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ad1 The vacant ministerial slot of Kogi State has pitched stakeholders in the State against President Muhammadu Buhari. Groups and individuals are lamenting that one year after the death of James Ocholi, then minister of state for labour and employment, Buhari has refused to name a replacement. Analyzing the Ministerial slots for Imo state since the inception of democracy in 1999, one would wonder why Orlu zone has continued to lay claim to the position, having produced the highest number of Ministers.
Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello. Photo/Twitter/LugardHouse
Ahead the reconstitution of the Federal Executive Council by President Muhammadu Buhari, various interests are already playing out in Kogi State. Prof Stephen Ocheni, who took over from the late Barrister James Ocholi from Kogi East, ended his tenure on May 28 2019, following dissolution of the council by the President.
While it is not clear if President Buhari would retain Ocheni, some individuals and groups are showing interest and have intensified lobby for the ministerial position. At the last count, no fewer than five persons have shown interest. They include, Hon Saliu Seidu Akawu (Kogi West), Senator Smart Adeyemi (Kogi West), Hon Suleiman Baba Ali (Kogi West), the immediate past Minister of State for Labour, Prof Stephen Ocheni (Kogi East), and perhaps, the latest entrant, the All Progressives Congress (APC) National woman leader, Hajia Salamatu Bawa, who is equally from Kogi East.
At different times, the state’s three senatorial districts have been represented at the Federal Executive Council. Under former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Kogi West produced Prof Eyitayo Lambo, Kola Jamodu, Barrister Bayo Ojo (SAN) and General David Jemibewon, all from the Okun Yoruba speaking axis of Kogi West as ministers.
The Ebira speaking people of Kogi Central also produced Alhaji Muhammed Adoke (SAN) as minister during President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.From Kogi East, Gabriel Aduku was appointed by former President Obasanjo, while Barrister Humphrey Abba was appointed into the Federal cabinet by former president Goodluck Jonathan. Akawu is believed to be banking on his loyalty and commitment to APC as a pioneer member, who was believed to have worked for the party’s victory in 2015 and 2019.
Hon Saidu Akawu Salihu was born on March 11 1964. He hails from Koto Karfe town in Kogi Local Government of the state. He graduated from Ahmadu Bello University, where he studied Sociology. He was appointed Commissioner of Budget and Economic Planning, Kogi State between 2003 and 2005, and Commissioner of Water Resources and Rural Development between 2005 and 2007. He was appointed Chairman, Governing Board of Rubber Research Institute of Nigeria (RRIN) in 2018 to Date.
A source close to Lugard House, who desired anonymity, told The Guardian that Governor Yahaya Bello actually promised to support Akawu’s ambition in the past. He, however said because of the dynamic nature of politics, no one is sure of what would happen. Another source said Bello was presently not comfortable with Akawu’s romance with Rt. Admiral Jibril Usman, who is believed to be Bello’s main opposition within APC for the November governorship election. As it is, Akawu’s fate may just be hanging in the balance.
A group in Lokoja has charged President Buhari and Governor Bello to ensure that loyal APC members, such as Suleiman Baba, are adequately compensated in the new cabinet.In a statement signed by its Secretary, Comrade Yakubu Abubakar, the Lokoja Consultative Youth Forum (LCYF) noted that the likes of Alhaji Suleiman Baba Ali, former Commissioner of Health and a governorship aspirant in Kogi State in 2015 primaries deserve recommendation.
The group said it would join forces with other like minds to ensure that Baba Ali was considered for ministerial position under President Muhammadu Buhari and Governor Yahaya Bello’s second terms. But Baba’s popularity in APC may have dwindled after the demise of Price Abubakar Audu, who was his maternal uncle.
ASIDE the fact that Senator Adeyemi is believed to be the state government’s choice, a source told The Guardian the Presidency is also favourably disposed to his ministerial ambition, due largely to his experience. Adeyemi is a two-time National president of the Nigeria Union of Journalists and a two-time senator. It is believed he is highly connected to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’s office. He is from the West Senatorial district, which is currently favoured by political zoning in the state, for political balancing among the state’s three senatorial districts.
The Central currently occupies the governorship position, while the East holds the Deputy governor’s position. The source added that Adeyemi is most likely to clinch the slot, as the state government may want to compensate him, having lost the senatorial seat to his archrival, Senator Dino Melaye.
THE immediate past Minister of State for Labour, who is also in the race for Kogi ministerial slot, is banking on his connection in the Presidency. He has served in Buhari’s cabinet for almost two years. Prof Stephen Ikani Ocheni is a professor of Public Sector Accounting, and until his appointment as Minister, he was the Dean of Faculty of Management Sciences, Kogi State University, Anyigba. He hails from Uwowo in Igalamela/Odolu Local Government Area of Kogi. He bagged a PhD in Financial Management from University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He was said to be lobbying Governor Bello, who nominated him in the first place. He was also believed to be very loyal to the New Direction Government of Governor Bello.
According to a source, his major weakness is that he is not well grounded politically. So, he was unable to attract any meaningful development to his area or Kogi in his first outing as minister.INTERESTINGLY, the recent entrance into the race by APC National woman leader, Hajia Salamatu Bawa, is causing a stir in Kogi APC.
Hajia Bawa is said to be highly connected. Her closeness to wife of the President, Hajia Aisha Buhari, is also considered an advantage.
A source at Government House said Governor Bello had already sent three nominees to the President. The source said Bawa’s exclusion from the list was generating serious commotion in Kogi APC and beyond, as Bawa was said to have raised objection in very high quarters.
When contacted on the development, Governor Bello’s spokesperson, Kingsley Fanwo, said: “The Minister will be appointed by the President and not the Governor, and we believe Mr. President will make the right choice that will fit into his agenda for the nation. “I would urge all to be patient and wait for the choice that will be made from Kogi State. Whoever is chosen will enjoy Governor Bello’s support and cooperation. Until the President submits the final list of ministerial nominees to the National Assembly for clearance, the lobbying continues.”
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The vacant ministerial slot of Kogi State has pitched stakeholders in the State against President Muhammadu Buhari.
Groups and individuals are lamenting that one year after the death of James Ocholi, then minister of state for labour and employment, Buhari has refused to name a replacement.
Recall that Ocholi died in a ghastly motor accident along the Kaduna-Abuja road on March 6, 2016.
Speaking on the issue, executive director of the Centre for Human Rights and Conflict Resolution, Idris Miliki, said Buhari had violated the constitution he swore to uphold.
“As a civil society person and somebody from Kogi, I am disappointed. The constitution states clearly that there shall be a minister from each state of the federation, who shall be an indigene of such state,” he told Daily Trust.
“If the law states that ‘there shall be’, it means it is compulsory. What does it take the president to appoint a minister from Kogi State? This government practises impunity in the name of due process.
“I think it is time the APC-led government watched their administration. We are becoming disappointed with their government, both at the federal and state levels.
“The number one effect is that when it comes to voting, Kogi has no vote in the Federal Executive Council. There are some elements of democracy at that level. If there are debates and divisions, they would vote on a particular issue. In that case, the state will have no vote.
“Secondly, the office Ocholi occupied is vacant and has no impact whatsoever on the people. If there is a minister, he would have to appoint some aides and would equally visit his people to know their problems, with a view to making case for them.
“When Ocholi was alive, he used to tour all the places in the state to meet traditional rulers to know the problems in their domains in order to render assistance to them. All these are lacking today since there is no one there for the people.
“The state is completely lagging behind; we have no votes, we have no opinion, we have no suggestions and we have no benefits. Even in preparing the national budget for 2017, Kogi State had no input.
“Now, the federal government has made a proposal to the National Assembly; then tell me, who is supposed to present the position of Kogi State? Of course, it is the minister, not the governor. It is the minister from the state who would mention the number of federal roads in the state that need attention,” he said.
In his reaction, secretary of the APC in the state, Tom Adejoh, said the party was equally worried that a replacement for late Ocholi had not been appointed.
“Frankly speaking, we are not happy about the whole situation. Kogi State in particular surprised the nation in the last presidential election. The margin of votes the APC got in the state was unimaginable.
“The people of Kogi are expecting the dividends of what they have done for the president. We are mindful of the fact that the president has enormous tasks, but for us to have lost a minister for close to a year without any replacement is worrisome. We didn’t even expect that it would take up to three months to get a replacement.
“Although we are hearing that the president is about to make an appointment, but how soon will that be? We expect the president to feel the pulse and pains of the people after the demise of the former minister. He should take a look at the situation of the state to make sure the pains and agony of the people are lessened,” Adejoh pleaded.
President of Ujache Igala Association, a pressure group, Goodman Akwu, said the situation showed that President Buhari was insensitive to the plight of the people.
“I wonder why a whole state of about 8 million people can be excluded from their country. It is undemocratic, unacceptable and unbelievable that the man we gave so much has decided to use hot water to wash our face.
“We voted overwhelmingly for the president. Over 70 per cent of voters in the state voted for him and guided their votes. The change eventually took place and the man is now shortchanging us,” he lamented.
Meanwhile, the Igala in Kogi East senatorial district, want the president to appoint a replacement from the area, which the late Ocholi hailed from
In an open letter to President Buhari, signed by its legal adviser, Bameyi Audu, the group explained that its position was in reaction to “widely circulated” positions of other ethnic groups, who have continued to clamour for the ministerial nominee to come from their zones.
Oyo State Ministerial Slot
It reads “The attention of members and our Board of Trustees have been drawn to a publication in some national dailies over the prerogative power of the president on the vacant ministerial slot for Kogi State following the death of the former minister of state for labour and productivity, James Ocholi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) who hailed from Abocho in Dekina Local Government Area.
“From the records available, the Kogi West senatorial district is presently occupying two federal permanent secretary positions, while the central is enjoying an ambassadorial position.
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“It is on the basis of the above that we are urging Mr. President to consider the plight of the good people of Kogi East who have no representative at the federal level.
“We want to use this medium to call on desperate politicians in Abuja and Lagos to steer clear of this issue of ministerial nominee, for equity, fairness and justice. We are in support of Mr. President’s fight against corruption and the fight must be sustained”.
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