From Layi Olanrewaju, Ilorin
Traditional rulers and respected leaders in the Kwara South senatorial district have lauded President Bola Tinubu’s recent federal appointments, saying they reflect a strong adherence to the principles of federal character.
Speaking with journalists in Ilorin yesterday, the group, led by Dr. James Ayeni, insisted that the appointments into public offices depicted Tinubu’s sense of equity, fairness and justice.
“By these appointments, President Bola Tinubu has demonstrated that he belongs to all Nigerians, irrespective of region, religion, or ethnicity”, he said.
The leaders, who stated that the President was always guided by political clairvoyance and sagacity, added that these attributes helped him in “discovering talents, able hands, and putting round pegs in round holes.”
They also mentioned that Kwara South district had benefited from the fair and equitable distribution of appointments across the country and expressed gratitude to President Tinubu.
“The appointment of our children from Kwara South into various offices has rekindled our sense of belonging in the Nigerian Project,” they said.
They added: “the President can, therefore, be rest assured of our unwavering support for his administration and our unflinching loyalty to the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“Those appointed are: Abdul-Lateef Fagbemi, Attorney-General/Minister of Justice; Bashir Bayo Ojulari, Group CEO, NNPCL; Sunday Fagbemi, Chairman Governing Board, National Cereals Research Institute, Badeggi, Niger State; Professor Wale Suleiman, Chairman Governing Council, Federal University of Health Sciences, Ila-Orangun; Nurudeen Adeyemi Balogun, Member, Board of Directors of TETFUND; Mr. C. O. Adebayo Jnr., MD, National Agricultural Development Authority; Lanre Fálolá, Commissioner, Public Complaints Commission and many others.”
“We can say with humility that Kwara South is a very fertile ground to hunt for and discover highly qualified technocrats, politicians of integrity and men and women of great skills who can stand tall and be counted among the best in the world.”
“Therefore, like Oliver Twist, we humbly request Mr. President to graciously keep an eye on Kwara South with a view to obliging us with more appointments.”
The leaders also called the attention of the federal government to the deplorable conditions of some roads in the area, especially the Ilorin-Omu Aran-Egbe road, appealing to the government to rehabilitate the road to assist socioeconomic development.
Ayeni used the occasion to disabuse the minds of those criticizing beneficiaries of the FG’s appointments by saying they are from other zones of the country and not Kwara State. The political leader said that Kwara State has 70 percent of the Yoruba-speaking population, adding that the criticism was borne out of ignorance.