=Kwara Central All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial candidate Dr. Ibrahim Oloriegbe yesterday said that he will defeat the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) flag bearer, Senate President Bukola Saraki, in next month’s poll.
He said: “I am contesting for the Kwara Central senatorial seat to end the hegemony and dynasty of one person, Dr. Bukola Saraki, that have held our state and particularly our community, Ilorin Emirate, in poverty and under-development in the last 16 year.”
Exuding confidence, Oloriegbe said nothing is permanent in politics, adding that rigging methodology has now diminished because the card readers will always make the votes to count.
The APC candidate spoke with reporters in Lagos on the challenge of change in Kwara, political violence, the electoral resolve of voters and preparations for the polls.
Oloriegbe, a medical practitioner and former Majority Leader of Kwara State House of Assembly, lamented that, under the Saraki leadership, the senatorial district has been beset by many socio-economic challenges.
These, he said, included abject poverty, the menace of area boys and insecurity, violence, political thuggery and robbery, unemployment and street begging by jobless youths, poor education quality and dillapidatd school infrastructure, poor health system, decaying water infrastructure, bad roads and abandoned bridges, power failure, debasement of age long family value system and bastadisation of the Islamic culture.
Oloriegbe said poor governance at the state level has led to deliberate diversion of the commonwealth and abandonment of the communities and local governments.
He said Ilorin deserves better representation and a senator who is committed to its welfare through collaboration and engagement with legislative and executive stakeholders at the federal, state and local government levels.
Oloriegbe added: “In Today’s Kwara, Bukola Saraki is no longer the candidate to beat. Its daylight in our State of Harmony and we have seen the light. No more Saraki Dynasty control over the politics and affairs of the people of Kwara State. The dynasty’s place and the cabal’s stronghold is now without a roof and a hiding place. We will beat Saraki silly. We will take back our state and the change is for real and it is now.
“I have come to free the people of Kwara Central. I am one of my people. I am not a ruler. I am a servant leader; a man with a vision and purpose and we want to give a voice to our people at the Senate for laws and policies that will change the political landscape and better the lives of our people. I offer my knowledge, experience, capacity, capability, skills and competence to serve Ilorin, Kwara and Nigeria selflessly.”
Stressing that no condition is permanent in politics, Oloriegbe, who maintained that he will defeat Saraki, said even the great Pharaoh was defeated.
He said: “Saraki betrayed his father who cursed him and the curse must come to pass.” Oloriegbe also said that Saraki’s sibling, Senator Gbemisola, is supporting him because she is an APC chieftain.
He said the pointer to an imminent defeat of Saraki was the victory of the APC in the last by-election in Kwara.
The APC flag bearer objected to the ban on rallies in Kwara by Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, saying that he violated the constitutional freedom of assembly.
He stressed: “Governor Ahmed cannot ban rallies. He is violating our constitutional right. There should be rallies. But, the rallies must be peaceful. Saraki and his people caused the violence in Kwara. Saraki’s supporters are buying PVCs. We have alerted the security agents. We will urge security agents to ensure peace.”
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