Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed has been endorsed by many groups and organisations. Correspondent ADEKUNLE JIMOH examines other hurdles he must cross to secure a second term.

The endorsement of the Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed for another term in office is generating ripples.

The governor was endorsed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) leader, Senator Bukola Saraki, and other stakeholders at a meeting in Ilorin, the state capital. The general consensus was that Ahmed has fostered peace and harmony in the ruling party and confronted the challenges of development facing the state. The governor was also applauded for his loyalty to the leadership, the party and the people. Many stakeholders also praised his humility and candour.

During the meeting, a party chieftain, Alhaji Yusuf Aiyedun, urged stakeholders from the Kwara North and Central senatorial districts to allow Ahmed, who is from the South, to spend another four years in office. Aiyedun, who is from the South, pointed out that the governir has lived up to expectation. He said a vote for continuity would enable him to complete his projects, adding that it would also foster stability.

The Chairman of the Kwara Central APC, Alhaji Jimoh Adesina, shared Ayedun's view. He said: "Governor Ahmed has shown unequal humility and loyalty to the party structure, the leadership and the people of the state, despite his position. I, however, advise the governor to spread the dividends of democracy across board."

A party elder from Kwara North, Senator Ahmed Ahmed, said the governor has achieved a lot, despite the shortfall in revenue. He advised him to consider other zones for political patronage.

The APC woman leader, Sarah Adebay, who spoke on behalf of women, endorsed the second term bid. But, she urged the governor to impelement the 35 percent affirmative action.

Saraki described Ahmed as a loyal party man, saying that he deserves a second term. He observed that the governor defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC in the interest of the state. Hailing his steadfastness, he said he has rejected overtures and pressure on him to betray the good cause. Saraki noted that Kwara is the only state, which has remained peaceful, despite a transition. He however, clarified that the endorsement does not preclude the governor from participating in the November 15 primaries.

The PDP has welcomed the decision by the APC to field Ahmed as its flag bearer for the election. But, it said that the decision will become the party's albatross, stressing that it would inflict a debilitating blow on the APC.

According to the APC, the next election will be a walk over for the opposition.

The PDP has not endorsed any aspirant. The contenders include senator Gbenisola Saraki, AlhajiIbrahim Jani, Mr. Dele Belgore (SAN), Prof. Abduraheem Oba Shuaib, Dara, Senator Ajadi Makanjuola.

The PDP Publicity Secretary, Chief Rex Olawoye, said the opposition received the news of the endorsement with mixed feelings. He described the endorsement as the imposition of a particular candidate on the APC. "The PDP is sad that the leadership of the APC has refused to deviate from its trademark practice of imposition and 'I-dash-you-position,' which characterised their political sojourn in their former party.

One would have reasonably expected that the former governor, Saraki, would have learnt in his new party a lesson or two in democratic ideals, which he refused to learn in the PDP. The situation seems to have gone from bad to worse.

"This is because whereas, the APC leadership, in a statement released by its Publicity Secretary, ruled out automatic ticket for all aspirants contesting under its platform, the party's godfather, in a brazen show of raw power, overruled the whole party machinery to impose his puppet godson on the party.

"This is why we are not losing sleep over the reported imposition of Ahmed by his godfather, in clear breach of the resolution of the party. As a party, we believe that there couldn’t have been any better Sallah gift for Kwara PDP members from the APC than the imposition of Ahmed. To say the least, candidate Ahmed is an easy walk-over for the PDP in 2015."

But, Saraki dismissed the PDP criticisms as misplaced, unwarranted and the antics of busy-bodies, urging the party to concentrate on its internal affairs.

He said: "The party has not in any way endorsed the governor for another time. The party is holding its primaries for governorship elections. I endorsed Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed for another time as a person. Anybody that has the aspiration to become governor on the platform of the APC can go and contest. My assessment of the governor's administration made me to endorse him for another term in office.

"If it were an imposition, I will force the chairman of the party and the party structure to release a statement as they do in the PDP to say that they have endorsed Abdulfatah Ahmed. The party has not said that. It is my own opinion. The PDP should go and focus their time to how they will have a candidate.

The former governor added: "They are jumping the gun. They are already looking at the elections when they have not had a candidate. Everybody in the PDP wants to be governor. They should go and focus on electing a candidate. When they achieve that, then, we start to discuss their chances of winning. The challenge before them is to have a candidate before they start talking about whether Governor Ahmed is a walk-over or not.

"We all know that that is talk; even some talks are reckless. You have not addressed the selection of your candidate and you are talking about another party. They should assure Kwarans how they will have a violent-free selection or election of their candidate. They should leave our party alone."

The APC Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Sulyman Buhari, said Saraki's endorsement of Ahmed has sent fears down the spines of PDP members.

He said the party will hold its primaries on Saturday, November 15.

Buhari said: "If Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed emerges as our flag bearer at the governorship primaries, his candidacy would not only crush the PDP, but also ensure a landslide victory for the APC.

"The statement credited to the PDP describing Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed's candidacy as a walkover for the PDP is laughable. This laughable statement is contradictory to the feelers from PDP leaders and members in Kwara State as the endorsement by APC stakeholders has sent jittery down the spines of Kwara PDP.

The PDP can continue to live in self-denial. This is the same party that made several failed attempts to propagate a non-existent feud between Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed and Senator Bukola Saraki. For the PDP to have learnt the latter endorsed the former, it is understandable that the PDP will express its frustrations and bitterness. We sympathise with the PDP.

The APC spokesman added: "It is pathetic and pitiable that Kwara PDP lacks the understanding of distinctness between the endorsement and the imposition. The endorsement of Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed for second term by APC stakeholders is a product of painstaking review of his performances and policies in office.

"This endorsement is not unusual. It is just one of the numerous endorsements Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed has enjoyed from prominent Kwarans and groups, including Okada association, NURTW, artisans, the National Union of Teachers (NUT), Kwara North Youth Consultative Forum, the National Association of Kwara State Students (NAKSS), Ilorin Emirate Students Union and other groups.

"This is not imposition; it is endorsement. Imposition is the bedrock of the crises ravaging the PDP in Ilorin West Local Government Area where unacceptable persons were imposed as PDP executives in the local government. The APC is unlike the PDP where imposition is practised.

"The fact that Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed has led a responsible and responsive government is no news to Kwarans; the achievements of the APC government are visible and impactful in the 16 Local Government Areas of Kwara State.

"Surprisingly, the opposition Peoples Democratic Party is seriously aggravated in its frustrations and bitterness that it would claim road doesn't exist where newly constructed road exists. This is the narrative of the disgruntled and deserted PDP in Kwara State.

"As announced by Kwara APC on Thursday, 4th of September, 2014, we reiterate that there is no automatic ticket for all aspirants, in all categories, contesting the 2015 general elections under our great party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State."