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NOMINEES REJECTION: CHSR Admonishes LAHA to tread with caution

 

Following the recent rejection of seventeen (17) out of thirty-nine (39) persons on the list of Commissioners and Special Advisers forwarded by Governor Babajide Sanwoolu by members of the Lagos State House of Assembly, (LAHA), Centre for Human and Socio-economic Rights (CHSR) has admonished all concerned stakeholders in Lagos State political scene to be wary of what may likely throw spanners in the wheels of peaceful atmosphere of the Centre of Excellence.

 

President of CHSR, Comrade Alex Omotehinse sounded the note of warning in his address to journalists during a World Press Conference organized by the Non-Governmental Organization in Lagos on Monday, August 28, 2023.

 

According to him, “It would be loss of Lagos State if eggheads are sacrificed on the altar of inordinate politics, common Lagosians and the civil populace would inevitably bear the brunt if round pegs are in square in the Commissionership of Lagos State.

Comrade Omotehinse said: “As social stakeholders, the civil society community is not only taken aback by this resolution but gravely disturbed with likely fatal consequences this seemingly innocuous total politicisation of appointments into the State cabinet may have at disrupting the enviable developmental template of the State.

 

President of CHSR further stated that; “It is most disheartening that these Commissioner Nominees were reported to have been rejected on mere voice votes without the Assembly putting forward logical rationales that they were rejected for lack of merit.

 

“We are not aware that some salient interests are always considered when picking political appointees. For instance, concerns were raised on the imperative to balance religious composition, geographical spread and even for compensation of loyal political devotees.

 

“These, however, are never the overriding consideration, merit, needs, stands tower high above any other factors. This is why we are miffed, overwhelmed with awe on how globally acclaimed, credible professionals like Prof. Akin Abayomi of the Ministry of Health who bailed the country out of the COVID-19 pandemic; Mrs. Folashade Adefisayo Gbenga Omotosho and Sam Egube of the Ministries of Education, Information and budget and planing  respectively, could have been rejected by any diligent, patriotic, growth-minded representatives of the people. These are rare breeds professionals, quiet, un -assuming social achievers that other saner climes are in dire search for their services.

 

“Our last alarm to political leaders of Lagos State is to try and wake up from the slumber of any psychological shocks of the last general elections. We know that detractors of the State are keen at fanning embers of discord between Governor Babajide Sanwoolu and the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, this must not be allowed to fester into conflagrations that would wreak havoc on the developmental agenda of the State. Lagos State is strategically positioned to play leading roles in the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, caution should not be thrown into the winds with intra-party, adversarial rocking of the boat.  History has severally validated the fact that when elephants fight, the grass becomes victims” he concluded.

 

CHSR is a service oriented non-governmental organization (NGO) registered as a corporate body to defend, sustain and promote the fundamental human and socio-economic rights of citizens and residents in any part of Nigeria as guaranteed by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

 

By Ajibola Adedoye

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