Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed has declared his bid for a second term at a carnival-like rally in Ilorin, the state capital, witnessed top leaders of the All Progressives Congress(APC), prominent monarchs, clerics and other stakeholders. Correspondent ADEKUNLE JIMOH examines the battle for the Kwara Government House and the governor’s chances at the poll.
The crowd was huge. The people were singing, dancing and waving brooms, the symbol of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
It was at Ilorin, the capital of Kwara State where Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed declared his intention to seek re-election.
Aspirants for parliamentary elections were accompanied by their supporters to the venue of the rally. They were competing for the attention of visiting national leaders, who were in one accord.
But, the governor had no rival. Having been endorsed as the consensus candidate, he exuded confidence and optimism.
“I have lived up to expectation. I have fulfilled my campaign promises for the first term. I am asking for the renewal of my mandate to serve you,” he said, as he unfolded his agenda for the second term.
As early as 8 am, many indigenes had stormed the Metropolitan Square, venue of the event. The rally was witnessed by top party leaders, including Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, former military Head of State and APC presidential aspirant General Muhammadu Buhari, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Sokoto State Governor Aliyu Wamakko and his Imo, Rivers, Kano, Rivers, and Edo counterparts; Owelle Rochas Okorocha, Dr. Rabiu Kwankwaso, Chibuike Amaechi, and Adams Oshiohmole.
Other dignitaries included House of Representative Speaker Aminu Tambuwal, former Kwara and Ekiti state governors; Alhaji Shaaba Lafiagi and Dr Kayode Fayemi, APC National Publicity Secretary Alhaji Lai Mohammed, party trustee Alhaji Kawu Baraje and Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly Razak Atunwa
The host was the party leader and former governor, Dr. Bukola Saraki, who was hailed by party leaders for his leadership skills and commitment to the progress of Kwara.
Ahmed thanked the political machinery that thew him up as the governor. He also expressed gratitude to the people that voted for him three and half years ago. He promised to accelerate the development of the state, if re-elected.
The governor said: “ I humbly and formally declare my intention to run for a second term in office so that I can do more for our state and its people. By the grace of God and with your mandate, we intend to accelerate the development of our state, if re-elected for a second term in office.”
Ahmed added: “I will boost the local economy through the establishment of an independent power projects (IPP) that will power industrial clusters, stimulate jobs and improve power supply to our communities.
“By the grace of God, we will upscale our education reforms, with the complete overhauling and modernisation of 120 secondary schools as we start the process of benchmarking our schools against global best practice.”
The governor promised to fight the infrastructure battle through road construction and rehabilitation. He said his administration will even construct federal roads that have been neglected.
He said: “By the first quarter of next year, we will take another bold step towards providing our youth with functional skills when the City and Guilds-affiliated International Vocational Center, Ajasse Ipo takes in its first set of students. This school will connect with our Quickwin initiative, under which a new crop of youth entrepreneurs is currently receiving vocational and entrepreneurship training, to fill middle level manpower gaps.
“In sports, we intend to completely overhaul and modernize the indoor sports hall of the Ilorin Township Stadium in line with high standards of Main Bowl and in order to promote sports development, especially among our youths.”
The governor reiterated his commitment to the Saraki political dynasty. He said: “I reaffirm my belief in our political structure. A structure that has given hope to the hopeless; that has made governance inclusive in Kwara State. This structure gives hope that you can be anything you want subject only to the limit of your abilities.
“It is only this structure that could have enabled Abdulfatah Ahmed, the son of a middle-level policeman, to become governor.”
Saraki, who represents Kwara Central in the Senate, said Kwarans will vote for continuity in next year’s election. He described Ahmed as a loyal politician who has worked with commitment and dedication to the welfare of the people.
Saraki added: “Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed has attended to some of our problems and I want you to give him four more years. The people of Kwara should come out during elections and vote for the APC. This is the party for you; the other parties are only there for themselves. You don’t see them. When you go and see them they only say ‘thank you,’ can thank you help you?
“This election is for all of us. They say they are coming with Abuja power; tell them that you have people’s power.”
Baraje, who said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has no place in Kwara, urged the people to girds their loins against rigging. He said: “Contrary to the belief of the opposition, their lies, and fabrications, the APC is on ground in Kwara State. The second thing that this crowd is telling you is that, in 2011, when the state put forward that young, experienced and versatile young man to be the governor of the state, little did we know that we were voting for efficiency; performance of the highest order.
“Kwarans are telling you that they have seen your handiwork. It is not a lie; it is something that is visible. It is what everybody can see. This crowd is telling you to continue in office for another four years. I therefore, join them that you should continue and come forward to accept our endorsement.”
The venue was electrified with Tinubu’s arrival. The APC national leader, who initially addressed the audience in Yoruba language abridged all protocols, saying the electorates are far more important than lengthy protocol.
Tinubu fired salvos at the Federal Government, chiding President Goodluck Jonathan for his failure to restore security as the Commander-In-Chief.The former governor of Lagos State asked the President to resign.
Tinubu said: “I saw the sea of refuges caused by Boko Haram insurgents and the lies coming from the Jonathan Administration. They have exhibited failure, lack of capacity, vision, creativity; the lie of yesterday is what they repeat today and it is what they will repeat tomorrow. They are lying to you.
“They are lying about the security; toying about the security of this country. I don’t have time to explain the logic of their lies.
“But, if you control the armed forces and you are the Commander-in-Chief of Federal Republic of Nigeria, why should any part of this country be under occupation? And you give us excuses every day. In any civilised country Jonathan should resigned. But, if he will not resign, he should wait for our broom. We will sweep them. I will come back.
“This is just the endorsement of Governor Ahmed; that he will be re-elected by the grace of God, with the support of you people here and those outside there. The unemployment situation will be conquered by the APC administration. We have the vision for the security of the lives of our children.
“The thieves that daily steal your money have not given you any job; they cannot create jobs and they are starving states of funds to pay workers salaries. The best thing to do is to sweep them away through broom revolution. APC is a party of the masses.
“It now behooves you to begin a house to house campaign that this is a party of the masses.
“You had not seen Bukola and myself mounting the same podium campaigning for the same party before this time. This is a new beginning. This is a time of good things and tidings from us. We have brought good luck and commonsense revolution.
“Now, it is time to apply commonsense revolution and it is about your lives. It is about your education, your jobs and about the security of this country. We stay together since independence and we will remain together. Any affecting any section of this country affects all of us.
“Be ready to vote for change at the centre. The race has started again. We have endorsed Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed for a second term in office as he has performed creditably like his predecessor, Senator Bukola Saraki.”
In a remark, Tambuwal said the APC would engender prosperity and eradicate poverty. He said: “By voting the APC at the centre, you will be voting for prosperity and the eradication of poverty. What we are witnessing today in Nigeria is not governance, but misgovernance. We are witnessing a system that does not have the interest of the people of this country at heart. It is also incumbent on us as a people to vote out Goodluck Ebele Jonathan come 2015. That will bring peace, progress and development of Nigeria.
“In Kwara State, your political history is very rich. You have had the foundation of the political struggle of this state laid by our late leader, Dr Olusola Saraki. This structure that is being sustained by God Almighty has always delivered Kwara to the right place. I believe that this time around there will not be anything different. With the support of the people of the state APC shall form 100 percent the government in the state from the local council to state Assembly and to the government house. Eventually and ultimately, the state has always been providing leadership in the politics of this country.
“When it comes to presidential elections, I am sure that the state will provide such leadership to the extent that we shall deliver this country to the government at the centre to APC.”
Amaechi said: “I am very impressed with the number of persons that I have seen here today. What you must do is to stop the PDP from rigging us. You must go out that day to stop them from rigging us. When you vote, do not go home at all. They will bring soldiers and police, remain there. If they want to kill us, let them kill us. If you go home, you will hear a different result. Stay there and make sure that nobody rigs you out.
“They have soldiers and police, they do not have God. God is in the APC. That is the problem they have and once God is in APC, and we work with God, we shall defeat them.You know your governor will do better if you have an APC presidential candidate who wins the next election. The reason is that currently, they are stealing money. The money we should use in building ore schools, more hospitals, more transport and other amenities, they are putting it in their pocket. They are taking the money to South Africa.
“We thank God we saw small, you do not know the ones we are not seeing. So, let’s vote them out so that we can vote in a better president from APC and our money will remain here. Can’t we manufacture our own guns? Why can’t we? Mubi has been over-ran by 30 to 40 young boys, who are not trained as soldiers? It simply shows that we are not funding our military. It is time to fund our military because our military has the capacity to chase away these boys. But we need treat our military with respect and with necessary support and we will win them.
“This is the time to say the truth. The problem with the other party is that they do not know the truth and they do not say the truth at all. If a man does well, what do you tell him? You tell him ‘thank you’, is that not? And that is what we are here to do to tell your governor thank you.
“The way to tell him thank you is to get up on the day of election and vote for him and vote for APC. If you tell him ‘thank you’ and you vote him back in, he will work well and better for you He had already worked. You are not testing him because you have already tested him and you know how well he has done.”
Kwankwaso said: “We are removing the incompetent government in Abuja. By voting for the APC, we are bringing in employment for our young men and women. We are voting for peaceand development in Kwara and Nigeria.”
