Alleged marginalisation of some Local Government Areas and the Muslims community in Lagos State as well as non consultation with the grassroots leaders of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) by Governor Olusola Sanwo-Olu on the appointment of commissioners has been given as reasons the Lagos State Assembly, Wednesday, refused to confirm some of the nominees.
A report by THEWILL newspaper said that the rejection of 17 nominees of the Governor was based on complaints and petitions by some leaders of the party, members of the Assembly and the Lagos Muslim Community, who felt Governor Sanwo-Olu sidelined their members.
Recall that Muslims, under the umbrella of the Lagos Muslim Community, had last week staged a protest over what they described as alleged marginalisation of the Muslims in the list of commissioner-nominees.
During the protest, the President of the Muslim Community of Lagos State, Prof. Tajudeen Gbadamosi, led other prominent Muslim leaders, including the Convener, Joint Muslim Forum (JMF), Sheikh AbdurRahman Ahmad and MURIC Director, Prof. Ishaq Akintola, to complain about marginalisation of the Muslims in the appointment.
Also, upon the receipt of the list, some members of the Assembly complained that the list did not meet their expectations and those of their constituencies.
Raising a ‘Matter of Urgent Public Importance’, the lawmaker representing Ikorodu II Constituency, Aro Abiodun, told the House some days ago that despite contributing to the success of the APC in the last election, Ikorodu got one slot in the list.
The Deputy Majority Leader of the House, Ademola Kasunmu and Nureni Akinsanya from Mushin, said the list did not come with the local government areas of the nominees.
They also noted that if the governor desired technocrats, there were many of them in the APC and should have been picked from the party.
Hon. Kehinde Joseph (Alimosho II) said that loyalists and party members deserved to be nominated as much as technocrats.
A source within the Screening Committee of the House said the governor failed to carry along the party leaders at the local level before picking some of the nominees.
He said some local governments like Badagry had no nominee in the list sent by the governor.
“Most of the so-called technocrats who served in the first term refused to relate with their constituencies. Even if you are a technocrat, once you are appointed to the position of commissionership, you should know that you represent a certain local government and it is normal that you relate with your leaders in the local area. Most of them didn’t do this. Party is run by the people and once you are appointed, you cannot remain aloof,” he said.
The Lagos State House of Assembly had on Wednesday rejected 17 out of 39 Commissioner –Nominees sent to it by Governor Sanwo-Olu for screening and approved 22.
Seventeen nominees who were rejected through a voice vote as Speaker of the House, Mudashiru Obasa, mentioned the name of each of the nominees were: Mr. Sam Egube, Mr Olalekan Fatodu, Mrs Solape Hammond, Mr Mosopefolu George, Engr. Aramide Adeyoye, Mr Seun Osiyemi, Mr Rotimi Ogunwuyi, Dr Olumide Oluyinka; Mrs Folashade Adefisayo, Prof. Akin Abayomi, Mr Yomi Oluyomi, Mrs Folashade Ambrose, Ms Barakat Bakare, Mr Gbenga Omotosho, Engr. Olalere Odusote, Dr Rotimi Fashola and Mrs. Bolaji Dada.
While speaking on the decision of the House, the House Chief Whip who also doubles as the Chairman of the Screening Committee, Mojeed Fatai Adebola, in an interview with a television station in Lagos, Thursday, said the rejection was the unanimous decision of the House.
His words “As I said at our inaugural sitting, our mandate was just to screen, not to confirm nor disqualify any nominee.
“The reason for rejection is best known to the house (40 members), not as an individual. We did our job in checking the nominees’ track records.”
Attempt by THEWILL to speak with Mr. Gboyega Akosile, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Sanwo-Olu, proved abortive as his line was busy.
However, while speaking on a television programme, Akosile said the governor is yet to receive the outcome of the screening and confirmation of the nominees.
He said the House of Assembly is supposed to send to the governor their decision but said that hasn’t been done yet.
Meanwhile, in his reaction to the House of Assembly decision, former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), Chief Olabode George, while speaking on Arise Television on Thursday, said the rejection saga showed that the ruling party is an incoherent party that lacks the capacity to run the affairs of Lagos.
“When I read about it yesterday, I was speechless. You are telling us, members of the public, that we have given you the mandate to manage us but you cannot manage the selection of your commissioners. It is disgraceful,” he said. [TheWill]
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