Lai Mohammed dares Saraki and Gov. Ahmed
Senate President Dr Bukola Saraki and Minister of Information and
Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed are in serious battle for the soul of All
Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara, with both participating in
parallel state congress in Ilorin on Saturday, to elect state
executives.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that while the faction
loyal to Saraki held its congress at the Banquet Hall opposite the
Government House, the faction loyal to Lai Mohammed, held theirs at the
Arca Santa Event Hall.
Gov. Abdulfatah Ahmed, APC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji
Abdullahi, Sen Shaaba Lafiaji and lawmakers representing the state at
the National Assembly and state House of Assembly were present at the
congress which had Saraki in attendance.
Saraki, while speaking at the congress commended members of the
party for the peaceful conduct of the ward and local government
congresses.
He said most of the executive members at the wards and local government level were youths, adding that “this was a sign of good things to come in 2019”.
The Senate President said: “In 2019, it will be a test for the
youths to demonstrate their ability to take charge in the state,” he said.
Saraki, however, appealed to the delegates to comport themselves in an orderly and peaceful manner.
The party’s Chairman, Alhaji Ishola Balogun-Fulani, commended
members for their conduct during the last two congresses of the party.
The congress held at Arca Santa Hall had Moshood Mustapha, a former
Special Assistant to the Senate President on Special Duties and
Inter-Parliamentary Affairs in attendance.
Alhaji Raheem Adedoyin, a former Commissioner for Information under the Saraki administration, was also in attendance.
Also present was a former Secretary to the State Government under the Saraki administration, Alhaji Ganiyu Cook-Olododo.
NAN reports that executive members of the two factions emerged through consensus arrangement.
While delegates at the Banquet Hall still cast their votes in spite
of the fact that the candidates had no opponents, those at the Arca
Santa Hall only affirmed the return of candidates.
Alhaji Moshood Bolarinwa emerged the State Chairman of the faction
loyal to the minister, while Malam Abdullahi Samari was elected as the
Deputy Chairman.
Others were Alhaji Abdulganiyu Saka (Secretary); Abegunde Goge
(Assistant Secretary); Rahmat Abolaji (Women leader) and Samuel Isaac
(Youth Leader).
Also included were Mr Olayemi Olabanji, Kwara South Senatorial
Chairman; Sulyman Yahaya, Kwara Central Senatorial Chairman; and
Raheem Usman, Kwara North Senatorial Chairman.
Kayode Oyin-Zubair emerged Publicity Secretary of the faction, while Abiola Nasir was elected as Financial Secretary.
Wahila Sakariyah emerged as the Organising Secretary.
-NAN