From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

In Kwara State, most politicians have learnt a big lesson from the result of the Ekiti State gubernatorial election which was believed to be won by ‘rice distribution’. Therefore, they do not bother to wait for INEC to  lift the ban on campaign before reaching out to the grassroot especially the less privileged in the state who are in need of regular daily meal.

Already,  some prominent members of ruling All Progressives Congress(APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are using the period of Ramadan to reach out to the less privileged.  This year, politicians have turned Ramadan into unusual competition ahead of 2015 general election especially by chieftains of APC and PDP from Kwara Central senatorial district.

While distributing his gifts within his constituency, Dr Bukola Saraki, the immediate past governor of the state said he had spent N80 million to purchase food items to ease hardship of Muslims during the Ramadan against N100 million spent last year.

The senator representing Kwara central senatorial district said at his political office, Mandate, Adewole area, Ilorin that the Ramadan gifts were spread to the people of Kwara central in all the 832 polling units that make up the Ilorin emirate. The Chieftain of APC, who was represented by the Director General of his constituency office, Engineer Musa Yeketi, said the gesture was to assist the fasting Muslims in the holy month of Ramadan. The items were presented to six executive members of the APC, that represented  each of the polling units on behalf of the senator.

  Yeketi,  urged them to ensure that the items get to all fasting muslims in their respective zones.

He said that Saraki in his usual tradition during the month of Ramadan will soon flag off another phase of items distribution that will cost N39 million to the people.

  “As a yearly tradition of our leader,  Senator  Bukola Saraki, today  he is flagging off the distribution of raw food items to the 832 polling units in Ilorin Emirate for the people of his constituency and teeming party supporters .

“The cost of this one  we are flagging off today is N37 million and another phase of N39 million for individuals will soon be flaggedoff”.

Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, an executive from Ebenezer (005)Gaa- Akanbi ward three, Mr. Saka Yusuf said “we never expect this much, what we got this year is an improvement. Last year Ramadan it was not like this, today we received two bags of Rice,a bag of maize,a bag of  Guinea- Corn,Salt and beans”, he said

Saraki also praised chieftains of APC in Kwara state for assisting the less privileged through the distribution of grains and other items as Ramadan gifts. The politician in a statement by his media aide, Bamikole Omisore admonished those charged with the responsibility of distributing the food items to ensure that the items get to the targeted beneficiaries. On the new modality he adopted in distributing Ramadan gifts to Kwarans this year, Saraki said “leadership is about dynamism, responsibility and organization; I have directed the items to be distributed to over 800 units, which means the food items and other materials can easily be accessed by those in the grassroots without having to go through stress.”

As if they were in competition, the immediate sister of Dr Bukola Saraki and first daughter of the late Dr Olusola Saraki, Senator Rukayyat Gbemisola Saraki also followed the path of her father by donating food items to famous handicapped house in Gambari, Ilorin popularly known as “Koro Afoju”. The house is the enclave of all sort of handicapped from different part of the country who settled in Ilorin. It was gathered that the late political icon used to distribute food items to the enclave before he died.

The consignment which was handed over to Seriki Makafi (Head of the Blind),  Alhaji Sanni Mohammed, included rice,sugar,milks and all sort of grains.

Muhammed promised to do justice to the distribution of the items. The Galadima Makafi, said that Senator Gbemisola Saraki’s gesture was a continuation of the tradition started by late Dr Olusola Saraki during  his life time. He said Baba never defaulted in his reach-out to them annually with food stuff and clothing materials and promised that the distribution would be done in such a way that everybody would get.

The beneficiaries jointly prayed for the repose of the soul of late Dr. Saraki and her daughter, Sen. Gbemi Saraki.

 Besides, other Chieftains of political parties have been using the period to woo electorates ahead of 2015 elections. Among PDP big wig that had done his empowerment to woo electorates includes Senator Simeon Ajibola. He donated some gift items including vehicles to people through the PDP secretariat.

Also,  Ajibola, a senator representing Kwara South Senatorial District while speaking at the event through the PDP Publicity secretary, Chief Rex Kola Olawoye, disclosed that many aspirants in PDP now take it as a point of duty to empower their members as they believe that PDP made them what they are and they in turn would give back to them. He said  that there cannot be  mobilisation as well as sensitizing of people without positive gesture and positive movement and actions from a good leader.

“There is no way you can sensitize and mobilise without movement, this is one of the good gestures to kick start campaign in Kwara State”, he said.

Olawoye said the PDP senator, who is also a guber aspirant, Chief Simon Ajibola, in spite of his past contributions to the development of Kwara state has graciously donated four vehicles to the senatorial district. The senator donated three new Toyota Sienna space vehicles and one 18-sitter bus which he gave to Kwara South. The three space vehicles share among the north, central and south senatorial districts while the bus was for the secretariat usage respectively.”

Olawoye also disclosed that Senator Gbemisola Saraki has also empowered Kwarans with about six hundred bags of rice in which three bags will be given to each ward in the state.  Among items shared at event by the senator are cartons of milk and bags of sugar as Ramadan gifts. All in all,Senator Ajibola had distributed 850 bags of rice, 300 cartons of milk and 100 bags of sugar apart from cash donations among party men n women leaders in the state.

However, many political pundits observed that 2015 general elections would be interesting in the state due to struggle by state controlled APC to retain power and Federal Government PDP quest to reclaim Kwara State.