As Kwara State warms up for the governorship election, eyes are on three candidates-Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed(All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Simeon Ajibola (Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Dr. Mike Omotoso (Labour Party). Correspondent ADEKUNLE JIMOH writes on their strengths and weaknesses as well as the issues that will shape the contest.
The race to Kwara State Government House has begun. The contest is between Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Senator Simeon Ajibola of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The two candidates are from Kwara South Senatorial District. Ahmed is from Igbomina. Ajibola is Ekiti.
Before the emergence of Ajibola as the standard bearer of the PDP, his party was enmeshed in a crisis. The party primaries were rancorous. The first shadow poll, which took place in December last year, was inconclusive. It was alleged that some powerful forces wanted to impose an anointed candidate. Eleven out of 12 aspirants cried foul. Ajibola, who has been elected senator thrice, was more vociferous. The aspirants accused the leadership of the party of scheming to impose a lawyer-turned politician on the chapter. However, when Ajibola emerged as the flag bearer, there was no jubilation in Kwara. The people did not take him serious.
To observers, Ahmed has a bright chance at the poll. His structure-the Saraki structure-is solid and waxing stronger. Ajibola had rode on the same machinery to the Senate. When he deserted the structure, he was also deserted by the people. In fact, many people believe that the election is a litmus test for the Saraki Dynasty. The governor, who spoke with reporters in Lagos, said the structure is tested, trusted, strong, steady and sturdy, adding that it is capable of effectively warding off threats from the opposition. The opposition can only ignore the potency of the structure to its peril.
However, Ajibola is optimistic. He defeated other aspirants at the primaries. These are former Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on National Assembly Matters, Senator Suleiman Ajadi (107 votes), former Chairman of the Federal Character Commission (FCC), Prof Shuaib Abdulraheem (58), ex-Minister of Transport, Alhaji Bio Ibrahim (45), son of late governor Mohammed Lawal, Hakeem (33), Deacon John Dara (27), Jani Ibrahim (16) and Sunday Babalola (three votes. Others are former Land and Housing Commissioner Kale Belgore (one vote) and Alhaji Abdullahi Sanusi (nil). The Chairman of the Electoral Panel, Governor Gabriel Suswam of Benue State, said the outcome of the primary was a demonstration of internal democracy in the PDP.
Accepting the ticket, Ajibola said: “We are all winners in this election as there is no victor, no vanquished in this Governorship Primary and indeed, in all primaries of PDP in Kwara.I urge that we should all work together to ensure that today’s victory translate into winning Kwara for PDP.”
In the ruling party, Ahmed had no rival at the primaries. Thus, his attention was not diverted by party intrigue. His party supported him for a second term. Kwara APC chieftains said the governor has lived up to expectation by implementing people-oriented programmes.
The seeming obstacle to Ahmed’s second term bid is the avowed determination of the Presidency to “recover” Kwara State from the APC.
But, APC leaders have predicted that the federal might will collapse in Kwara. They explained that the Saraki Dynasty will survive by winning the election as a tribute to its founder and the strongman of Kwara politics, the late Dr. Olusola Saraki. Like his illustrious father, Dr. Bukola Saraki has not relented in paying prompt attention to peoples’ welfare like his father did when he was alive. Also, APC leaders have also endeared themselves to the populace by always making themselves available, whether there is election or not, thereby ministering to their needs.
Senator Bukola Saraki has been sponsoring both Christians and Muslims in large numbers on pilgrimages to Israel and Saudi Arabia, apart from empowering women with fridges, grinding machines, and cash to enable them start small businesses. Recently, Saraki also committed N80 million to the provision of Ramadan gifts to Muslims in the state, irrespective of ethnic and political affiliations.
Kwara has become a huge construction site under the Ahmed Administration. There were also monumental infrastructural projects executed by Saraki during his eight-year tenure as state governor. The former governor had turned Ilorin, the state capital to a modern and commercial centre. Ahmed has kept the vision alive by empowering transporters, students, youths, artisans and farmers. He has also tried to create employment opportunities for youths.
The recent introduction of “Quickwin” Programme through which thousands of youths were engaged bears testimony to this claim. Before the end of last year, government had planned to engage over 8,000 youths under this scheme. Many indigenes have hailed the initiative.
The landmark achievements of Governor Ahmad between 2011 and now include employment of 10, 200 youths, empowerment of 41, 000 small business owners, provision of 100 taxis to transporters, fees reduction at the state university, abolition of tuition fees in Senior Secondary Schools, free notebooks for senior secondary students, 13 General hospitals equipped and 42 Primary Health centres rehabilitated, construction and rehabilitation of urban and rural roads.
The governor has also expanded water supply. He has created a new generation of commercial farmers, connected 400 communities to the national grid and extended a globally-applauded community Health Insurance Scheme to cover about 80,000 Kwara indegenes.
In the opinion of many stakeholders, Ahmed is a youth-friendly governor. He is perceived as a focused administrator. He started earning those credentials within weeks of taking office, with the engagement of 2,000 youths through Kwara Bridge Empowerment Scheme (KWABES).
Not only did the government engaged 5, 000 youths under the scheme in three years, 2,000 of them are now in permanent employment in the civil service. It is on record that the state government has never defaulted in the payment of salaries since its inception.
Despite the shortfall in the federal allocation to the state, the government is still able to pay civil servants and pensioners their monthly salaries promptly on the 25th of every month.
The Ahmed Administration has also established International Vocational Centre in Ajase-Ipo, Kwara South,s to train youths on various vocational skill that could make them self-employed and employers of labour after the completion of their courses.
The Harmony Advanced Medical Diagnostic Centre, the International Aviation College, both in Ilorin, and the New Nigerian Commercial Farming initiative in Shonga, Edu Local Government Area are also worthy of applause.
The governor recently announced plans to upgrade 59 traditional institutions in the state. He also said that plans are in the offing to create local government development councils areas out of the existing 16 local governments. If the governor makes good his promise on the upgrading of traditional stools and the creation of more local government councils, that will give APC bloc votes from Kwara South and Kwara Central districts.
While the grading of traditional rulers are of paramount importance to the people of Kwara South, the people of Kwara Central have been yearning for the creation of additional councils out of the existing five councils in Ilorin Emirate. According to an observer, Ahmed worked and is still working as if he will not have a second chance. He added that, for every hard work, there is a reward.
But, Ajibola would have to depend largely on the support of the Presidency to make any appreciable impact in the election. The PDP candidate has never won any election without the support of the Saraki dynasty.
At a rally, Ajibola assured the people that his government would not discriminate against non-indigenes. He promised to liberate them from what he described as bondage under the Saraki hegemony. He said indigenes and non indigenes would be given equal rights and treatment as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution. “Whatever PDP government does for the state indigenes, would also be done for non indigenes”, Ajibola said.
Ajibola promised free education, old age security trust, and welfare for all. “Our free health service to children below the age of five years and free pre and post natal treatment for pregnant women would include non Indigenes in the state”, he added.
Dr Omotoso, a pharmacist, was adopted by the Labour Party (LP) its governorship candidate three weeks ago. He defected from the PDP, citing injustice. He complained that he was edged out of the House of Representatives primaries. He is popular for his medical mission under which no fewer than 5,000 people benefitted.
The medical mission covered basic health solutions to improve the quality of lives of the people in the rural areas with free diagnostics, expert advice and provisions of free drugs including wheelchairs to all and sundry.
The founder of Mike Omotosho Foundation also empowered women with N10 million micro credit loan scheme late last year. The Foundation has also trained 300 youths in Computer skills in Kwara South. But, Omotoso is perceived as an inexperienced politician. He lacks a rich political pedigree.
However, it is being insinuated in some quarters that Dr Omotoso has connection with President Goodluck Jonathan. He was the North Central Coordinator of Jonathan Actualisation Movement (JAM). While some political analysts argued that the pharmacist is out to scuttle the ambition of his kinsman, Ajibola, who was said to be instrumental to his failure in his National Assembly primaries.
