EXCLUSIVE: Gov. Abdulrazaq may delay cabinet formation till August

 

By Ibraheem Solaudeen.

Indications have emerged that the Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq may have decided to delay making further appointments till August in order to save cost.

A usually reliable source who spoke to INSIDER on condition of anonymity, said the governor is concerned that early appointments of Commissioners and other aides would result in wastage of insufficient public funds.

“During the transition, the governor engaged a team of technocrats and experts who worked to produce a policy document for him. While he did set up the mandatory transition committee made up of politicians, he actually relies more on the report of the committee he set up to work and report directly to him.

“Since assumption of office, the governor has been working with the professionals in that committee to undertake governance activities. So, His Excellency is not in a hurry to make any appointments. He believes the appointees would be primarily politicians who will do more of politics than governance,” the source said.

Asked if he has an idea of when the governor would form a cabinet, since he is constitutionally required to have one; the source said the governor already indicated to those close to him that the formation of cabinet can wait till towards the end of the year.

“Like I told you, His Excellency, Gov. Abdulrazaq would have a cabinet. But like he told some of us, that may be around August or even September. He is not in a hurry to make appointments”, the source confirmed.

Meanwhile, INSIDER learnt the governor had been under intense pressure from members of his party to announce appointments. But since he took office on May 29th, the governor has only announced three appointments–those of Chief of Staff, the Secretary to the State Government, and the Chief Press Secretary.

While INSIDER was unable to verify from an official government source whether the ‘August date’ will stand, multiple sources who spoke to this medium last night all confirmed that the governor has decided to bide his time as far as the formation of cabinet is concerned.