Date: 2014-11-28

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State has lauded the Governor of Kwara State, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed over the construction of abandoned federal roads that have been long neglected by the President Goodluck Jonathan-led administration in Kwara State.

The APC also mocked the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for its groundless and shameless criticism of the recent flag-off event for the construction of Kishi-Kaiama federal road by Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed.

In a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, the APC said, "Kwara PDP is a nest of hypocrites and valueless politicians in a gang up to undermine the development of Kwara State".

"We commend the Executive Governor of Kwara State, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed for taking courageous step, in the interest of the good people of Kwara State, to construct and rehabilitate abandoned federal roads in our dear state.

"This intervention is highly lauded owing to facts that Kwara State experiences condemnable and outrageous decline in federal allocation, and the failure of the federal government to pay the outstanding debt of over N12billion that Kwara state government has spent on federal roads over the years.

"It is cloudless and clear that the PDP-led federal government has abandoned all its statutory duties to the people of Kwara State. However, we encourage Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed to continue to stand by the people of Kwara State.

"Meanwhile, the criticism of the recent flag-off event for construction of Kishi-Kaiama federal road by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State is groundless and shameless.

"It is surprising to the people of Kwara State, especially the people of Kwara North senatorial district, that the only premise of criticism offered by PDP spokesman, Mr Rex Olawoye on a live programme at Harmony FM on Thursday was that because the dilapidated Kishi-Kaiama road is a federal road, the Kwara State government shouldn't have intervened.

"The ridiculous assertion of PDP spokesman shows that Kwara PDP is a nest of hypocrites and valueless politicians in a gang up to undermine the development of Kwara State.

"The issues are: why has the PDP-led federal government abandoned the Kishi-Kaiama road for years immemorial? Why has Kwara PDP, with its pretences, been unable to get President Goodluck Jonathan to fix the road if PDP truly cares about the welfarism of Kwarans? Now that Offa Road has been rehabilitated by Kwara State government, are motorists and commuters of the route not better off? Of course, the hardship hitherto experienced by Kwarans on the route have been eliminated.

"It is interesting that Kwara PDP has dug its political grave in Kwara State. Kwara PDP lacks genuine plans, capacity and competence to enhance the development of Kwara State. Kwarans shall gladly bury PDP in its self-dug political grave by February.

"Even though, the political reality in Kwara State shows that President Goodluck Jonathan can not gather up to 20% of votes in next year's presidential election against PDP's targeted 25% in Kwara State, we appeal to him to show responsibility in its statutory duties to the people of Kwara State.", the statement read.