Lagos groups oppose Aganga’s nomination as minister

Written by Abbas Jimoh Thursday, 30 June 2011 00:00

Four Lagos State groups, Eko Indigene Progressive Association, Neutral Coalition of PDP Stakeholders (Lagos State), Lagos Women Indigene Association and Lagos State Indigene Alliance have kicked against the nomination of former Minister of Finance, Olusegun Aganga, as a ministerial nominee of the state.

In separate statements, the groups were unanimous that the nomination of Aganga will not augur well for the state as he is an indigene of Edo State, among other reasons for their stand.

The coordinator of Neutral Coalition of PDP Stakeholders (Lagos State), Dr. Kofo Abayomi, said it is disappointing for President Goodluck Jonathan to appoint a non indigene of the state to take the ministerial slot meant for Lagos when Edo State where Aganga hails from will also produce a minister as the state’s slot.

“We realize that as President, you have the discretion and power to select whomever you please but we wish to appeal to you to reconsider this decision as it would cause uncontrollable disaffection in the constituency and jeopardize the goodwill your Presidency represents to all the people. We recall that Aganga joined the party a few months ago and cannot be a rallying point to rebuild the party.

“Mr. Aganga is not an indigene of Lagos State and this means that a Lagos State indigene will not be in your cabinet. We therefore appeal to you to reconsider your position and allow an indigene of Lagos State to be nominated for this position. We have competent indigenes, technocrats who are PDP loyalists,” Abayomi said.

Another petition signed by Engr. Taoridi Oshodi of the Eko indigene Progressive Association said, “People love you so please do not let them have second thoughts about you. Everybody is angry and all our fathers, mothers, elders, brother and sisters are now bitter that you are deceiving us. They believe you want to slap us twice. Aganga is not from Lagos State; he is from Edo State. He was not even born in Lagos. Even if he was born in Lagos, can a Yoruba man use Enugu, Bayelsa or Kaduna slot? This will be a bad precedence. Please do not do this. Please Mr. President, try to listen to us and avoid controversies.”

Lagos State Indigene Alliance on their part said they were shocked and disappointed in President Jonathan for repaying Lagosians for their hospitality by replacing the state’s ministerial slot with an Edo State indigene.

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