SWAGA Laments Exclusion of Members from Tinubu’s Ministerial Nominees

James Sowole in Abeokuta

The leadership of the South West Agenda for Tinubu  (SWAGA ’23) has expressed displeasure over the exclusion of its members in the list of ministerial nominees sent to the Senate by President Bola Tinubu

The group, therefore, called on Tinubu to reconsider his selection process and prioritise individuals among SWAGA leadership, who have proven their loyalty and dedication to party’s manifestos, saying this would ensure inclusiveness of all key stakeholders and create a sense of unity and motivation within the party.

The group, in a statement by one of its leaders, Ahmed Banjo, noted that, “It is important that the president addresses this concern and ensure that the party’s supporters are rewarded for their unwavering dedication. Only through fair representation, inclusion, and recognition can the party foster a sense of unity, motivation, and commitment among its members.

“A few years ago, when the journey for the presidency of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu began, SWAGA, was the first  group that started preparing the way for others to follow and did a very excellent job in evangelising Tinubu Presidency across the South West of the federation prior to President Tinubu’s emergence as the party flagbearer, convincing other personalities to join the train tagged South West Agenda ’23.

“The coordinating members were beset with cruelty and malignity in the hands of some state governors, only because they did not support Tinubu Presidency. Some of these members were denied elective positions in the party primaries, borne out of cruelty and malignity for championing President Tinubu course.  
“They, however, did not succumb to pressure from these imagined mafias in their states. They suffered patiently, but hopeful that this day shall come to wipe their extreme pain of mind. SWAGA leadership travelled far and wide evangelising Tinubu Presidency, not minding the risk of insecurity, unreliable transportation system and the potential likelihood of a negative outcome.

“Surprisingly, SWAGA members are bitterly complaining that the group leaders are abandoned and some who are not known on the street of the states they claimed, were picked as ministerial nominees.

“They are also troubled by the fact that those who knew their commitment and sacrifice to the campaign are absent from the list of ministerial nominees. They queried that where were some of the nominees during pre-election and during election in various states they claimed, when some party stalwarts were mobilising for the victory of Jagaban?
“Investigations also revealed that Lagos based politicians who didn’t operate in their states are now taking over to replace the realists that delivered for PBAT in various States.”