When recently the All Progressives Congress (APC), in its characteristic manner, stormed Ilorin, the capital city of Kwara State for its presidential rally, a clear statement was made for the opposition-the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the state to ponder on.

The famous Ilorin Metropolitan Square, the venue of the event along Asa dam road, witnessed an unprecedented crowd, as it was filled to capacity by gaily dressed ecstatic party faithful, supporters as well as other well wishers from across the 16 Local Government of the state..

From the Ilorin International Airport, Ilorin, where the leaders of the party alighted from their aircraft, enroute Geri Alimi junction to the General Hospital roundabout, towards the palace of Emir at Oja-Oba, the jubilant crowd lined up by the two sides of the expressway to welcome and catch the glimpse of the party leaders led by their presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buahri and his running mate, Pastor Yemi Osinbajo.

Other party chieftain in the entourage were the National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, deputy national chairman of the party, Senator Nuhu Shuaib, former national chairman of the party, Chief Bisi Akande, Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State, the Director General of the APC presidential campaign committee and Rivers State governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, National Publicity Secretary of the party, Alhaji Lai Muhammed, former Governors of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi, Segun Oni and Niyi Adebayo as well as former Governor of Kogi State, Audu Abubakar. They were accorded a rousing welcome. The rally was organized ahead of the general election earlier slated for last Saturday, February 14 before it was rescheduled to March 28.

Buahri and his team paid homage to the Emir, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu Gambari before moving down to the Metropolitan Square, venue of the event where thousands of members and supporters of the APC pledged their support and loyalty to the party.

A bus driver, who was part of the crowd told Daily Sun correspondent that, he, along with his group would mobilize the people on the election day to come out en mass to vote for the APC. “Our commitment to the party is borne out of the respect and general acceptability of the party to the people of the state as well as for the political dynasty of the Saraki family, currently under the leadership of Dr. Bukola Saraki as well as the good governance of the administration of Governor Abdulfattah Ahmed,” he added. Bukola Saraki is now a senator representing Kwara Central senatorial district.

The leadership of the party, in fact, succeeded in showing to the opposition Peoples Democractic Party (PDP) in the state that APC owns Kwara and that the PDP should not dream of winning, either the center or the state in the coming election.

Report from the office of research and planning of the APC campaign council has it that the presidential rally of the APC in the state was the second of its kind after Kano State since the commencement of the rallies across the country. The venue was full to the capacity with various party members and supporters across the 16 local government councils of the state competing for attention.

At the Emir’s palace, Buhari, who lamented the high rate of unemployment, decayed in infrastructure, power sector and economy said if elected, he would address some of Nigeria’s challenges. He also promised to equip Nigerian schools and provide jobs for teeming Nigerian youth just as he solicited support of the Emir and his people, emphasising that, “APC means well for Nigerians.”

In his response, the Emir, Gambari described Buhari as a man of honour and justice. He said the crowd that besieged him on his arrival showed that he was accepted by the people, adding that all Nigerians are looking forward to Buhari to put the nation back on track if elected.

While addressing the crowd at the rally venue, the APC standard bearer said he would ensure the rejuvenation of agricultural and the mining sector to create massive employment for the nation’s unemployed youths, assuring that all loopholes of fraud would be blocked and the proceeds would be used to develop the infrastructure and education in Nigeria.

“The APC has identified these problems and wherever we go, we repeat these fundamental problems Nigeria is going through – of insecurity, of the depletion of the economy and corruption. From the airport here, we saw the faces of hundreds of youths and it is believed that 60 per cent of the youths in Nigeria are unemployed, whether they have finished school or not and that is why the insecurity in the country is aggravated by unemployment.

“It is therefore the correct choice for APC to identify these problems and decide to do something about it as soon as we can. The only way to ameliorate this unemployment is to go back to farming and mining where we can absorb a lot of able-bodied youths while in-depth study and plans are being made for the economy, to build infrastructure especially power, roads and rail transportation.

“And whatever we realized from savings from wealth, we make sure schools are built, equipment provided and qualified teachers are provided. Our talented children who don’t have opportunity to go to schools, whose parents cannot afford to send them to schools, we will cooperate with the local governments to have scholarship system, where talented Nigerians could be identified and properly educated.

«Corruption is endemic in this country especially in the last 16 years. You don’t know the magnitude but you are hearing it. If power is available, a lot of entrepreneurs would be able to put up industries and employ more people and produce goods and services. And with the naira being devalued almost by the day, this means entrepreneurs cannot afford…to put the machineries, to employ people, to buy essential raw materials and produce goods and services.

Osinbajo, speaking, said “Today is a day of destiny in the political history of the country in view of the massive turn out of members and supporters of APC at the rally held in Ilorin. God has given us the destiny to change the fortune of the country for better but some people are trying to change it and God will not give them the chance to change it.”

Amaechi said this year’s election was a last chance for Nigerians to change the country’s destiny and they should not miss it.

Tinubu, in his speech appealed to the people to ensure that they voted out the PDP led government at the center during the election to bring much desired socio economic development to the country.

Saraki, on his part, said “With today’s coming out of the APC members and supporters in large number to the rally shows that Kwara has spoken and there is no way for PDP in Kwara again”.

According to him, “When I came home one year ago that, the PDP has collapsed and all its engines had locked and we are progressing to All Progressives Congress, so, with today’s massive turn out of the people at the rally, the APC has taken its root in Kwara and the party is going to win all elections in the country.”

Deputy National chairman of the party, Senator Nuhu Shuaib, who presented the flag of the party to Ahmed, called on Kwarans to rally round him and cast their votes for him and other party candidates in the state during the polls.

Ahmed however said his three and half years had witnessed good governance and promised to continue with the successes recorded to accelerate the socio well being of the Kwarans.

Evidently, the rally has confirmed the general acceptability of the party and showed that Saraki remains the political leader of the state and that APC may have become a house hold name in Kwara politics.