By Dele Moses, Ilorin
A member of Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq’s cabinet in Kwara State, Aisha Haman-Pategi, has resigned from office.
Ms Haman-Pategi, commissioner for Special Duties, announced her resignation on Friday.
The government has however not confirmed her resignation as an aide of the Governor confided that her resignation letter had not yet been received.
However, in what seems as a confirmation that she has resigned her appointment, Hamman-Pategi has described herself on her Twitter Handle as a former Commissioner for Special Duties.
She used to be Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs before she was redeployed to be in charge of Special Duties about two months ago.
While she was still in Local Government ministry, there was an unconfirmed report that she raised an allegation that some state government officials were, without her knowledge, involved in monthly diversion of N300 million of local government funds.
She was said to have fought with a female commissioner colleague over the alleged diversion and was said to have shortly after the development resigned from office.
She however denied making the allegation, fighting her colleague or resigning from office as she resumed at her new office of the Special Duty while the state government set up a panel of inquiry to probe the allegation which had been reported in a section of the media.
In Friday’s resignation statement, she was quoted as thanking the Governor for the opportunity to serve and declaring that now was the time for her to leave and focus on new ideals.
The statement reads: “I, Aisha Ahman Pategi, the outgoing Hon. Commissioner for Special Duties, effective from today, Friday 28th August, 2020, humbly wish to formally announce my resignation from the cabinet of His Excellency, Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq.
” I wish to thank God Almighty for giving me the grace and opportunity to serve as Commissioner for Local Government and now exiting as Commissioner for Special Duties, serving my fellow Kwarans and representing Pategi Local Government in our drive to better the lot of Kwarans.
“Life is in phases and I’m bold to say that having journeyed the political terrain with His Excellency, Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, now is the time for me to leave and focus on new ideals.
“Going forward, my interest in Community Service and Grassroots’ Development will continue.
“Once again, I would like to thank Almighty Allah, the People of Patigi, Kwarans, our dear party APC and most of all, His Excellency for bringing me into politics. May Allah reward him and continue to be his guide as he pilots the affairs of our dear State.”
Another member of the cabinet, Professor Wale Suleiman, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health had last week resigned his appointment.