The victory of the APC governorship candidate and incumbent governor at the April 11 polls might have been achieved with numerous parameters influencing the decisions of voters notwithstanding the glaring low voters turn-out. Among the factors assumed to be at play were the undeniable indefatigability of political structures of the legendry political icon, late Dr. Olusola Saraki (Oloye,of blessed memory), strongly anchored by Senator Bukola Saraki.

The bandwagon effect of March 28 election produced the peoples' General and APC presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari. Even though Kwara State has always been playing politics of centre except towards the end of the second republic when late Dr Olusola Saraki's support gave UPN candidate, Chief C.O. Adebayo a resounding victory over late Alhaji Adamu Atta of NPN in his bid to secure a second term in office in 1983 elections and at the beginning of this present political dispensation in 1999 when late Real Admiral Muhammed Lawal clicked the APP ticket with Dr. Olusola Saraki's backing and won the main election thereafter to govern the state for four years. The third factor of disarray and disunity in the PDP was an impetus which gave APC stabilizing momentum before the icing on the cake of victory of the APC with the PDP fielding a less popular candidate for the governorship content.

The turn-out of voters in Kwara State for the governorship and state assembly elections of April 11, should be less admirable and pensive for any politician and indeed government that is perceived to be with the grassroots. For example, they are nearly 450,000 valid votes for the presidential election in the state while there was a whole 30% reduction in participation by voters when it came to the state governorship election of April 11 with total valid votes of 311,052.

Taking a neighboring state of Oyo controlled by the APC just like Kwara and also the governor seeking re-election as Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed recorded just marginal of 3.5% reduction in participation between presidential elections of 28th April with total valid votes of 876,237 as against valid votes of 844,960 for governorship election.

On the other hand, a neighboring state of Kwara to the north; Niger though a PDP controlled state with the governor not seeking re-election even recorded more valid votes for governorship content than the presidential election.

The conspicuous low voters empathy at the April 11 elections in Kwara state might not be unconnected to index of rendezvous impact of structure of good governance at state level and the citizen at grassroots. The most important message for the four years renewed mandate of the governance in Kwara State is the focus on people oriented governance driven in-line with the people aspiration for all inclusive and encompassing development in the overall interest of the state rather than the pleasure and acceptance of few individuals.

When declared the winner by Independent National Electoral Commission, the state governor and governor elect, Alh. Abdulfatah Ahmed said " I want to see this as a great change for Kwarans and Nigeria and I see it as a good platform for ushering in not only good governance but true dividend of democracy'.

One would wish that the great change in the state will start with a diligent and comprehensive recovery of vestige of arms and dangerous weapons in possession of deliberately fortified political and thugs occasioned by the just concluded electioneering campaign in the state by some politicians with myopic and parochial mindset.

A fall-out of this was the sporadic shooting on the Sunday following the Saturday April11 Election Day in some areas of the state capital. It would be disservice to the development of the state for governance not to contend with belligerent ambition of negatively armed individuals with respect to people of the state who loved peace.

There is no platform for ushering in good governance and true dividend of democracy better than infrastructural development of the state. This is not only to be applied to the state capital and main towns but more importantly rural areas with regards to agricultural infrastructures particular of roads both asphalt and feeders, potable water, sanitation and electricity.

It shouldn't be subject of debate whether these infrastructures had been executed, in the pipe line or not executed. The veracity of its presence should be pervasive that both the rural dwellers and people in towns within the state would come to see government and governance as their own and not for the few nobles.

This fate of rural infrastructural development is not unachievable with conscious and concerted policy direction and implementation in a short time within a cycle of any committed and development driven governance. With the recent dwindling federal allocation to the state already on meager monthly subvention, any venture to be undertaken by purposeful governance should be a scheme that would obliterate the menace of youth unemployment and assuage the revenue base of the state government.

In this regard, focus on agriculture through rural infrastructural development would serve the purpose of mitigating effect of unemployment and increase revenue generation of the state government on the economic point of view whilst it would serve the purpose of bringing governance to the grassroots for political gains during electioneering.

It is of common knowledge in basic economic terms that resources are scarce and limited, wants or needs insatiable, hence scale of preference. Within the limited resources of the state government it wouldn’t be out place if rural mechanization through offensive acquisition and transfer or hiring services of tractor and implements

– Dr Lawal of the department of Agricultural Engineering, BUK, kano