10th June, 2011
The Lagos State chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday urged President Goodluck Jonathan to nominate indigenes to represent states for ministerial appointments.
Lagos State Publicity Director of the PDP, Mr. Taofik Gani, said at a press briefing in Lagos that such an appointment would be in conformity with the 1999 Constitution.
“Section 147 (Sub Section 3) of the Constitution emphasised that an indigene must be nominated for a ministerial position.
“It, therefore, follows that states should be allowed to have the privilege of nominating its own indigenes for the slots,†he said.
He urged Jonathan to consider the “precarious state of the Lagos PDP while appointing a minister from the state so that the people, especially party members, will enjoy political patronage.
“Our insistence on an indigenous minister is based on the fact that it will be a political plus for the PDP currently in opposition in Lagos State.
“We want to avoid the mistakes of the last dispensation where a non-indigene was given the slot of Lagos State.
“We need a minister that would lend support to the party,†he said.
On the media war between the Awolowo family and a newspaper columnist, Mr. Sam Omatseye, Gani said that it was wrong to attempt to demystify the Awolowo family.
“The qualities and contributions of the late sage, and by extension his family, to the Yoruba nation is unparalleled and must be seen so.
“The PDP gives its solidarity to the matriarch of the Awolowo family, Chief H.I.D Awolowo,†he added.