By Mumini AbdulKareem
More revelations have continue to trail the resignation of the former Commissioner of Special Duties, Hajia Aisha Ahman-Pategi over the issue of the alleged diversion of N300m from the local funds.
According to the latest report on the issue published by The Nation Newspapers on Saturday, the former commissioner’s resignation who was redeployed from the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in a minor cabinet reshuffle by Governor may not be unconnected with the report of a fact-finding panel constituted by the governor to look into the disagreement between Aisha and Commissioner for Finance, Mr Florence Olasumbo. The panel, headed by Justice Mathew Adewara, is expected to turn in its report any moment from now.
Quoting Sources within and outside the government, the paper said Aisha whose claim that N300 million was diverted from the state’s local government fund, may not have been backed by the panel’s report.
“It appears she is aware of this. I can tell you that her decision to quit the government is a move to pre-empt the possible decision of the governor, who is said to be very displeased with her at the moment”.
It however said in spite of her hurried resignation, it learnt the panel will still go ahead and present its report to AbdulRazaq (soon).
…Kwara North Women tackles Gov Abdulrazaq, we’ll hold you responsible if anything happens to her
By Mumini AbdulKareem
A group of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara North have tackled Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq over the resignation of former commissioner for Special Duties, Hajia Ahman-Pategi.
According the group in a statement signed by its Zonal Coordinator, Hajiya Hadiza Abubakar, the APC women will hold the Governor responsible if anything happens to Aisha.
The former commissioner has relocated to the United State after her resignation.
The statement said: “We the APC Women Network for Buhari,Kwara North Zone wish to extol the exceptional courage exhibited by one of our members and leader in Patigi local government area, Hajia Aisha Ahaman Pategi, the former commissioner for special duties who showed brave spirit by voluntarily resign from a government which seems to be losing goodwill of kwara people particularly amongst the women constituency in the state.
“Regrettably, the same government under which Aishat served meticulously and refused to compromise her integrity until her last resignation have suddenly began to propagate series of toxic propaganda and character assassination targeted at denigrating the reputation of Hajia Aishat Ahman Pategi and bring her to public ridicule.
“If despite Aishat Pategi selfless services and contributions to the government within the short space of time, the only way Governor Abdulrazaq could repay her is to instruct press officers to launch image laundering actions against her as exemplified by Rafiu Ajakaiye statements, then we are force to conclude that the Governor actions suggest his lack of respect for women constituency and flagrant ingratitude is soaring.
“We want to warn strongly that the people of Pategi and entire Kwara North Women have been betrayed by Governor Abdulrazaq and would not accept further media attacks on the person of our daughter.
“Let us also add that Hajia Aisha Ahman Pategi consulted wide before arriving at her decision and she has the backing of our highly referred Stakeholders including traditional institutions in Kwara north, thus any attacks on her will be considered as an affront on our people and such would never be allowed to go scot free.
“Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq should therefore calls his men to order as Kwara north women are not like the APC State Party Chairman who refused to act when one of the Governor aide went on radio and hurled series of insults on the state party Chairman, Bashiru Omolaja Bolarinwa and Governor refused to address this.
“For daring to challenge the rot in our political settings and even at the expense of her political fortune, Aisha deserved to be commended for standing as valour where many would have compromise their integrity. What she has displayed in all these reflected she’s a noble Pategi and Kwara north woman and as a group, we are ready to protect her with our last drop of blood.
“This statement is therefore signals warning to anybody fanning ember of discord in connections with this issue should think well because if any hazard God forbids should befall Aisha Ahman-Pategi, we as women group and the good people of Pategi will hold Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq responsible.
“We urge Hajia Aisha Ahaman Pategi to remain firm on her feet and refuse to be intimidated by any negative tantrums from those who have reduced themselves to sycophants before the corridor of power just fill their stomachs . Your courage and bravery have passed a message to the world that Kwara North Women are not pushover and cannot be intimidated by anyone no matter how exalted their office .
“Hajia Aisha Ahman Pategi should be rest assured that the entire structure of APC Women Network for Buhari in the state is solidly behind her in this struggle for transparency and accountability
…Resignation exposes massive fraud in govt – Concerned Teachers
A group from the Kwara Concerned Teachers have said that the resignation of the former commissioner for Special Duties, Hajia Ahman-Pategi exposes massive fraud in the present administration.
In a statement on the issue, the teachers noted the governor cannot claim to be unaware about the issue adding that there is no way he would moved the former commissioner from her former office and for exposing this government.
A member of the group who confirmed that there statement emanated from some of their colleagues said the position does not represent the stand of their recognised Concerned Teachers in the state.
The statement said: “It is no longer news that Hon Aisha Ahman Patigi, who until her resignation the commissioner for special duties, she is equally former commissioner of local government and chieftaincy affairs, however last week she tendered her resignation over N300m allegedly been deducted on a monthly basis.
“Trouble started when Aisha learnt that after payment of local government and SUBEB teachers salary, N300m unspent funds remains after payment and instead of such fund to be used for arrears of promotion of teachers and LG staff, the commissioner for finance secretly kept the remaining N300m into a private account on a monthly basis on special instructions and when Aisha learnt about this she visited the bank and obtained bank statements of the account where the money was kept.
“This got her very angry because commissioner for finance told her that LG allocation wasn’t enough to pay workers that this was why they needed to borrow to augment the cash, before LG workers and teachers could get their full salary. She did not know that N300m was secretly deducted from LG allocation. The former commissioner became angry with this dubious attitude from the commissioner for finance and this led to exchanged of words and a catfight at the meeting, it took other members in the meeting 25mins before they calm the duo down and she left the meeting very bitter.
The matter became worse when Mallam Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq learnt about this and instead of removing the commissioner for Finance redeployed Aisha Patigi from the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs so as not to further exposed the fraud perpetrated by his administration. Clearly, this has further justified why elected council chairmen were suspended.
“No doubt if the governor is not aware about the deductions there is no way he would moved the former commissioner from her former office and for exposing this government.
“Concern teachers want to use this medium to thank the former commissioner for her boldness in exposing the fraud under this government and we pray to Allah to be with her wherever she is”.
