaosebikan     Post-utme     Samuel Adaramola     Okala Baba     Innocent Okoye     Mukhtar Shagaya     Yusuf Amuda Gobir     Salmon Babatunde Salmon     Ibrahim Oniye     Nigerian Correctional Service     Akeem Olatunji     Gwanara     Olatunji Bamgbola     Yusuf Aiyedun     Alanamu     Muhammed Mahe Abdulkadir     GGDSS Pakata     Titus Ashaolu     Adamu Jemilat-Baki     Radio SBS     Wahab Isa     Adekunle David Dunmade     Kulende-UITH     Just Event Online     Ronke Adeyemi     Quareeb     Balogun Fulani     20 Billion Bond     Hikmah AbdulKareem     Mahee Abdulkadir     Baruten     Gamji Members Association     Toyosi Thomas     Mamatu Abdullahi     Abubakar Aliagan     Bamidele Adegoke     Abikan     Ileloke     Cornelius Adebayo     Abdulkadir Bolakale Sakariyah     QuickWin     Awoye     Adedeji Onimago    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

Tunji Olawuyi     Tanke Road     Afeyin-Olukuta     Kwara Volleyball Association     Yakub Ali-Agan     Yoruba     Hamza Usman     Apaola     Durbar Festival     Bayo Mohammed Onimode     Adesina Simon Sodiya     Muhammed Abdullahi     Sa\'adu Salahu     International Public Sector Accounting Standards     Salihu S. Yaru     Funmilayo Isiaka Oniwa     Ella Supreme Tissue Paper     Yusuf AbdulRasheed     Abdulraufu Mustapha     Taofik Abdulkareem     Aliyu Sabi     Kisira     Kwara North     Centre For Peace And Strategic Studies     Abdulganiyu AbdulAzeez     Abdul-Rasheed Na\'Allah     Tunde Akanbi     Sam Onile     Funmilayo Zubair     Sadiq Umar     Mashood Abdulrafiu Agboola     Olupako     Abdulkadir Bolakale Sakariyah     Yusuf Amuda Gobir     Na\'Allah     Olosi Of Osi     Muslimah Entrepreneurship Forum     Hijaab     T And K FOODS     Iponrin     Ibrahim Abikan     Moses Rahman Popoola     Bola Tinubu     Funmi Salau     Olabode Towoju     Eleyele     Abdulrazaq Magaji     Taofeek Ibraheem     Societe Generale Bank Of Nigeria     Adeniyi Ojo     AbdulRazaq Jiddah     Dar-Al-Handasah Consultants     Kwara State Fire Service     Odogun Olushola Gabriel     Oloje     Kwara Pdp     Kwara State Geographic Information Service     Ahmed Idris Mohammed     Col. Taiwo     Haruna Tambiri Mohammed     IFK     Oba David Oyerinola Adedunmoye     Pakata Development Association     General Hospital, Ilorin     Donatus Ejidike     Dele Momodu     Junior Secondary School Certificate Examinations     Towobola Abdulrahman Toyin     Al-Ilory     EFCC     Eghe Igbinehi     Kabir Shagaya     Sheikh Alimi     Saad Belgore     N-Power     Babata     Siddiq Adebayo Idowu Salawu