Religious leaders in the ancient town of Offa in the Offa local government area of Kwara state under the aegis of Offa Muslim and Christian Cleric Council (OMCCC) have canvassed for experience in the consideration for electing ninth Speaker of the state House of Assembly.
Speaking with journalists in Offa on Friday, the Muslim and Christian clerics said that when considering Kwara state as a collective project, it is not logical to have a new governor and speaker in both executive and legislative arms in the state.
The group recalled that the governor-elect in the state, Alhaji Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, is coming into governance with private sector background, while all the elected members of the Assembly, except one, Hon. Saheed Popoola, are all new members.
The spokesperson of the clerics, Reverend Segun Ogungboye, who said that zoning arrangement in politics is good for power balancing, added, however, that experience among other qualities should not be sacrificed on the altar of zoning.
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Reverend Ogungboye said that the group had made its opinion on the issue known to the party structure in the state, calling on party leaders and members in the state to encourage sacrifice and loyalty to the party rather than zoning formular that may breed apathy.
“That the kind of unalloyed loyalty that Prince Saheed Popoola displayed in the lifetime of the eighth Kwara State House of Assembly and the sacrifices he made thereafter should not be sacrificed on the altar of zoning.
“That four years of legislative experience gained and garnished by Prince Popoola should not be sacrificed on the altar of zoning
“That the spirit and letter of the legislative rule that bequeaths principal offices to high ranking legislators for prosperity sake should not be sacrificed on the altar of zoning”, he said.
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