By Balkis Tijani.
Senator Ibrahim Yahaya Oloriegbe, representing Kwara Central Senatorial district at the National Assembly, has come under intense criticism on alleged nepotism, for appointing his daughter, Hafsat O. AbdulRaheem as his Legislative Aide.
Some of his aggrieved constituents, queried why Oloriegbe’s biological daughter was appointed as his Aide, despite the abundant resources of even more qualified lawyers in Ilorin West.
Others, described the move as a “technical error” which reflects the broad gap of disconnection between Senator Oloriegbe and his constituents, adding that the Senator had turned the Senatorial District to a family business.
In a letter of nomination, dated 11th June, 2019, which was addressed to the Chairman, National Assembly Service Commission by Senator Ibrahim Oloriegbe, the following names were nominated as aides:
1. Tajudeen Arowolo – Senior Legislative Aide
2. Hafsat O. AbdulRaheem – Legislative Aide.
3. Hammed A. Gomih – Legislative Aide Assistant
4. Yusuf A. Atolagbe – Personal Assistant
5. Adebisi S. Samuel – Secretary
Recall that Oloriegbe, had several weeks ago, through his media aide, Bolaji Aladie, denied appointing his daughter as Chief of Staff.
He was quoted as saying, “I have not made appointment of any aide and NASS is yet to ask us to appoint anybody. As a senator who is not a principal officer, I am not entitled to appoint Chief of Staff whether officially or unofficially. Only the Senate President can do that.
“We have not settled down so how can we appoint aides. My daughter is a lawyer and she has her Masters in law with certificate in arbitration with chambers and business of her own. I can send her errands and ask her to compile things for me and maybe those who saw that are the ones insinuating but she is not appointed anything. In her right she is an Ilorin person, married to Ilorin in Alanamu and she has the right and requisite qualification to be anything. But I have not appointed her. Why should people insinuate what is not there.”
He added that aides are not political appointments but personal staff of senators, stressing that his daughter or any other family member had the right to aspire for anything as long as they are from his constituency and possess the relevant competencies.
The senator was also accused of “using and dumping” his media aide, Bolaji Aladie, whose name was excluded from the list sent to the National Assembly Service Commission.