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AS the ministerial nominees screening begins today in the Senate, there is a strong indication that the President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki and the National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Lai Mohammed may have mended fences.
Secretary of the Dr. Olusola Saraki-led Northern Union, Dr. Ibrahim Yakubu Lame, is likely to be nominated to fill the Bauchi State ministerial slot vacated by former Defence Minister Mahmud. Governor Abdul-Rahman Abdul-Razaq of Kwara on Tuesday congratulated Alhaji Lai Mohammed and Sen. Gbemisola Saraki, for their nomination as ministerial nominees by President Muhammadu Buhari. The governor, in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye, said it is a great honour to have two ministerial nominees from the state.
It was speculated that the duo parted ways over the controversial circumstances in which Saraki emerged as the president of the senate against the desire of the party.
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Mohammed, whose name is on the ministerial nominees list, would obviously need Saraki’s support, as one of the senate procedures for screening stipulates that each nominee must get the support of two senators from their state.
The Senate President however may have capitalized on the development to win the heart of the APC’s spokesman to his side, a form of “give and take” situation for both Kwara State born politicians.
A group from the state, Kwara Movement for Good Governance (KMGG), has however cautioned those kicking against Mohammed’s appointment as it also commended Saraki for endorsing the APC’s spokesman’s nomination.
The convener of KMGG, Ismail Shehu described those picking holes in the appointment of Mohammed “as mischief-makers and attention seekers. Their opinion does not reflect the general feelings of the people of Kwara State both at home and in the Diaspora.”
While the group hailed Saraki for endorsing the nomination of Mohammed, it also expressed hope that the other two Senators from Kwara, Sha’aba Lafiaji and Rafiu Ibrahim would toe the same path with the Senate President.
According to Shehu, “We strongly believe that those against the nomination of Alhaji Lai Mohammed as ministerial nominee are doing so out of ignorance or just to get cheap media publicity.
“It is hypocritical for some elements under the guise of Kwara South APC Youths to say Lai Mohammed has contributed nothing to the development of the party in the state and never voted in Kwara in the last general elections. That is pathetic, to say the least.
“It is noteworthy to inform these young elements in politics and whoever is goading them that Lai Mohammed’s role as the mouthpiece of the APC does not allow him to be in his home state at all times. Despite his busy itinerary, he still finds out time to connect with developments in Kwara APC and the state in general. One of such is the annual Lai Mohammed Ramadan Lecture, which the 9th edition was held in Ilorin, the Kwara state capital this July.”
Shehu further said that those who claimed that Mohammed does not deserve the ministerial slot of Kwara State “because he opposed the emergence of Senator Bukola Saraki as President of the Senate, should stop crying more than the bereaved. Not only has the Senate president publicly endorsed his nomination, he has enjoined Kwarans to support this illustrious son who has been doing our dear state proud.
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“We salute Mr. President for nominating Lai Mohammed into his cabinet and we enjoin Nigerians and all lovers of Kwara State to support him with their prayers as he prepares for the great task ahead.”