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  • Kwara PDP: A divided house

    Kwara PDP: A divided house

    Kwara State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is battling with multiple crises. The leadership squabble between  National Caretaker Committee (NCC) Chairman Senator Ahmed Makarfi and factional Chairman Senator Modu Sheriff has polarised the troubled chapter. Two factions, led by Iyiola Oyedepo and Sunday Fagbemi, are struggling for the soul of the party. Correspondent ADEKUNLE JIMOH reports that the future of the divided platform is bleak.

    The crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the national level is taking its toil on the Kwara State chapter. The party has been polarised into two seemingly irreconcilable groups-the Ahmed Makarfi and Senator Ali Modu Sheiff factions.

    The state congress held last year further polarised the party along Makarfi and Sheriff factions.

    The two factions, led by the former chairman of the party, Akogun Iyiola Oyedepo, and Prince Sunday Fagbemi, conducted parallel congresses at different venues in Ilorin, the state capital.

    During the exercise, some members of the party, particularly from Kwara central zone, cried foul, alleging the de-accreditation of their delegates.

    The factionalisation has dimmed the hope of a party that neither has any representative in the House of Assembly nor the National Assembly.

    Both Prince Fagbemi and Oyedepo are laying claims to the chairmanship. It appears they are not ready for reconciliation.

    Fagbemi, former Chairman of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), claimed that the congress, which produced him as the chairman, was witnessed by five out of the seven-man national electoral panel from Abuja.

    He said the representatives of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies also witnessed the congress, describing the congress of the other faction as mere affirmation.

    Fagbemi accused Oyedepo of imposition, intimidation and electoral malpractices, adding that some contestants were barred from the venue of the congress at Stella Obasanjo multipurpose hall, Ilorin.

    Fagbemi, who said the congresses at ward, local government and state government levels were manipulated, alleged that nomination forms and result sheets were made available to contestants favoured by Akogun Oyedepo.

    The PDP chieftain, who said the development led to a parallel state congress, described himself as the authentic chairman.

    He described the congress held by Akogun-led executive as pre-determined, pointing out that the delegates from eight local government areas  of Ilorin West, Ilorin South, Ilorin East, Asa, Moro, Offa, Isin and Ekiti were disallowed from participating in the congress.

    He said: “Efforts to correct the anomalies at different levels of the congress were rejected by the electoral panel. I had to force myself into the hall when about 29 contestants were prevented from entering the venue. The scenario led to riotous moment, sporadic gun shots by political thugs, tear gas and discovery of a vehicle laden with dangerous weapons, arms and ammunition at the Stella Obasanjo Hall.”

    Fagbemi lamented the turn of events in the Kwara PDP. He said the party was in agony because it has no legislator in the House of Assembly, the House of Representatives and the Senate.

    He also said efforts were not made to forge unity in the party by the  Oyedepo, adding that his supporters would not fold their arms and allow the party to be destroyed.

    Since the parallel congresses, the two factions have been trading tackles.  They have not sheathed their swords.

    Oyedepo has claimed that Fagbemi’s group was acting the script of some forces to destabilise the party.

    The crisis escalated when the Fagbemi group forced its way into the party’s secretariat along Asa Dam rRad in Ilorin metropolis.

    The group has since defied police directive to vacate the office, pending the resolution of the crisis brought to the state command’s attention by the Oyedepo group.

    Fagbemi, who lamented that the  Oyedepo faction had dragged him to the police command, following his faction’s take-over of the secretariat few weeks ago, said he would rather fear their wrath of his supporters than hed the police advice to leave the secretariat.

    The factional leader, who claimed that he has the support of about 85 percent of  party members, said, owing to the previous disappointment, it would be difficult to trust the police on issues affecting the other faction.

    His words: “Police are to defend us. During the last congress of the party held on May 5, 2016, a vehicle was impounded by the police. It was loaded with arms and ammunition. It was not an abandoned vehicle. People were arrested by the police over the discovery, but nothing has been heard about it.

    “How are we sure that, if we abide by the police request to vacate this secretariat, the other people won’t go through the back door and collect the key? I cannot be afraid of the police at the expense of our people.

    “When we came here, nobody broke any gate. There was no shooting of guns. The security guards opened the gate for us without let or hindrance because they knew we are members of the same party and if you want to enter your house, but you have lost the key, you must, of course, find other means of entering. This secretariat was secured through our collective efforts, but Oyedepo said the police must ask us to vacate while the peace talk is going on. Is that what we want?”

    Fagbemi also denied insinuations that his group was being sponsored to destabilise the PDP. He said party members should be wary of the Oyedepo faction whose leadership, he claimed, had their best political accomplishments through the instrumentality of Dr. Olusola Saraki.

    “The truth is that we have been tolerating these people because we believe we are members of the same party and we should find a way of resolving our differences. But, they are taking our docility for granted and we are not going to accept that again. Indeed, we are tired of them and by the next two weeks, let’s wait and see what the national leadership will do with them”.

    There appears to be no end in sight to the crisis rocking the chapter. The Oyedepo faction has accused Fagbemi’s group of acting the script of some unknown forces to destabilise the party.

    Oyedepo alleged that his faction had uncovered how Fagbemi’s group was hired to frustrate the vibrant and constructive opposition platform in the state.

    The Publicity Secretary of Oyedepo faction, Otunba Rex Olawoye, said it was shocking that the rival group, which claimed to be the authentic state leadership of the party, was in Ilorin causing chaos while Oyedepo was in Abuja attending the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the party.

    He said: “In October last year, some miscreants, led by one Sunday Fagbemi, invaded and occupied the PDP Office at Asa-Dam Road, Ilorin.

    “It is very amusing that the said group, led by Sunday Fagbemi, is claiming to have taken over the office of the PDP in the state.

    “On the said day, the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of our great party was in progress in Abuja with Chief Iyiola Oyedepo in attendance as the Chairman of the Kwara PDP. One would then wonder how the self-acclaimed Chairman in person of Sunday Fagbemi would remain in Ilorin, Kwara State causing crisis and chaos at the party office when such an important meeting was going on, the membership of which he is claiming as the state chairman.

    “If he truly has a right to occupy the office, is there no legitimate means of doing so? Must a self styled chairman invade the PDP office with hoodlums, molesting the staff members and damaging party property?

    “The election to the party offices took place in April, 2016. Is Sunday Fagbemi just waking up from his dream to realise that he won an election? Just the way he did three days after the same election was concluded before he declared himself as the elected chairman. This he did when he had willingly, in the midst of hundreds of our party delegates, stepped down at the election venue when his failure was imminent.

    “We appeal to our loyal party members and supporters to remain calm as we have found out that Fagbemi and his group were engaged to frustrate the vibrant and constructive opposition being provided by our party through its viable organs.

    Olawoye added: “We plead to the general public to disregard all unwholesome activities of these disgruntled elements as we are undeterred by their actions. We have made formal complaints to all relevant authorities in order to avert breakdown of law and order. It is expected that they would act appropriately on this matter.

    “We members of the PDP under Akogun Iyiola Oyedepo remain resolute in our determination to provide very commendable, vibrant and constructive opposition to the ruling party without minding any form of detraction purposely packaged to frustrate and intimidate us through some disgruntled elements among us.”

    Analysts have posited that the PDP crisis  at the national and state levels have deprived the party PDP of offering credible, vibrant and critical opposition to the ruling APC in the state.

    The crisis,  if it is not nipped in the bud, will weaken the chance, hope and aspirations of the party in future elections in the state.

    The APC is waxing stronger in Kwara. This is soley due to the solid political structure of the late Olusola Saraki. The dynasty has been solidified by his son, Senate President Bukola Saraki. A united PDP cannot withstand its onslaught. But, now that the PDP has been weakened by its protracted crisis, it faces a bleak future in the Northcentral state.

  • Kwara gets N3.7b from London-Paris Club refund

    Kwara gets N3.7b from London-Paris Club refund

    The Kwara State government has acknowledged the receipt of N3.7 billion from the Federal Government, being the balance of its 25 per cent share of the London-Paris Club refund.
    The state, last year, got N5.1 billion from the refund.
    Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed has, subsequently, directed the release of N2 billion to the 16 local councils and State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB). This, according, to the governor, will enable the councils and SUBEB clear parts of their salary and pension arrears.
    Commissioner for Finance Demola Banu, who stated this in Ilorin, noted that the government’s account was credited 5pm on Monday.
    Banu hoped the release of the N2 billion to the councils would bring some succour to their workers, who are owed backlog of arrears.

  • Adamawa, Borno, Gombe, Bauch, Kwara unfold plans to turn around economy through agriculture

    Some state governments across the country have highlighted some measures aimed at improving agricultural production in 2017, following the current economic recession, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

    Some of the state governments have concluded plans to turn to agriculture through the initiation of diverse policies to boost their economy and create job opportunities.

    Some respondents, government officials and other stakeholders, made this known in separate interviews with NAN in Bauchi, Maiduguri, Gombe, Yola and Kwara among others.

    They said the move was necessitated by the bitter experience of 2016, when the cost of staple food items rose astronomically beyond the reach of ordinary Nigerians.

    Most of the state governments in the country have also keyed into Federal Government’s Agricultural Programmes, especially the Anchor Borrowers Scheme.

    Gov. Mohammed Abubakar of Bauchi State said government had concluded arrangements to purchase grains to cushion the effects of price fluctuations on farmers’ income and also store for future sales to people at subsidised rates.

    Abubakar, who stated this while presenting the 2017 budget to the State Assembly, added that there are plans to establish farm training centres and demonstration farms in the state.

    He also said that part of the agricultural programmes of the state for the 2017 was the empowerment of youth in irrigation agriculture at Wata dam irrigation project in Bauchi South, Galala dam irrigation project in Bauchi Central and Adalda irrigation scheme in Bauchi North.

    Abubakar further said that the state government had keyed into the Federal Governments Anchor Borrowers Programme (ABP).

    The Director of Agricultural Services, Bauchi State Ministry of Agriculture, Alhaji Suleiman Ningi, told NAN that the state government would invest over N150 million to support 30,000 farmers under the ABP.

    ‘’The Bauchi State government would pay the sum of N150 million to commercial banks, so as to ease bank charges and further empower youths and the farmers.

    ‘’Farmers are to cultivate rice and wheat during the dry season, while for the rainy season, farmers are expected to cultivate rice and maize,’’ he said.

    The Borno State government said it earmarked about N7.72 billion to enhance various agricultural programmes in the post-insurgency era.

    Goernor Kashim Shettima said at the 2017 budget presentation that the amount would be used to revolutionised farming as well as provide enabling environment for food production, maintenance of plantation sites and introduction of new crop varieties.

    ‘’Government will provide adequate farm machinery and other inputs to boost agricultural activities, while all Counterpart funds for NPFS, IFAD and Fadama III programmes shall be paid to access more fund.

    ‘’We have instituted several agricultural policies and activities in the State in order to encourage farming activities,’’ he said.

    According to him, about 1,000,000 seedlings of cashew, 500 seedlings of Date Palm and 7500 seedlings of improved variety of citrus, as well as 21,000 mango seedlings have been raised.

    He said this was in addition to the cultivation of 35 hectares of ginger crop at Kidang, Biu Zone as a pilot farm

    and the establishment of 200 hectares of plantation each at Tamsu, Kawu, Mainta Kururi, Mainok and Auno towns.

    ‘’Furthermore, assorted seeds of arable crops were procured and distributed to farmers at no cost, while NPK fertiliser was sold at highly subsidised rate to farmers in the Southern part of the state.

     

  • Kwara PDP to challenge TICs in court

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State is set to challenge the legality of the inauguration of Transition Implementation Committees (TICs) in the 16 local governments.

    Chairman, Mr. Iyiola Oyedepo, spoke in a statement yesterday after a meeting of critical party stakeholders.

    “We believe that all forms of illegality committed by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) should be challenged in court.

    “When the state government illegally extended the tenure of officials of Offa local government, we challenged it in court.

    “It was the decision of the government to nominate caretaker committees into the 16 councils that rendered nugatory the action taken,” Oyedepo said.

    According to the chairman, the implementation of the TICs was illegal and this informed the party’s resort to legal process.

    “The decision of the state government to appoint the TICs to oversee affairs of our councils is unconstitutional and, therefore, illegal.

    “Legal challenge as an instrument of political resistance in opposition politics was part of what we discussed at the meeting.

    “We are armed with plethora of legal authorities that can be used to effectively stop them,” he added.

    The chairman noted that the party had perfected the legal papers and assembled a team of lawyers for the task.

  • The alleged lopsidedness in Buhari’s anti-corruption war is blackmail -80-yr-old Kwara Reformed Movement leader Amuda Aluko

    Octogenarian medical doctor and Tafida of Ilorin, Dr Amuda Aluko, believes the nation’s current economic predicament is a result of greed and selfishness  on the part of the country’s leaders. The proprietor of Geri-Alimi Hospital, the first private hospital in Ilorin, Kwara State capital, speaks on the formation of Kwara Reformed Movement (KRM), which he leads; his membership of the governing boards of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) and University of Nigeria (UNN) as well as the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and his take on the anti-corruption war, the PDP crisis and the goings on in the judiciary, among other national issues. 

    How old are you now?

    I actually don’t know my real age. But I should be about 80 years old. In real sense, age is no longer on my side. But I thank God I am enjoying good health.

    How long have you practised as a medical doctor?

    I have plied the trade for about 50 years. I was in government service for many years. In fact, I worked in so many government hospitals in northern Nigeria. I have been lucky and privileged to serve the Federal Government in various capacities too. I have served as a member of the national board of the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC), member of the Governing Council of University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) for seven years, member of the Governing Council of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) for four years, chairman scholarship board and so on.

    I attended the then middle school, now Government Secondary School (GSS) Ilorin and Barewa College Zaria, Kano Medical School, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and a fellow of the National Post-Graduate Medical College of Nigeria. I established Geri-Alimi Hospital which has been serving my community. The hospital is recognised by the national post-graduate college of Nigeria and I am appointed a trainer in family medicine.

    Do you have any regrets in life?

    I am grateful to Almighty God for He has always been by my side. I have no cause for regret in my life so far. In fact, Geri-Alimi Hospital was to be established in Kano because I took the loan from the then Bank of the North. I thank God I have paid it off. I was persuaded not to go to Kano. Certainly I have no regrets coming home because there was nothing I needed that I was not given, and it pleased the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Sulu-Gambari, to give me the Tafida of Ilorin. It also pleased former President Goodluck Jonathan to give me a national honour as a member of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR).

    What gave rise to the formation of the Kwara Reformed Movement?

    There used to be one at the national level called the National Reformed Movement. Even about two years before the 2015 presidential election, National Reformed Movement members made up their minds after so many considerations to support the candidature of now President Muhammadu Buhari. Members of the national reformed movement are not picked on state basis. In fact, there were states that did not have nominees for the movement. But I was privileged to be picked and we were asked to go out and spread the gospel, which we did. Thank God, President Muhammadu Buhari is in the saddle. It just occurred to me to talk to like-minds that the movement is geared towards development, enlightenment, improving the lot of the common man and creating awareness so that we can have good governance.

    Unfortunately, some of the crops of our leaders today appear to be criticising the Federal Government for no just cause, because majority of them, particularly those in the Senate, are former governors. And most of these states could not afford to pay workers’ salaries. I read in the papers that during the last administration, there was excess crude oil money and the state governments had to drag the Federal Government to court and the money was shared. They refused to save for the rainy day. Nigeria was virtually at a crossroads even before Buhari took over. It is just like an old wine in a new bottle.

    Kwara Reformed Movement is out to create awareness, and we are out to ensure sincerity and good governance. We are trying to be the mouthpiece of the common man. We are not out to criticise but to remind our leaders that they are there to represent out interests. Today, majority of our leaders, apart from being greedy, are selfish. I am appealing to them to remember that one day, they will be answerable to the Almighty God. It is never too late to make a change.

    I am also appealing to all Nigerians to cooperate with the present administration so that recession can become a thing of the past. I also want to remind the present administration that a hungry man is an angry man. Efforts should be geared towards getting us out of this recession as quickly as possible. I am positive that if we all cooperate with the administration, for sure, we shall get out of the current bondage. I believe God will help Nigeria out.

    On the alleged lopsidedness of Buhari’s anti-corruption war, I have asked myself that question before. If they are sure that X and Y are corrupt, they should make it known. It is no use grumbling privately. If you have a mission and you are determined with the help of God that you want to accomplish the mission, God is always on your side. I look at the alleged lopsidedness of the anti-corruption crusade of Buhari by his critics as mere blackmail. That is a careless talk.

    I think I read in one of the dailies that in fighting corruption and the insurgents in the North-East, Buhari has done well, but he has no answer to the economy. My reaction is that he is a human being, so he is not expected to know everything. Honestly, when you are a good leader, you look for those that will help your government. Unfortunately, they are making things difficult for him at the National Assembly. When they send names for confirmation, the legislators will reject the names on alleged inadequate consultations. Must the president consult anybody? Constitutionally, he has the right to appoint anybody anywhere to assist his administration. If there is good governance, everybody will benefit. If it is the other way round, we are in trouble.

    What is your take on the alleged corruption in the judiciary?

    The day I read in the papers that the houses of some judges were raided and they discovered huge sums of money, I felt terribly unhappy. Because judges, from what I was told, their salaries are for life with other appurtenances of office. Then what do they need money for again? It shows that they are ungodly. Many people cannot even afford two square meals in a day, yet they are keeping such huge amounts of money in their houses and bank accounts.

    Well, we are still learning. I hope those who are there now and those who will step into their shoes as judges will learn to uphold integrity. If your name is sellable, there is nothing you cannot get in this country.

    What are your observations on the Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed-led administration in Kwara State?

    All I can say now is that it is important that the needs of the people are accorded utmost priority always. You may build an Aviation College, a flyover bridge, a special stadium and an underpass. Of course, I am not saying we don’t need them. But are they on our priority list? We don’t have adequate pipe borne water. Majority of Kwarans rely on wells and boreholes. The basic necessities of life should be considered first.

    The proposed underpass at the Geri-Alimi Roundabout in Ilorin is not necessary. Instead, government should construct feeder roads. The underpass will only aggravate traffic congestion in the area. Look at the amount of traffic in Abuja; it is because of so many roads. Look at the flyover at the Post Office area of the town; it has not reduced traffic jam in that axis at all. As far as I am concerned, honestly, I would prefer them mending all the potholes.

    What do you think is responsible for the crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at national and state levels?

    In politics, there is no permanent enemy and there is no permanent friend but permanent interest. Majority these days are in politics to amass wealth. They are not interested in serving like our former leaders. Because if they are interested in serving, there won’t be crisis. Whether it is Amodu Sheriff or Ahmed Makarfi, does it really matter? But if they want to use that position to amass wealth for themselves and a limited number of their followers, then there will be crisis.

    The PDP used to be the largest political party in Africa, and they had a lot of money. The bottom line is that people are not ready to respect the provisions of the constitution of the party.

  • OPC applauds Buhari for dislodging Boko Haram

    OPC applauds Buhari for dislodging Boko Haram

    The Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) in Kwara has commended President Muhammadu Buhari and the Nigeria military over their victory against Boko Haram insurgents in Sambisa forest in Borno.
    Mr Maruf Olanrewaju, the Coordinator of OPC made the commendation in an interview with newsmen in Ilorin on Wednesday.
    Olanrewaju said that the Federal Government deserved to be lauded for the destruction of the insurgents base, which he said, signalled their defeat in Borno.
    He said the feat was in line with the electioneering campaign of the president, and urged the military personnel, who he said, made the victory possible,  not to relent in their efforts to finally dislodge the group from the country.
    The OPC leader asserted that the congress would continue to partner with security agencies to ensure that the remnants of Boko Haram did not regroup and infiltrate the society.
    He also called on the public to be very vigilant with those coming in and out of their neighbourhoods in order not to give space to the fleeing insurgents. 
  • Kwara to spend N450m on solar power in hospitals.

    Kwara to spend N450m on solar power in hospitals.

    The Kwara Government has released N450 million for the provision of solar power in all state-owned General Hospitals across the three senatorial districts.

    The state Commissioner for Health, Alhaji Atolagbe Alege disclosed this in llorin on Tuesday during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

    The Commissioner said this was part of an effort to enhance health care service delivery in the state and also to ensure an uninterrupted power supply.

    Alege explained that the solar power project would pave way for efficiency and productivity in all the hospitals.

    He added that the new project will afford the medical personnel the opportunity to provide patients with effective intensive care services.

    Similarly, the commissioner disclosed that Gov. AbdulFatah Ahmed had approved the release of N250 million for the successful take-off of Health Insurance Scheme in the llorin Emirate

    He said the interested beneficiaries must register with N500 to access treatment.

    He enjoined the people of the state to take advantage of the facilities and services available in the hospitals to take care of their health.

  • Cultism attracts 10- year jail term in Kwara

    Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed has warned youths in the state to eschew cultism.

    He added that anyone found guilty of involvement in cultism and other related activities risks a 10-year jail term, rustication and fine.

    Ahmed said this in Ilorin at the 23rd Combined Convocation of Kwara State Polytechnic.

    He said: “Let me draw your attention to a growing social problem.  While most students are responsible and focused on achieving success in their education, a small minority choose to indulge in negative and criminal behaviour such as cultism.

    “Let me make this very clear. My administration has no tolerance for cultism and related activities within and outside academic institutions. Anyone found guilty of involvement in such illegality risks a 10-year jail term, a hefty fine and rustication.

    “Consequently, parents, guardians and other members of society must keep an eye on their wards and report unusual behaviour or movement to security agencies for investigation.”

    He advised tertiary institutions in the country to make entrepreneurship a compulsory rather than elective first year course.

    He also urged the polytechnic to be innovative in solving technological problems.

    “I therefore, encourage the polytechnic to continue to embark on technological innovations that will address our numerous socio-economic problems and exploit emerging opportunities by partnering with the private sector in order to access funding for their research and a market for your innovations.

    “The boom in Nigeria’s information and communications technology sector is an example of the relevance of technology in economic advancement and employment generation,” he said.

    Earlier, the Rector of the institution, Alhaji Masud Elelu, said no fewer than 48,761 students graduated with National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND).

  • Kwara: Two men, shared destiny

    Last week, a long-time friend with whom I operated closely as chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists, Lagos State Council, visited me in Ilorin. It was a great reunion which afforded us an opportunity to catch up on the past given the fact that this golden comrade has been out of Nigeria for a long time. Thus, we reviewed politics, policies, elections and sports. Almost everything that caught our fancy, but more importantly those things we consider dear to our commitments.

    Expectedly, one of the topics that featured prominently in the just two days my London-based friend spent with me was the Saraki factor in Nigeria and Kwara politics. “The man is seen as an oppressor. People say he’s arrogant, too rigid, never smiling, never mixing with the people he calls his followers”, my friend cried out as if that was his mission for the visit. He concluded with the big question “why?”

    But I was not surprised with this kind of jaundiced and skewed perception about the Senate President. I have had to contend with such insinuations, even as the chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Lagos State Council. They are contemptuous biases against perceived northern hegemony by elements outside the zone. Way back in 1992, a friend in Lagos had once queried why the late Dr Abubakar Olusola Saraki was still in politics. “The same reasons why Chief Obafemi Awolowo died in politics,” I answered him simplicita. They both had the mission to work for a better country.

    So, today, I’m not rattled that similar questions are being asked about his son.  “That’s the impression some people want others to have about Saraki. If you accuse him of being an oppressor, the question is, in what ways? Is it by assisting and supporting people who ordinarily would never have thought of being where today are because of their background of being children of the less privileged?

    In the political system of South-west today, is it possible to remove the Awolowo factor? How was Awo able to dominate the politics of the region despite the various opposition antics? Was it not because he met the needs of the people through policies and programmes? The opposition saw his hold on the region as oppressive too, but his people knew he was a God-sent.”

    “Look, take it or leave,” I continued, “Asiwaju Tinubu remains a credible rallying point for the South-west progressive political elites. He represents the voice of major of the voiceless. His generosity and care for the downtrodden endear him to the majority of the people. His knowledge of humanity which made him identify the enormous potentials in an Osinbajo, a Fashola, an Ambode, a Lai Muhammed and a host of other gifted politicians, is awesome. Those who distanced themselves from him may continue to vilify him, but those who have shared strategic sessions with him know his love for his people.

    “The same with Saraki and Kwara. His opponents would continue to cry and give him all sorts of names, but the people on ground, who daily, in one way or the other, are exposed to his impacts will continue to queue behind him, come rain, come sun. That’s the truth.” I said. A number of professionals, technocrats, academia, artisans, including the men on the street have found their ways to the heights of their competences through his benevolence.

    I asked my friend to let’s visit some communities in Kwara Central senatorial district where Saraki’s constituency projects are ongoing. How many of his ilk are doing that? What of his current empowerment programme? How many of those who accuse him of oppression are doing one tenth of that? It is easier to tag someone like Saraki as an oppressor because that simply gives his opposition something to latch on.

    At the accusation that he frowns all the time, I smiled and asked him if a man should laugh just for him to be seen as so doing. Again, come to think of it – those who make such pedestrian allegation, how many times have they had personal contacts with him? And let’s even assume this to be true without conceding, is it by smiling that you help your people? Those who claim to have the capacity to laugh and hug the masses, how many have they lifted up in life? Why is it that the masses keep flocking to the house of a man “without a smile”? Why do they snide at the men with smiles plastered on their faces and inviting them to come? Could it be that these poor masses can detect the difference between a genuine smile and a cosmetic one? Why do these so called “smilers” run away with their smiles at the end of every election in the state, because I am sure that allegation is coming from their quarter?

    I told my friend to discard that allegation.

    And then he landed on my boss, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed. Why is he not in charge of Kwara State, he asked.

    “Who told you the governor is not in charge here?” I asked. “Of course, to the opposition, he’s not in charge because he pledges allegiance to his political leader. He’s not in control because they expected him to steer political crises in the state; of course, that’s where political jobbers eke out their living. Governor Ahmed is not in charge because he’s desirous of leaving a positive footstep in the political and economic history of the state. He’s well focused on what he needs to do within the privileged time he has to be at the helms of affairs in the state,” I told Idrees, my friend.

    “The truth is,” I continued, “only a God-fearing mam, conscious of posterity, will behave the way of Governor Ahmed. There are very few of such men around. Most are pretentious and deceitful. They dress in borrowed ropes to get want they wanted and become their true self, traitors. Go and inquire from his cabinet members and aides and get to know the truth instead of accepting mere speculations. Governor Ahmed is fully in charge of the administration of the state,” I emphasised.

    The truth many are not willing to accept in our evolving democracy is that leadership would keep emerging and allegiance would keep evolving.  It is all part of politics. We should not see loyalty as a negative quality but rather as a virtue. Personally, for instance, I’m not very comfortable with what some APC leaders in the South-west are doing in this regard. No matter the offence or misunderstanding, virtue does not teach us to throw mud at our destiny helpers. Saraki is a destiny helper for Ahmed and none of the Holy Books teaches us to treat such men with disdain just because we are in a position of honour today. Dr Ahmed is a study in humility, resourcefulness and loyalty. Dr Ahmed initiates and implements policies and programmes of his administration and fully takes responsibility for the results.

    In any case, the truth that I know is that Saraki is too busy in Abuja than dictate to Ilorin. Governor Ahmed is too loyal to his conscience than block lines of communication between him and Saraki or deny his leadership. The earlier some people realise and accept this, the better.

    As both celebrate their birthdays this month, please, accept my warmest regards and that of my family.

    • Oba is Chief Pres Secretary to Governor Ahmed.

  • Kwara to renovate 420 classrooms

    The Kwara State government will soon begin renovation of 420 classrooms across the 16 local government areas of the state.

    Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed said this while addressing members of the All Progressives Congress at the monthly stakeholders meeting in Ilorin, the state capital.

    He added that the schools have been selected and will be given face-lift to provide conducive environment for teaching and learning.

    He promised to complete all ongoing projects as part of his efforts to provide quality and necessary infrastructure in the state.

    Ahmed assured party members that the government would continue to pay contractors through the Kwara Infrastructure Fund (IF-K) with a view to completing projects on schedules.

    On the N5 billion London and Paris Club loan refunds received by the government, Governor Ahmed said about two billion naira had been released for the 16 LGAs and colleges of education to augment payment of their salaries.