The former Governor of Kwara State, Dr. Bukola Saraki, has challenged opposition parties in the state to come up with ideas capable of enhancing development rather than dissipating energy on unprofitable criticisms of the government.

He said: "The opposition parties should partake in the development of the state by complementing government's efforts at adding values to the lives of the populace."

But the Chairman of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in the state, Kayode Olawepo, described Saraki's statement as another acknowledgment of the well established brand of politics, which the people of Kwara have been subjected to for 40 years.

Olawepo said: "We think the former governor is entitled to his views, however self-contradicting and flawed such opinions are. In the first place, as a senator representing Kwara Central, what in real terms have been his contributions to his senatorial district? As a former governor, what were his contributions to the socio-economic development of the Kwara people?

"If his personal contributions can only be measured in terms of how many bags of rice or semovita he distributed to those impoverished by his brand of politics, then we leave him to the verdict of history. That fits perfectly into the politics played over the past 40 years, the outcome of which is the state's appalling poverty rate.

"Rather, it is a brand of politics that practises and encourages dependency, giving paltry sums to people and Greek gifts and improvising an entire populace to enrich a few. That is the kind of politics we seek to end in this country. We believe in politics that creates opportunity for everyone and promotes equality, merit and excellence.

"Besides, was Saraki expecting the opposition to take after their own style of politics where every donation or philanthropy is announced in the media? Was he expecting the opposition to call a news briefing to announce holiday coaching for students, education scholarships or economic empowerment? No, we don't subscribe to such politics because the less privileged need not suffer the twin humiliation of state-imposed poverty and the one of showing their faces or names to the world in the guise of philanthropy! And ultimately, we believe politics should be about teaching people how to fish and not in buying them fish from the funds that belong to them."

The ACN said it remained "fully committed to the aspirations of our people for better life for all based on the principles of equal opportunity for growth and development to all, free education, free medical services, improved infrastructure and employment generation."