EMMANUEL ADENIYI writes on the recently held summit of Kwara PDP leaders in Ilorin, where a resolve was made by all stakeholders in the party to ensure victory for it in the 2015 governorship election.

They sang with gusto, their dance, too, had a touch of panache, while the echo of their songs for freedom resonated through the over 2,000-sitting capacity auditorium of Roemichs events hall, Ilorin, Kwara State, where party faithful, officials as well as various governorship candidates eyeing the sole ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State chanted and sang what appeared to be the mantra of the party - "Kwara for freedom".

Incidentally, another major event of the day was the nation's independence anniversary, which, in a way, provided an assurance that liberty from autocracy could be on its way for the people of Kwara.

"PDP will free Kwara from misgovernment and autocrats," said the pioneering chairman of the party and leader of freedom group within the party, Mr Kunle Sulyman, as he took time to explain the objective of the gathering, which he said was a summit for party leaders in the state to discuss how to better reposition the party ahead of the 2015 governorship election in the state.

"Kwara is indeed unique, but it has been held down by a dysfunctional political class that is yet to discover its relevance in the destiny of our dear state. However, a new era has emerged.

"The old era when an individual would pick a candidate is gone; the present dispensation offers us a fresh opportunity and a new beginning. The time is ripe to breathe a truly fresh air of freedom in view of the vista of opportunity offered the people by the PDP," Mr Sulyman added.

He disclosed that there was no rancour in Kwara PDP, adding that the summit was organised so that all stakeholders in the party could share visions and cross-fertilise ideas on what to do to make it win 2015 election.

Though created in 1967, Kwara State - the State of Harmony - is blessed with enormous human and natural resources, and has the capacity of becoming a leading economic hub in the country, the reality on ground, according to party leaders in the state, cannot justify the enormity of its resources and allocation from the federation account accruable to it over the years.

Tagged, "Vision for a New Kwara: Unveiling Post 2015 Agenda for Development and Prosperity", the summit afforded governorship candidates under the platform of PDP to explain their vision and programmes if elected as the governor of the state.

While unfolding his development plan, tagged, "The Path to Prosperity and Progress" for Kwara, one of the PDP governorship candidates, Mr John Dara, told the mammoth crowd present at the summit that his mission statement was to mobilise people and resources with a view to making Kwara State become "the most improved state in Nigeria, especially in the development of human capital, modern infrastructure, and in creating a prosperous economy," saying this would make the state impact positively on the entire nation.

Mr Dara said the focus of his government under four cardinal objectives of social mobilization and reforms; human resources development; infrastructural development; and economic development would ensure job creation, power generation, public service reform, infrastructural development, war against corruption and indiscipline, among others.

Another governorship candidate, Engr. Jani Ibrahim, who tagged his vision for Kwara, "Prosperity Agenda 2015," said his desire was to build an enterprising state of harmony and peace, adding that the focus of his government, if elected, would be on job creation, agriculture, natural resources, integrated development (JANI).

According to him, his vast experience in private sector would be deployed towards creating wealth for Kwara, and that education would be free and compulsory up till secondary school level should he receive mandate of the people of the state to govern them.

In his presentation, senator representing Kwara South district in the Senate, who is also aspiring to clinch the governorship ticket of PDP in Kwara State, Senator Simeon Sule Ajibola, highlighted his achievements as a lawmaker, saying if he becomes the governor of the state, he will industrialise and transform Kwara completely.

The three-time senator, whose blueprint was tagged, "Freedom 2015", also spoke of the need to free Kwara from the stranglehold of autocrats who have held it captive for years. He stressed the importance of setting the state on a right footing through purposeful and focused leadership.

While speaking, another governorship candidate and a former commissioner in the state, Mr Abubakar Kale Belgore, said, if elected, he would implement a master plan for education rebirth, infrastructural development, environment, road construction, poverty reduction and agriculture, adding that his government would solve traffic problem in Ilorin, the state capital, and create 10,000 jobs within his 100 days in office.

"We all fraternise together; we have worked together in the last decades to rebuild Kwara. Whoever emerges as the aspirant of the party will receive our support, because we are one," Mr Belgore added.

In his speech, Engr. Sunday Adebayo Babalola, who was represented by Dr Sulu Gambari, pledged his loyalty to the party, noting that if elected as the governor of the state, his government would be purposeful, manage resources and operate in "highest standards in line with the PDP manifesto".

Senator Gbemi Saraki, who was represented at the summit by Dr Oganiga, said poverty reduction, women empowerment as well as health and education sectors would receive utmost attention in her government, if elected governor of the state.

In his goodwill message, the Minister of National Planning, Dr Abubakar Suleiman Olanrewaju, who was represented by his Special Assistant, Prince Mahmud Dansofo Mohammed, called for unity among members of the party in the state, adding that PDP would beat the ruling All Progressives Party (APC) and restore fortune of Kwara to its people.

The Assistant Secretary of the party in the state, Mr Bolaji Raji, said whoever emerged as the aspirant of the party for the 2015 governorship election would be supported, saying there was no disunity in the party at all.

He described the summit as a new concept in Kwara politics, noting that the hope of every Kwara indigene was to see it set free from those holding it captive.

Those who spoke on the political situation in the state expressed their optimism that PDP would liberate Kwara from its present state of despoliation, just as people of the state wait with bated breath to see who emerges as the flag bearer of the party for the next year's governorship election.