Kwara: Group roots for Popoola as speaker

A group of members of the APC in Kwara State has said the rule of law and legislative experience should not be sacrificed on the altar of sectionalism when electing the Speaker of the House of Assembly.

Speaking with journalists in Ilorin yesterday, members of Legacy Group/ Foundation of the APC, said it would be counterproductive if rule of law and legislative experience were jettisoned.

Led by their Chairman in Kwara Central, Alhaji Gani Saka, the members also called on leadership of the party, including President Muhammadu Buhari, the APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Alhaji Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq and the state Chairman of the APC, Hon. Bashir Bolarinwa, to ensure that members of the party who laboured were not subjected to further injustice.

“In as much as we will want to appreciate the efforts of our dear brothers and elected members from Kwara North, we cannot but be guided by a Yoruba proverb that says, ‘The blind cannot successfully lead the blind’. Therefore, we will like to declare our support for the rule of law by clearly encouraging our party leaders to do the needful by declaring Hon. Saheed Popoola, who is the only re-elected member among the 24 House of Assembly members-elect, as the next speaker of the house,” they said.

According to them, “Hon. Saheed Popoola, who has the best political experience as a former council secretary, member of Kwara State Polytechnic Governing Council, Offa Local Government Council Chairman, former commissioner and the only returning house member, is qualified to be the next speaker of the house where all other members are ‘freshers’,” the group added.