Buhari urged to ignore opposition to Shittu’s nomination

MEMBERS of the National Association of Saki Elite (NASE) at home and abroad, have called on President Muhammadu Buhari to discountenance the objection raised by the leadership of Oyo State All Progressive Congress (APC) for the nomination of Barrister Bayo Shittu as a Minister from the state

The call was contained in a statement jointly signed and made available to newsmen yesterday by both the National President and General Secretary of the association, Messrs Dele Togunde and Abraham Ogunkanmbi, respectively.

Shortly after the Senate President Bukola Saraki unveiled Buhari’s ministerial list last week, the leadership of APC in Oyo State petitioned the President to reconsider Barrister Shittu’s nomination due to his (Shittu’s) alleged anti-party activities.

But condemning in totality the opposition of Barrister Shittu as ministerial nominee, the association stated: “Such opposition is a calculated attempt by the enemies of Saki in particular and Oke-Ogun area of Oyo State in general to continue with the marginalisation process that has been on-going for many years”.

NASE, which described Shittu as an illustrious son of Saki, pledged the members’ unalloyed support for him for a ministerial position based on his antecedent.

According to the Association, Shittu was a member of the Oyo State House of Assembly during the Second Republic, a former Oyo State Commissioner for Justice and a political big wig in Saki, Oke-Ogun area and Oyo State for many decades.

“Barrister Bayo Shittu was once a Governorship aspirant in Oyo State on the platform of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC). He is noted for his dogged commitment to truth, fairness, justice, openness and accountability.

“The National Association of Saki Elite (NASE) is calling on President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Assembly to please go ahead to ratify the appointment of Barrister Bayo Shittu as a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in this political dispensation”, the association stated.