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Tag: kwara

  • Issa Aremu emerges Kwara LP governorship candidate

    Frontline labour leader, Comrade Issa Aremu has emerged as the governorship candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in Kwara state.
    Aremu who was the sole aspirant of the party emerged through affirmation by delegates across the 16 local government areas of the state.
    Representatives of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the state as well as factional national chairman of the party, Alhaji Abdulquadir Abdulsalam witnessed the primary.
    Ex-Nigerian soccer star and LP governorship candidate in Ogun state, Segun Odegbami also graced the occasion.
    In his remark, Alhaji Abdulsalam urged Kwarans to vote for the LP candidate to bail the state out infrastructural deficiency.
    He added that Comrade Aremu if elected as governor would place workers welfare at the front burner of governance.
    In his acceptance speech, the former national Vice President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) said if elected as governor, he would join forces with the progressives to rescue the state from the hands of the select few that had stolen the commonwealth of the people.
    He promised to eschew hate speeches during campaigns, adding that he would be hard on problems facing the state.
    He listed the problems as proliferation of pot-holes, poor medical facilities and water scarcity etc.
    Said he: “There will not be hate speech against anybody but there will be hard comments. Billions of Naira have been expended on water reticulation and Asa Dam yet there is no water to drink.
    “We will rebuild our great state. We will turn Kwara to a state flowing with milk and honey. We will create employment for our youths, we will revive all our dead industries.
    “We promise to ensure dignity of labour by promptly attending to workers welfare. Workers salaries will not only be paid as at and when due, they will also be paid living wages,”Aremu

  • Nigeria cannot progress under its current structure – Saraki

    The Senate President Dr. Bukola Saraki, has said that Nigeria cannot make reasonable progress under its current political structure.

    He said the present political structure does not allow the country to move forward.

    Saraki stated this during his presidential campaign visit to Abia at the Peoples Democratic Party state secretariat in Umuahia the State capital.

    He promised to restructure Nigeria to enable each state to be economically viable if elected president 2019.

    Saraki who also paid a visit to Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu, with other seven Senators at the Government House, said Ikpeazu has through his land mark achievements shown the people of Abia the importance of having a leader with vision and capacity to deliver and noted that It is time we had a Nigeria that represents all of us, a Nigeria that believes in equity and justice

    In a remark Governor Okezie Ikpeazu said that Nigeria requires a leader with requisite experience like Saraki who has served in the position as governor of Kwara State and now Senate President adding that Dr Saraki has the capacity to give Nigerians the needed hope.

    Ikpeazu said that its time for Nigerians to be careful and throw away all kinds of sentiments that are primordial to our immediate needs and unity of Nigerians.

  • Kwara governor picks Senate nomination form

    Kwara State Governor Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed has signaled his intention to vie for the Kwara South Senatorial ticket on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

    Governor Ahmed, who announced his decision via his twitter account on Saturday, said he had picked up the PDP nomination form for the senatorial primary election.
    With this development, Governor Ahmed, who hails from Share, Ifelodun local government area of the state will content with the current occupant of the seat at the Senate, Senator Rafiu Ibrahim.
    Senator Ibrahim who is currently representing Kwara South in the Senate, it was gathered had already collected nomination form for reelection into the Senate.
    Senator Ibrahim, it was also gathered had commenced consultations with stakeholders in the district.
    Said Governor Ahmed: “In response to calls by my people and in keeping with my strong desire to upscale the excellent work we have done in all three zones of the state, through effective, purposeful representation, I have picked up the PDP nomination form for Kwara South Senatorial District.”
    In a statement, Senior Special Assistant to the governor on media and communications Dr Muyideen Akorede said “ahead of the primaries, Governor Ahmed’s development strides across the stage, including the Kwara South Senatorial district, stands him in good stead with the people and have highly boosted his chances of clinching the ticket and winning the ticket in the 2019 general elections.
    “His numerous accomplishments in the zone include the International Vocational Technical Entrepreneurship College, Ajase Ipo, the new Kwara State University Satellite Campus at Osi, as well as commendable strides in the roads, health, energy, water, education and informal sectors. Besides his sterling performance in office, Governor Ahmed is also a well-loved and popular figure across the state, especially in his home Senatorial district, Kwara South.
    “Governor Ahmed has severally defended his recent movement to the PDP on the grounds that his former party limited access to platforms for securing benefits for the people of Kwara State as a whole. His Senatorial ambition is seen in the light of his strong determination to better represent his people, and provide inclusive leadership in Kwara South.”

     

  • Zakari joins Kwara governorship race

    The Chairman of the House Committee on Basic Education and Services, Alhaji Zakari Mohammed, yesterday joined the governorship race in Kwara State.

    Zakari obtained his nomination form from the National Secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abuja.

    In a tweet, Mohammed said: “Join me as I declare for the 2019 Kwara gubernatorial race. I seek your prayers and support.”

    At press time, he became the third PDP aspirant to pick the nomination form after similar bids by a member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Ahman Pategi and a former Commissioner for Justice in Kwara State, Saka Isau (SAN).

    Other top contenders in PDP being expected to obtain nomination forms are a former Minister of Sports, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi and a former Governor of Kwara State, Alhaji Mohammed Sha’aba Lafiagi.

     

  • IVTEC: Kwara signs MoU with NDE, World Bank

    The Kwara State International Vocational, Technical and Entrepreneurship College (IVTEC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) and the World Bank to train 250 students for a first-level skills.

    The MoU, according to Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, who signed on behalf of the state, provides for the payment of monthly stipends to the trainees for the period of the training.

    He added that the three months’ training would be followed by a six months’ industrial apprenticeship to further expose the trainees to their chosen jobs.

    Ahmed explained that the college was established to provide the best technical, vocational and entrepreneurship training to youths to make them gainfully employed and contribute their quotas to the society.

    The governor added that IVTEC is a benchmark for global standards in vocational education through partnership with globally recognised certification bodies like City and Guilds of London, among others.

    Director-General of NDE Dr Nasiru Mohammed Ladan said the partnership is a right step in the right direction. According to him, it would open a new vista in the implementation of the skills for job of components of YESSO.

    Ladan, who was represented by Mrs. Olaomi Roseline, congratulated the government for pioneering output-based state-led skills among the eight states of Bauchi, Cross River, Ekiti, Logic, Kwara, Niger, Osun and Oyo.

    He added that 316 youths were trained in the last two years.

  • Kwara to secure life, property

    Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed has promised to strengthen security of life and property.

    The governor spoke yesterday when members of the  Omu-Aran Development Association visited him at the Government House.

    He said his government would put tighten security in the state.

    The governor noted that his government will respect the traditional institution, not only as the custodian of culture and traditions, but as stabilisers of peace and understanding.

    He hailed the community on the peaceful nomination of an Olomu, saying the peaceful process confirms the spirit of inclusiveness in the community.

    National President of the association Chief Bisi Adeyemi said they were in the Government House to thank the governor for his support when the Olomu died.

    He appealed to the governor to improve the government’s presence in the community by improving its road network.

  • Ex-PDP Kwara governorship aspirant, others defect to APC

    . Says he cannot cohabit with Saraki

    Two terms governorship aspirant under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP ), Sunday Babalola and supporters on Tuesday announced their defection to the All Progressives Congress in Kwara state.

    Babalola, an engineer, said he cannot be in the same political party with Senate President Bukola Saraki.

    Addressing reporters in Ilorin, the state capital, Babalola said “I have defected with over 20,000 supporters who belong to several groups across Kwara State. I am involved in partisan politics because I believe that politics is about service to the people.

    “With the defection of Saraki and many of his loyalists, who have led the state and its people into penury, poverty, anguish, hunger, oppression and retrogression, from APC to the PDP, which he laboured very hard to destroy as a result of his inordinate ambition, it is very clear that I have to move with all my supporters to a political party that is more focused on people development.

    “I find it very difficult to be in the same political party with them major actor or principal, who many people, including I, believe hasmplunged Kwara state into abysmal condition. As a past aspirant and an electorate, I have decided to pitch my tent with the All Progressives Congress.”

    Said he: “Our dear state, as it is now, needs urgent liberation from the over 45 years of deceit, oppression and primordial politics of ‘stomach infrastructure’ so that the people can be delivered from a people that has held them hostage and put them in the shackles of poverty and underdevelopment for so long.

    “I believe that government plays significant role in advancing the well-being of the citizens, through the provision of infrastructure and amenities, human capital development and by engendering an environment that is conducive for business growth and expansion.

    Read Also: APC: Girei tackles Bindow over support for indirect primaries

    “The improper management of state resources by the ruling elite, especially the oligarchy of Senator Bukola Saraki, who ruled the state for eight years and still pilots the affairs of the state, through cronies, has to be brought to an end. The level of poverty and infrastructure decay in spite of the volume of the revenues that had accrued to the State over the years, both from the federation allocations and internally generated revenue, is what every well-meaning person should rise up and fight against.

    “I will continue to offer my services and resources for the emancipation of my people and for societal development. I do not believe that the return of Saraki and his loyalists to the PDP, after his several actions and utterances, intended to debase, strangulate, ridicule and public opprobrium, that the party would be able to offer anything good for Kwara indigenes and residents.

    “Those who have been accused to have held the state in the jugular, tried to suffocate and strangle it cannot metamorphose to be saviours and liberators of the state, their bombastic claims and promises notwithstanding.”

  • Saraki not a dictator, says PDP elders

    Elders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara state on Monday said that Senate President Bukola Saraki is not a dictator.

    The PDP elders, who said they were old members of the party added that they became political orphans 2014 when Saraki and others in the state defected to All Progressives Congress (APC)

    They added that since his comeback to the PDP, his sterling political leadership style has impacted on them.

    An elder of the old PDP and current Financial Secretary of the party in the state Moses Ibiyemi said they “have no regret at all for pitching our tents with this leader of leaders, who despite using his personal resources to run the party since his return to its fold, has refused to exhibit any dictatorial tendencies.”

    Accompanied by the new PDP deputy chair and youth leader in the state, Abubakar Sanni, Haliru Mahmud and others, Ibiyemi said “contrary to insinuations by our former chairman and his cohorts, the relationship between us the old members of the PDP and the new entrants from the great Saraki dynasty has been very cordial.

    “It has been a case of mutual respect and trust all the way.
    “We have found in Bukola Saraki an honest, straight forward and fair leader. Instead of hijacking the party as others prophesied, the Senate President has indeed left the control of the party in the hands of all stakeholders.
    “Saraki’s demonstration of fairness and team player can be seen clearly in the composition of the new state executives of the PDP in Kwara state.

    The available offices were fairly distributed among the old and new members. Something goes down to local government and ward levels.

    “Indeed, we have no regret whatsoever for accepting the Senate President and his teeming supporters back into the PDP. He has come to add value to the party and we are very sure of emerging victorious in the 2019 general elections in the state.

    “Let me at this juncture commend the Senate President for his sense of fairness and great act of magnanimity in accepting the fair sharing of offices in the PDP executive among us the old members and those that followed him back to the party.
    “He has by this singular act proved his critics wrong and has shown the whole world that he’s a fair leader whose only passion is the overall development of our dear Kwara state.

    “We are therefore using this forum to urge a few of our members who were deceived to defect to other lesser parties to come back home as there is equal opportunities for all in the PDP under the leadership of Bukola Saraki.
    “Our doors are wide open to both our former members and every progressive minded Kwaran. Let’s join hands with this God- sent leader, our own son, Bukola Saraki in taking our dear Kwara state to a more greater heights.”

  • Kwara Governor’s aide resigns

    Abdullahi Danbaba, special assistant on Non-Governmental Affairs to Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, has resigned his appointment.

    This follows his decision to remian in the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Danbaba announced his resignation in a letter addressed to Governor Ahmed through the Secretary to the State Government (SSG).

    According to him, his resignation followed extensive and heart-to-heart consultation with his constituents, coupled with the issue created by the political realignment in the state and the country.

    He thanked the governor and Senate President Bukola Saraki for the opportunity to serve.

    Danbaba’s resignation makes the number of aides, who disengaged from the government to two.

    He hailed from Kaiama Local Government Area in Kwara North.

    Danbaba said his decision followed the political realignment, which saw the Bukola Saraki-led political leadership in the state defect from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the People Democratic Party (PDP).

    He said: “As a result of that political development, my constituents in Kaiama felt they would not go with Saraki any longer because they have suffered lack of infrastructure development.”

  • Kwara community declares support for Buhari, APC

    Members of Kaiama community in Kaiama Local Government Area, Kwara State have staged a solidarity rally in support of President Muhammadu Buhari’s 2019 re-election bid.

    The community members who staged the rally included the elders, members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), youths and other interest groups.

    The rally, which was put together by a group known as Kaiama Progressive Movement (KPM), lasted about three hours, with the people openly denouncing Senate President Bukola Saraki.

    Before the rally around Kaiama, headquarters of the local government, the community had held a general meeting at the local government’s secretariat where they resolved to reject alleged political domination of the area by the Saraki dynasty.

    In a communique issued at the end of the meeting, signed by Sadiq Omar, Alhaji Musa Atinga, Saifudeen Aliyu and Alhaji Bagidi Alhasan, said “Kaiama stands with Buhari in 2019 as they have always done since 2003.”

    The communique reads: “Kaiama community will no longer tolerate political manipulation from Saraki and a few so-called Kaiama stakeholders for selfish reasons.

    “Kaiama will no longer tolerate the heartless deceit and neglect of her development, particularly infrastructure, health and education.

    “Kaiama community, having considered all her interest, has decided not only to stand with Buhari but to also support APC at all levels in the 2019 elections.

    “Any attempt to manipulate or intimidate our community in the 2019 elections will be met with stiff coordinated resistance.”