Stakeholders in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara have endorsed the recall process initiated by youths against Hon. Ganiyu Folabi Salahudeen (aka AGF) from the state House of Assembly.
The stakeholders, including APC Caretaker Chairman in the area, Hon. Shiloh Awobimpe, described the move as a welcome development.
They made their views known on Wednesday at a peaceful protest at Omupo, headquarters of Omupo/Igbaja constituency.
Our Correspondent reports that the protest was to drum support for the recall of the member representing the constituency in the state legislature.
Speaking on behalf of the stakeholders, Mr Abdurauf Labelabe said “recall is an instrument of conflict resolution.
“If executive is becoming dictatorial, the legislature rises against such moves. If the legislature or judiciary becomes tyrannical, the people can rise against it.
“The recall move by our youths is a welcome development, considering the derailment of the lawmaker from his mandate as our representative,” Abdulrauf said.
According to Bello: “The people of Ora ward of the local government had protested to the Deputy Governor’s office, but he was also helpless. He (Deputy Governor) also registered under the cover of night.
“That is why we are making this complaint publicly, so that the National Caretaker Committee can know the exercise is a failure in Ifelodun.
“The excuse given by our Honourable members is that the instruction is from above, making allusion to the Governor, that whoever is not loyal to him should not be registered.
“It is appalling that APC in Kwara is discriminating against people and blind to commuters.
“This is not a time to scatter in APC, but a time to gather. We want people in our party. It is however sad that the development is to the contrary,” he said.
On his part, Awobimpe said Salahudeen “as a lawmaker is supposed to be a representative of the entire constituency.”
Awobimpe lamented that the lawmaker has been taking position over issues concerning the people without recourse to his constituents’ interest.
He cited the example of N35 billion bond requests by Gov. AbdulRazaq, that the lawmaker failed to consult anybody in the constituency, but singlehanded joined other lawmakers to approve it.
“As far as Ifelodun local government is concerned, we are not feeling government impact as expected.
“For example, there is noise about building dams in the three Senatorial districts, that of Kwara south is situated in Igbaja.
“As I speak, Igbaja Dam is not providing water to any of the communities it is meant to serve.
“This is what they don’t want us to talk about. They are spreading propaganda through the media.
“I went round with him to let him know our problems when he assumed office, he knew our problems.
“But after almost two years, there is nothing in our constituency to show we have a representative. Project-wise, it is zero,” he submitted.
Awobimpe added that out of the 197 polling units in Ifelodun local government area; there was no registration material in all the polling units.
The stakeholders had earlier alleged that the two lawmakers from Ifelodun local government (Owolabi and AGF Salahudeen) were hoarding the APC registration materials meant for their respective constituencies.
Women and youths present at the gathering also appealed to the appropriate hierarchy of the party to rescue APC from losing its political fortune in the state.