Date: 2015-04-07

This coming gubernatorial and state assembly elections is a contest between two distinct philosophies, each of which will take our dear state on fundamentally different directions, as we prepare to vote on Saturday, we ought to be aware of the consequences of our vote.

While the PDP in Kwara stands for an open, free, equal opportunity society, the Kwara APC stands for a closed, dictatorial, oppressive, opportunistic and a crony society. A place where godfatherism is all that matters and honesty, dedication to duty, respect for elders and hard work are jettisoned.

In an equal opportunity society that the Kwara PDP is proposing, every single Kwaran will have the opportunities to succeed; the PDP administration has assured us that they will expand and promote equal opportunities for all. In the closed crony society that our opponents have engendered, the prospects of each Kwaran are determined by his/her links and access to a small cabal in the ruling party. Through this, they have abused their power, disrespected our elders and looted our commonwealth.

The policies and programs enunciated by the PDP are novel when it comes to governance in Kwara State. The proposed social security initiative is a first in Kwara, same way the proposed geriatric unit for the elderly, for our senior citizens, the PDP administration has promised to make sure that they live out the rest of their days in dignity. The PDP policies offer Kwarans the best chance we have of overcoming poverty and enslavement by a vested interest.

In preparing their policy document, the Kwara PDP used the "vision for Kwara document" which was commissioned last year by the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party. This document expresses the PDP's vision for Kwara state and her people.

This, I was assured is not an election time gimmick, the PDP's proposed governance document addresses the top five priorities that affects every Kwaran.

1. Poverty
2. Improving the quality of education
3. Improving Health care delivery and healthcare infrastructure
4. Efficiency in the delivery of basic services across all sectors of the state government
5. Aggressive agricultural drive

At present, our public schools are underfunded and many Principals had to resort to self-help. In many instances, our public schools lack basic sanitary facilities. The significant interventions led by the federal government through the State Universal Basic Education program are poorly managed by the Kwara State Government and there are instances of UBE funds being mismanaged.

Our hospitals are in a state of decay, they lack basic infrastructure, medicine cabinets are empty and there is a glaring case of insufficient manpower in our public health sector. Many of our rural areas are under served. It is pathetic that in the whole of Kwara, there are only 14 pharmacists in the employment of the State Government. In a state with 16 LGAs and 193 wards; under a PDP administration, this will change.

In the present Kwara Civil Service, you wouldn't get anything done because the ruling cabal have killed the morale of the civil servants. By promoting godfatherism in the civil service, they have replaced professionalism with mediocrity.

The PDP proposed social security scheme for the elderly and the proposed empowerment for women will ensure that senior citizens live the rest of their lives in dignity and our women meaningfully empowered.

Our youths have been turned by this cabal into thugs, street urchin and touts. The PDP has assured us that they have a plan to bring out the best in our youths and to establish a full fledge employment agency to transition our youths into high paying jobs that can secure their future.

The PDP administration if voted into power in Kwara on Saturday can and will deliver on its promises. This time, as Kwarans, we ought to be hopeful that the INEC will be impartial, the security services will not favour one party over the other and the President of the Republic will make sure that there will be a level playing field. In this type of political climate, I believe the Kwara PDP can win and it's your vote that will do it. So vote for Kwara PDP from the top to the bottom in order to guarantee an equal opportunity for all.

Abdulmumin Yinka Ajia
Author can be reached at aajia01@indianatech.net