Date: 2015-01-27

AROWONA ABDULAZEEZ writes on the prospects of the Peoples Democratic Party, weathering the storm and swimming against the tide in Kwara to defeat the incumbent APC government 

Since the defection of the godfather of Kwara politics from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP to the All Progressives Congress, APC, the party in the state has never remained the same. To some followers of Kwara politics, Senator Bukola Saraki left the PDP with its soul and left the carcass behind. 

However, there are those who disagree with this position insisting that the exit of Saraki from the party has even strengthened the party. Chief Gbenga Awoyale, a chieftain of the party in the state and also the president general of Orisun Igbomina, a socio-cultural group of Igbomina people in Kwara sees it differently arguing that Kwara PDP is stronger now than under Saraki. 

He alleges that the APC government in Kwara of which Saraki is a chieftain has nothing to show after four years. He boasted that the PDP governorship candidate in the state, Senator Simon Ajibola will surely defeat the incumbent governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed. 

“There is no doubt that by the time the people speak through the ballot, it will then be clear to them that the days of the APC are numbered in Kwara. Although, the allegation is just cheap media propaganda by the opposition party to distract the people of Kwara. Fortunately, everybody is aware of what is going in the state. The APC government has crippled the entire economy, they have failed the people. To be candid with you, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed has not only failed the Igbominas but he has also disappointed the entire people of Kwara State. He allowed himself to be used by Senator Bukola Saraki to lopside all the state apparatus.

 “He cannot boast of a single project from the beginning to completion. The vocational centre built at Ajasse-Ipo is nothing but waste of time and resources. The project is neither desirable nor developmental. So people are fed up of the APC government in the state and they have to vote right, the achievement of the current government is there for them to assess and determine what next to be done at least for the sake of generations yet unborn. He couldn’t do anything good for his immediate constituency not to talk of the entire state.

“However, election winning is not a matter of willy-nilly; rather, it has to do with performance and delivery of people oriented programmes. The APC has failed in this respect. So if anybody says that our governorship candidate, Senator S.S. Ajibola can’t challenge Governor Ahmed, such person is just wasting his time. Kwara is PDP, PDP is Kwara. The much awaited freedom must be achieved through the 2015 election,” he said.

He maintained that the PDP is buoyed by the emergence of Yinka Aluko as the deputy governorship candidate as according to him, he (Aluko) is a thorough bred politician and a grassroots man who was instrumental to even the emergence of Bukola Saraki as the governor of the state. 

“Yinka Aluko is not only the longest serving Security Adviser in Nigeria but he is also an original home breed who was instrumental to the emergence of Bukola Saraki in the state to defeat late former Governor Mohammed Lawal in 2003. Also, he is a Muslim, which is good choice to balance the Christian /Muslim ticket. The relative peace enjoyed in the state in the past was as a result of his vast experience in the security system and more so, he is the major election winning strategist for the current political leadership whose structure was stolen to the APC.”

To him, despite the fact that APC is the ruling party in the state, the PDP has come to sweep the polls with because according to him, APC as the ruling party has failed in the state. 

“We will coast home to victory in the gubernatorial poll and form a PDP government ‎for the sake of our people and future of our state. So let the entire people of Kwara hear loud and clear that PDP government will be committed to their welfare. For the avoidance of doubt, I stand to be challenged, let the current APC government outline their achievements for the people to see. By the time campaign starts, you will see them promising all sorts of things they cannot fulfill. So Kwarans, please shine your eyes well this time around and don’t allow the political jobbers to deceive you again.”

There are palpable worries that Kwara being a dominant Muslim state and the candidate of the APC being a Muslim, this may sway voters to vote for him against the candidate of the PDP who is a Christian.  Chief Awoyale dismissed the role or religion in the coming elections saying that Kwara voters are more enlightened than that.

 “The people of Kwara State that I know are highly intelligent, tolerant and focused. Both Christians and Muslims have been living harmoniously for a very long time without rancour, hatred anything. The major interest of an average Kwaran now is who will develop the state and not religious bias. We have had several governors in the past majority of whom are Christians and God has used them at their respective periods as agents of growth for the state. The present Ilorin Central Yidi praying ground was allocated by a Christian military governor but another Muslim governor has been making efforts assiduously to sell it off against the interest of the people. 

“Similarly, Kwara State Stadium complex among capital projects were done by Christian governments. So when you look at what is on ground, you will agree with me that the matter is beyond religion. It is all about service delivery not politics as business as in the case of the current APC government. There are so many projects were awarded with anonymous names and not executed while so many ones are abandoned. Go to the whole of Ilorin township now, there is no single place water is running and huge amount of millions was recently spent in that direction. You see people rushing to either car wash centres or GRA to fetch water with their vehicles. So who is fooling who? The money approved for Kwara State indigenes in the Law school was not given to them, workers are not promoted therefore making their salaries to be stagnant, youths are not gainfully employed, women are not empowered, local contractors are not patronized, no respect for land policy among others. Is that the way we shall continue hiding under religion? Enough of politics of calumny and deceit. So I don’t see Senator Ajibola as somebody that will delve into religious affairs favoring one religion against another.”

Chief Awoyale is certain of victory for President Jonathan in the February 14 presidential election because according to him those who make up the opposition APC are hard sells and low achievers. 

“I’m not expecting anything other than victory for President Goodluck Jonathan.  ‎When you look at the line up of the characters in the APC circle, you will agree with me that they are all people of unclear records. When you talk of Bukola Saraki, he ruled Kwara for eight years without any tangible achievement. He initiated some projects with the state government’s colouration and at the completion of his tenure, he changed the status of some investments to serve his personal interest. 

“Also, I can say it boldly that Bukola Saraki’s intention of leaving PDP is based on selfish reasons. It is obvious that APC cannot serve the interest of the state. In the case of Rotimi Amaechi, what hashe done in Rivers, the whole of his tenure is characterised by crises. When you look at Bola Tinubu, he abandoned so many projects for Raji Fashola to inherit. Ask them that what is happening to LASU-Isheri road project. Majority of the completed projects are facilitated by the federal government but Lagos State government is claiming them. 

‎”Come to talk of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, he truncated the much enjoyed administration of Alhaji Shehu Shagari in 1983 through coup. He jailed politicians and ensured that Nigeria returned back to military rule. Meanwhile, Nigerians are wise and they will demonstrate it again by re-electing President Goodluck Jonathan come February 14. All APC members are in one way or the other corrupt in their respective rights and I am sure that they will not make any difference rather, cripple the entire economy and bankrupt the nation’s treasury.”