By Dare Akogun
The Governor of Kwara State AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq on Wednesday inaugurated 28 year old Abubakar Saddiq Buhari and Sa’adatu Modibbo Kawu as commissioner.
The governor also sworn in a Special Adviser and also carried out a minor cabinet reshuffle.
Cabinet-returnee Modibbo-Kawu got the education portfolio again, while Buhari is to man the Ministry of Communications.
Alhaji Abdul-Razaq Abubakar Jiddah was sworn as the new Special Adviser on Special Duties.
AbdulRazaq also announced a minor cabinet reshuffle involving five commissioners: Alhaji Wahab Femi Agbaje who moved from Water to Energy; Mariam Ahmed Hassana (from Energy to Women Affairs); Abdulmaliq Bashir Mopelola Risikatulahi (from Women Affairs to Water); George Olabode Towoju (from Communication to Youth); and Adamu Jamila Bake (from Youth Development to Planning).
At a brief swearing-in ceremony at the council chamber in Ilorin, the Governor told the cabinet members: “I urge you and all other government appointees to be committed to the service of our people.
“I urge you to be team players, and recharge your ministries to deliver better service delivery to our people.
Notwithstanding the political campaign session, every minute should be spent to make life more worth living for the people. As an administration, our selling point is the impact we have made in key sectors of the society.
“Our re-election campaign is therefore anchored on verifiable achievements that we have made. We have taken governance to the remotest corners of our state. We want to do more.
“For every lie anyone tells against us, please point them to where we were in 2019 and where we are today. The facts speak for themselves in health sector, education, opening up of rural and urban areas, gender inclusion, youths and women empowerment, workers welfare, and economic growth. Our opponents are loud on lies, hate, and rhetorics, but empty on verifiable facts and clear agenda for development.
“I urge you to work closely with your constituencies and make friends with all, including our political base. I congratulate you once again, and wish you all a very impactful tenure of office,” he said.
Buhari, who spoke on behalf of the new appointees, said: “I want to appreciate the Governor of Kwara State on behalf of myself and other newly sworn-in cabinet members. In the history of Nigeria, there are things that have been done by this government which are pace-setters.
“The Gender composition law is the first of its kind in Nigeria. It has become a reference point in the international community.
“Another key area is the youth inclusion in governance. Today, as I am being sworn-in by the Grace of Almighty Allah, I am 28-year-old and I am the youngest serving commissioner in the country today. That won’t have been possible without the effort to the people-centric and youth-loving governor of Kwara State.
“Much has been placed on our shoulders and it is a common saying that to whom much is given, much is expected. We seek the divine guidance of Almighty Allah to help us give our best. We are going to be committed, we are going to give our all,” he said.
