By Steve Oni, Ilorin
To ensure justice, equity and fair play in power distribution among the three senatorial districts of Kwara state, a socio cultural organisation of indigenes of Kwara South senatorial district under the aegis of the Kwara South Consultative Forum has called on Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq to appoint most senior Deputy Vice Chancellor of the Kwara state University (KWASU) as acting Vice Chancellor of the university, pending the appointment of s substantive VC.
The group decried the lopsidedness in appointments over the years which they said had been skewed in favour of Kwara Central to the detriment of the other two senatorial districts. Time to make a redress is now, said the group.
Speaking with journalists in Ilorin on Thursday, the group of elder statesmen, led by Chief Joseph Aderibigbe, appealed to all indigenes of the three senatorial districts of the state to live together in peace and allow fairness rule their mindsets with fear of God.
The group, which alleged that there was marginalisation in appointments against the Kwara south senatorial district, said that Kwara Central senatorial district had been in power at the expense of other two senatorial districts.
The group said: “The Kwara central senatorial district should recognize that every district like every man has a right to be treated as a district equal in opportunity to be enjoyed and treated fairly, justly and equitably.
“Specifically, when two vacancies of the Chancellor and Pro-Chancellor existed in KWASU, the two positions were replaced by persons from Kwara Central which the IEDPU represents. Unfortunately, the then governor ignored Kwara South Consultative Forum’s complaint over the anomaly.
“KWASU belongs to all Kwarans who are responsible for the maintenance of the institution. For that matter, every local government makes monthly financial contributions towards the sustenance of KWASU. Unfortunately, over the years only Kwara Central Indigenes were in control of the state administration whereas key positions are expected to be spread among the three senatorial districts of the state. The fact that other senatorial districts kept quiet over the years does not mean that we are oblivious of our rights.”
The group also disagreed with an assertion by the IEDPU to the effect that a policy has been in place to appoint indigenes of a particular area as heads of institutions sited in their domains.
“The question that comes to mind is, who made that policy and what was the objectives thereof? We hasten to say that, that policy does not exist and it is self serving and retrogressive.
“We recollect that indigenes of the Ilorin emirate had at one time or the other headed institutions outside their domains”, the group added.
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