It is very obvious that the freedom Kwarans are yearning for through our great party, the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, may not be forthcoming due to the emergence of another ‘political god’ in the Kwara Political stage. Unlike the late political sage, Senator Olusola Saraki and his son, who is also the acclaimed leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the State, the newly emerged ‘Maradona’ is a woman. She is Hajia Bola Shagaya.

As generally known, Hajia Shagaya is a successful business woman across the African globe and ally of successive administration in Nigeria, a rear privilege which paved ways for her within the nation’s fast growing economy.  She came into political limelight having warmed her way into the mind of Nigeria’s First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan on the corridor of social outings among others and was hurriedly approached by some major Stakeholders in the Kwara PDP on the way forward following the exit of Bukola Saraki and his stooges from the party some months ago. Unfortunately, Hajia Shagaya who has been desperate of power, coupled with her selfish capitalist ideology approached the presidency and declared herself the leader of our party even though, she has no atom of good/clear records within her family, let alone within the controversial Ajikobi ward where strong political gladiators exist.

As a member of the party, we are sure that Hajia Bola Shagaya is not in any way committed to the growth of PDP but rather interested in making her son, Mr. Sheriff, who is also a son-in-law to the former PDP National Chairman, Dr. Bamanga Tukur, as well as boosting her business interest within the corridors of power.  She has demonstrated this by picking a minister for Kwara State without due consultation and advice from party faithful, but rather using her instinct instead of the political direction of the state, most especially as it regards 2015 electioneering process. She behaved like a typical selfish, ignorant and nonchalant individual whose personal interests supersede collective interest.

Her moves in connivance with some party members who claimed to be stakeholders and were eventually used as rubber stamp that endorsed Dr. Suleiman Abubakar to represent Kwara State in the federal executive council is not only dubious, but it is also condemnable, frivolous, vexatious and uncharitable to the feelings of members of the PDP family in the state.  What the rubber stamp members relied on is cheap and unrealistic promises made by Hajia Shagaya who cannot even deliver her family or ward during elections.

She met with seven of them at different times and promised them the same thing (i.e governorship ticket) at least to have her way of making Dr. Abubakar a Minister so that she can closely monitor what is coming in and out of the party from the presidency as well as corner all contracts from Dr. Abubakar’s ministry when sworn-in.  

Is Dr. Abubakar better qualified than any of the candidates nominated at the party level? What has been his contribution to the soul of Kwara PDP?  What is his agenda for the people of Kwara? Can he and his ‘godmother’ pose any challenge on the current political leadership in the state? Is there any pride in being a teacher at the University of Abuja, a school which is yet to find it feet?

While we bow our heads in shame for Bola Shagaya and her ‘rubber stamp stakeholders’ cliques, we are certain that they will all live to regret ever parading themselves as our representatives when we truly know that they are not. They are all over-ambitious politicians who believe in self-centered moves towards feeding fat from other people’s labour. We are afraid that Hajia Shagaya will be worse than Bukola Saraki if she dares continue like this.  

If things therefore continue this way, then President Goodluck Jonathan should expect protest vote from our members and Hajia Shagaya and her allies should expect high level of humiliation from the peace loving people of Kwara State because such acts of irresponsibility will not be tolerated during our party’s primaries.

Salman Abdulraheem writes in from Ilorin