In view of the superiority battle between the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party in Kwara State, the future seems so uncertain for both camps, writes Shola Oyeyipo

By all standards, the Ilorin, Kwara State capital  rally attended by President Goodluck Jonathan and other bigwigs of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), tagged 'Unity Rally' was probably the largest political gathering in the state in recent time. The crowd was huge and the people were ecstatic.  They gave the President a rousing welcome in a rare show of solidarity.

It was indeed convincing and reassuring for the president and his men because contrary to the APC submission that the PDP was dead and buried in Kwara, the Metropolitan Square, Ilorin venue of the rally was packed full with jubilant Kwarans who bore various placards, especially 'FREEDOM', which translated to their demands for political freedom.

There were also placards which appealed to defectors, who left their various parties, including the APC to return to the PDP. They included Mr. Mohammed Dele Belgore, Senator Gbemi Saraki, Biliqis Gambari, and Hakeem Lawal among others.
If judged by earlier reports from loyalists of the former governor Bukola Saraki and Governor Abdulfatha Ahmed, such a gathering attracting a large crowd would have been impossible.

In fact, the Senate President, David Mark was compelled to tender an open apology to some of the people he had asked earlier, if the rally would witness significant attendance. He was not alone in his persuasion, several other persons like the PDP BoT chairman, Chief Tony Anenih; Vice President Namadi Sambo; PDP chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mua'zu; chairman, PDP Governors' Forum and Akwa-Ibam State Governor, Godswill Akpabio, had all expressed surprises.

Pleased that his efforts at transforming Nigeria was responsible for the large turnout, President Jonathan seized the opportunity to promise more to the people.

"As we came in, we have seen the reception, we have seen the crowd. We promise Kwarans to do more. When we come for specific campaigns, to present to you our candidates at the local government, state, House of Representatives and Senate levels, we would talk about what we have done. So we don't just make statements. So we would do that when next we come."

Apparently, firing salvos at the duo of the governor and Saraki who left the PDP for the APC, along with a large chunk of political office holders in the state, the president advised that those who left the PDP to take actions in the interest of their people and not on personal interests.

"If you get involved in politics, you have to think about your people. If you think about your people, you will stay in the party that your people want. It is only in PDP that people like me who came from nowhere can become president. No more imposition! No more godfatherism! I'm a president today, I have a governor in my state, Bayelsa State and I don't control him.
"PDP is the only party that can liberate the people and in a state like Kwara, it is the PDP that can give freedom. After this 'unity rally' every Kwaran is free. Those who are not fit are free to leave," Jonathan said.

The event was remarkable in the political history of the state. Though the Saraki dynasty has weathered many such storms in the past, at no time has it been faced with a people who are resolute to wrest the political structure in the state off Bukola, son of the late godfather of Kwara politics, Dr. Olusola Saraki, to whom the machinery used in the time past had been bequeathed.

The entire political scheming in Kwara is ahead of the 2015 elections. It would therefore take the president more to demystify his opponents, especially the PDP defectors, among whom Saraki and Ahmed are prominent. On the other hand, the Saraki group is waiting and quite confident that once game commences, those in charge of the state's political machinery will show the stuff they are made of.

But there have been divergent views as to the implications of the rally on the political future of the state. Mr. Lanre Isa-Onilu, who was instrumental to the success of the rally, said it was the beginning of the end of the domineering political control of the state by a section of persons. He was encouraged by the defection of certain people back into the PDP as well as the resolve of the people who had worked at cross purposes, to come together to oust the Saraki dynasty. 

He was sure that had the state government not impeded the people by fixing an empowerment programme and civil service screening for the day of the rally, the crowd would have been double.

While some may have concluded that the end had come for the Saraki, the senator and his political allies are unperturbed. They are sure that the crowd at the PDP rally does not translate to election success for the president and his party in future elections.

For instance, the chairman, Ekiti Local Government Area, Hon. Akintoba Fatigun, is of the opinion that the crowd does not represent the population of the PDP in the state. Instead, he held that the crowd was rented from the neighbouring states, adding that the rally was inconsequential in the scheme of things in the state.

"We know how it is done. They mobilised from Kogi, Niger, Akwa-Ibom and other neighboring states. That is not their crowd. The people will see a comprehensive demolition of PDP in Kwara in 2015. Who are their leaders? Those they are parading are not politicians. They do not have sincere relationship with the people and cannot pose as competitors with us; we have a long standing relationship with Kwarans and they trust us," he said.

During a recent visit to the state and in what seemed like his response to the PDP rally, Saraki reiterated the unbreakable and cordial relationship he enjoys with Kwarans, which he insisted would not be destroyed by his former party men. 
"Today, Kwarans have shown that we come too far to be disintegrated by 'nocturnal politicians' who come at the eve of election to rob us of our mandate. Kwarans have shown that irrespective of the external aggression and gang-up to disharmonise us, we cannot be broken!

"In the history of my usual periodic visit to Kwara, apparently today's arrival was extravagantly welcoming as Kwarans came together en mass at the airport. I'm sincerely humbled, happy and confident of your support.
"Importantly, I'm very glad to have walked the roads together on our feet from the airport down to the Emir's palace; this is the best way I can pass the weekend with my people. Truly, we are united because you all turned out voluntarily from your various homes. I'm deeply honoured!

"I use this rare opportunity to assure you of my focus towards achieving the Kwara of our dream. Let's continue to support the Kwara State government and sensitise everyone to join the change train of APC if they are yet to," he said.

Today, as the PDP and the APC continue to boast of absolute control of Kwara politics, observers are watching to determine who truly calls the shots. But the likes of former minister, Funke Adedoyin, would not shy away from saying that of the two contending parties, "The APC is very proactive – very aggressive about wanting to retain the power structure in the state."

It may be right to conclude therefore that events to come will determine where and how the parties stand in Kwara State.