The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ministerial

  • Monarch seeks ministerial slot for community

    Monarch seeks ministerial slot for community

    The Deji of Akure , Oba Aladetoyinbo Aladesulu has urged the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to make its “change” agenda be noticed in Akure, the Ondo State capital by appointing one of his subjects as a minister in its proposed cabinet.

    The monarch spoke through the Asamo of Akure, High Chief Rotimi Olusanya when APC leaders in the state visited him in Akure.

    Oba Aladesulu noted that the last time Akure community felt Federal Government’s presence in terms of political appointment was during the era of the Military President, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, when the Olu of Ilu-Abo, Chief Olu Falae was appointed as the Minister of Finance and Secretary to the Government of the Federation(SGF).

    According to the traditional ruler, the people of Akure will support the government and ensure the sustenance of peace in the community.

    The visit to his palace was led by the chairman of the state chairman of APC, Isaac Kekemeke with a promise that the party would support his reign for the development of Akure, the state capital.

    He said the APC would work assiduously with Akure traditional council for the socio-economic development of the kingdom.

    Kekemeke said: “Our leader, President Muhammadu Buhari is seen as a man of integrity by most world leaders. Now we want to change Nigeria, Ondo State and Akure and we know you too as a change agent.”

    He described Oba Aladesulu as a man of integrity, stressing that APC members are for progress and development in all spheres of life.

    His words: “Kabiyesi, we have many things in common to develop your domain. We know by next year, we will be working together because APC is forming the next government in Ondo State.

    “We want to have a traditional rapport with the palace to have a common goal to develop Akure in particular and the entire state in general. Akure is vital to the development of the state.

    “We have a great luck in having you as our monarch at a time we are preparing to take the mantle of leadership.”

    Kekemeke called for peaceful co-existence among residents in Akure, saying “APC is committed to peace and progress of the ancient community.”

    He condemned the recent protest by commercial motorcycle operators in Akure, emphasising that APC would not support the destruction of public property in the name of protestation.”

    The former Secretary to the State Government (SSG) however criticised the alleged mismanagement and politicisation of all issues of governance in the state by Governor Olusegun Mimiko.

    He urged the monarch to prevail on all unions in the state to operate within the confines of the law.

    Another APC leader, Prince Olu Adegboro said the party was for transformation.

    He lamented that Akure has been relegated to the background politically by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) administration in the state, promising the traditional ruler that the APC government would ensure that all glory of

    the ancient town is restored.

    Other APC leaders on the visit to the palace were Prince Olu Adegboro, the Vice-Chairman (Central), Gboyega Adedipe and the State Secretary, Rotimi Rahman.

  • Igbo demand ministerial slot

    Igbo investors in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have called on the incoming administration of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari to consider their investors in the FCT when appointing ministers for the territory.

    This, according to them, is because they control over 70 per cent of investment in the capital city.

    The investors, who spoke through the chairman of Zaudan Pazeri Property Owners Association, Elder Friday Ugoala, at a press conference in Abuja, said the previous FCT Administrations where someone that resides outside the FCT was appointed to govern the affairs of the territory, has had negative effects on the investors who are majorly Igbo residents.

    According to Ugoala, when considering the appointment of the minister of the FCT, the incoming government should consider making a native of the FCT minister, while an Igbo man should be made the minister of state, or an Igbo man should be minister, while a native should be minister of state.

    “Abuja has major stakeholders, not just those residing in the city. It is on record that Igbo have not less than 70 per cent investment in Abuja in terms of property, merchandise and hospitality industries. So, we have invested heavily in Abuja, and we are demanding that the ministerial slots should be shared with the Igbo who are major stakeholders in the FCT.

    “We have reasons to demand for the slot of minister of the FCT, because, he will be sure that our investments are protected. If you consider the outgoing administration of Senator Bala Mohammed, you will notice that there are so many litigations that have to do with our investments and property, which we do not expect to continue that way. We even look forward to a situation whereby those issues in courts would be withdrawn and settled amicably.

    “It is obvious that there are two major stakeholders in the FCT, which are the political stakeholders and economic stakeholders. The natives are part of the political stakeholders because they control over 65 per cent of FCT population. So, it could be justice done to these two stakeholders, if the FCT ministerial slots are given to both of them, with due respect to other residents.

    “History has shown and events have played out that in the FCT politics, those ministers that come from areas that do not have so many stakes in the FCT, have done so much havoc to investments in Abuja. This is because they do not have people who cry to them about the pains they feel. We have entertained that fear, that if such era continues, our investments will continue to suffer and we do not want that to happen,” he said.

  • Natives seek ministerial slot in Buhari govt

    Abuja natives, under the Original Inhabitants Development Association (OIDA) have congratulated General Muhammadu Buhari on his victory in last month’s presidential polls.

    President of the association, Pastor Danladi Jeji, said that Gen. Buhari’s victory is a right step towards the fulfilment of the aspirations of Nigerians.

    He urged the new government to ensure that all Nigerians have a say in the people-elected government.

    Jeji added that Abuja natives are asking the President-Elect to appoint competent natives of Abuja as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and political aides so that the incoming government will not have a crisis of confidence between it and Abuja original inhabitants.

    He urged President Buhari to immediately scrap the land-swap programme of the outgoing minister of FCT, Bala Mohammed because according to him, it is a conduit pipe for the allocation of massive lands to cronies of the outgoing PDP-led federal government.

    Jeji stated this in a press release by ýOIDA’s media adviser Summer Sambo, who stated.

    ”The election of Gen. Buhari is the fulfilment of our aspiration for a people-centered government and we will offer maximum support to the incoming federal government which we are optimistic will have policies that will benefit not only original inhabitants of Abuja but also all Nigerians resident in the capital city.

    “The natives are asking the President-Elect to appoint competent natives of Abuja as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and political aides so that the incoming government will not have a crisis of confidence between it and Abuja original inhabitants.

    The Abuja native inhabitants want the immediate scrapping of the land swap programme of the outgoing minister of FCT, Bala Mohammed because it is a conduit pipe for allocation of massive lands to cronies of the outgoing PDP-led federal government. We also seek a total audit of land allocations by the Abuja Geographic and Information System, AGIS.

    “OIDA stated that the natives have “fought and endured injustice for long in the administration of the outgoing PDP-led Federal Government especially on the protracted issues of land-grab, demolition of native houses, non-development of satellite towns, marginalization in appointments, non-compensation of compulsorily acquired lands and massive sacking of whole villages for the appropriation of their lands by selfish politicians and their cronies in government. We have the confidence in the ability of your government to end these injustices.

    “The group urged the APC-led Federal Government to create a development commission to cater for displaced indigenous communities in Abuja. ”The proposed Abuja Original Inhabitants Development Commission (AOIDC) should be statutory and derive its funding from 30% of all sales accruing from allocable lands within the FCT. When established, AOIDC should deal with the lingering issues of relocation, resettlement and compensation for all project affected communities and persons.

    “The pan-FCT group also commended President Goodluck Jonathan for accepting defeat and saving the nation from crises that may have occured if the election had not been conducted according to international best practices. They wished him the best of luck in his future endeavours.

    “Formally welcoming the President-Elect and his vice to the nation’s seat of power, the natives urged General Buhari not to let Nigerians down considering the massive votes given to him by citizens from all parts of Nigeria including the natives of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.”