The Peoples Democratic Party has threatened to sue the Governor of Kwara State, Abdulfatah Ahmed, for delay in the composition of his cabinet months after he was sworn-in as the Governor of the State.
The threat to sue is one of the reactions that the delay had generated from different segments of the society in the state in Nigeria’s western part.
Governor Ahmed’s party, the All Progressive Congress (APC), said that the need to choose the right people informed the delay while the Governor said he needed to plan well with the available funds before forming a cabinet.
In a press conference on Tuesday, the State Chairman of the APC, Balogun Fulani Ishola, said that the Governor was only waiting for the right time to make the announcement after thorough search for the right candidates.
“Choosing of members of the cabinet involves lots of consultations to ensure that those to be chosen are capable,” he stressed.
The first shot criticism about the delay was fired by the State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Iyiola Oyedepo, who condemned what he called deliberate attempt by the Kwara State Governor not to constitute the cabinet nearly three months after winning the second term election. He said it was illegal.
“Since the Governor has been in power prior to this time, he ought to know the right people to choose immediately on assumption of office. We will soon go to court to make sure that one man does not continue to run the government,” he said, threatening to sue the governor soon.
The people on the streets are not left out, as some express worries and concerns over the delay.
They want the Governor to hasten the appointments of his cabinet members.
Governor Ahmed, however, in a radio programme responded to the allegations and threat of the opposition party, explaining that the need to properly plan for the state, in terms of getting funds to provide the basic needs of the populace, informed the delay.
“We are all aware that we are coming out of a huge financial deficit, largely perpetrated by the last PDP led Federal Government, which has brought us to the level where it has even almost becoming unbelievably difficult for states to meet up with their salaries.
“It will be very much out of place for me to come in and immediately appoint commissioners. I have plans in my hands but I can’t execute any plan without resources,” Governor Ahmed explained.
He urged the people to be patient, as only the right people would be appointed in order to avoid wastage of putting him into pressure of always looking for salaries for political office holders.
