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Tag: Kwarans

  • We won’t fail Kwarans, says Kwara dep gov-elect

    Kwara State Deputy Governor-elect Kayode Alabi has promised that the incoming administration of the governor-elect, Alhaji AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, will not fail the state when it is eventually sworn-in on Wednesday.

    Although he said the first battle of election had been won, he urged the residents to still pray consistently “because there is still a battle ahead, as the people we will take over from will not rest”.

    Alabi, who spoke at the interdenominational thanksgiving service and special prayers organised for him at the First ECWA Church, Taiwo Isale, Ilorin, the state capital, yesterday by the state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), regretted that despite the state’s abundant resources, it remains one of the most backward in the country.

    He, however, promised that the incoming administration would “show love to all the residents, irrespective of party affiliation”, regretting that absence of love between the past and present administrations and the residents was responsible for the glaring division between the rich and the poor.

    Alabi, who attended the service with his wife, Tokunbo, and his children, noted that an unidentified ambassador he was once introduced to stared at him for about 15 minutes before he eventually said “you Kwarans are lucky because you have been liberated”.

    He said another seven hours of praise worship is underway in June.

    In his message entitled, “Resolving to make a difference”, the 90-year-old former secretary of the state CAN, Pa O. Ajolore, appealed to the incoming administration to run an all-inclusive government that will look for the best hands to move the State of Harmony forward.

    According to him, the “O to ge” mantra that made the All Progressive Congress (APC) win all the elections was a protest by the people against the present and past maladministration in the state.

  • Kwarans in Lagos endorse Abdulrazaq

    Political slogans are easy to discredit, if the forces behind them are just the run-of-the-mill politicians. But, experience has shown that slogans, which become street language and resonate with all segments of the society may be hard to put down.

    This seems to be the situation in  Kwara State where O to ge (enough is enough), a political slogan adopted by the main opposition APC, appears to have assumed a life of its own among Kwarans at home and abroad. The term simply means that the people have had enough of the political leadership of Senator Bukola Saraki who the opposition accuses of stifling development and growing his political dynasty at the expense of the state. Saraki’s followers have responded to the increasingly popular lingo with another refrain Otunya, which means ‘onward with Saraki’s rule’.

    However, the O to ge movement seems to be gaining more grounds with prominent apolitical groups, and individuals expressing tacit support for a new dawn in Kwara. In a video that has gone viral on the social media, revered head of the Markaz Islamic and Arabic Centre Agege Sheikh Habeebullah Adam el-ilory was seen saying the Sarakis are not the only ones in Kwara and time is indeed ripe for a change of guard.

    “Many Kwarans condemned Mohammed Lawal in 2003, but it is now clear that they had made a wrong choice of a new leader. Lawal had his own shortcomings, which I told him one-on-one. But, the difference between him and the current political leadership is clear. So, others should now be given a chance to run the state too,” the scholar said at a recent lecture in Ilorin.

    Qomorudeen Ayeloyun, a multiple award-winning Islamic singer and Ilorin indigenes, has also released a video clip condemning, the “stagnation and stunted growth” in Kwara.

    “We have heard enough. O to ge, oh my God, it is enough. This state has remained the same in terms of lack of development and creativity in governance. We must move on now,” he said.

    This lamentation appears to be a global phenomenon among Kwarans, especially non-politicians. The old and young shout O to ge everywhere in the state,. especially during recent political rallies..

    The icing on the cake was the unanimous endorsement penultimate Sunday of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq by the Kwarans in Lagos, an adhoc amalgam of indigenes of Kwara in the country’s commercial capital and environs.

    The Teslim Balogun Stadium venue of the event was filled to the brim as indigenes of the state gathered in honour of AbdulRazaq. Attendees included businessmen and women, professionals, academics, artisans, broadcasters and famous artistes such as Saheed Balogun, Wasiu Sodiq, and Ibrahim Labaeka.

    Some of other prominent personalities at the event included AbdulRazaq himself; House of Representatives member Tunji Olawuyi; Muhammad Dele Belgore SAN; Barrister Kunle Sulaiman; Senator Khairat Gwadabe; former information commissioner AbdulRaheem Adedoyin; House of Assembly member Saheed Popoola; and former local government chairmanship candidate for Ilorin West Musibau Eshinrogunjo..

    Sodiq, one of Nigeria’s most famous Islamic singers and an indigene of Kwara, said the state must turn the page on a political model that “strips our people of their humanity while the state remains stagnant like a pond.”

    Abdul Muyideen Akorede, coordinator of Kwarans in Lagos coalition, said the event was symbolic as it was the first time indigenes of the state in the diaspora will speak with one voice on the political situation back home.

    “We have resolved to end the tyranny in our state Kwara. The state must be saved from the clutches of oppression. No physical development, no companies, infrastructure is zero. It’s time we ended this. O to ge,” he said, backing AbdulRazaq’s aspiration.

    “Kwarans in Lagos and the diaspora express their unflinching support for this movement. Kwarans are not lazy. We are a productive people and we condemn the underdevelopment in our state. Our support is contingent on the condition that the new administration will do things differently. On behalf of Kwarans, I assure you of our unflinching support. We will mobilise our people to vote for you in the polls.”

     

  • Kwarans ‘ll no longer be panhandlers —Minister

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has called for unity, sacrifice and commitment from all stakeholders in order to put Kwara State on the path of good governance and also win the state for President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2019 elections.

    The minister, who made the call at a stakeholders’ meeting organized by the Congress of Kwara Progressives in Ilorin on Thursday, said the time was ripe for the people of Kwara to take back their state from plunderers.

    ‘’What an auspicious time for all of us! Never before have we had a great opportunity like we have now to take our state back from the rapacious few, who have held the state by the jugular and prevented it from meeting the hopes and aspirations of its people.

    ‘’From my consultations with key stakeholders so far, I can say, categorically, that Kwarans have all resolved to take their destiny into their own hands and take back what rightly belongs to them. This is unprecedented in the history of our state, and we must not waste this opportunity,’’ he said.

    Alhaji Mohammed stressed the need for unity on the part of the people, saying ‘’if we all remain united, we can’t and we won’t lose the looming battle for the survival of our dear state. All that is required is for us all to subordinate our individual ambitions to the collective efforts to wrest our state from the hegemony of one man and his cohorts’’.

    He said that, on his part, he would be running for any office during the forthcoming elections, adding: ‘’For me, it is not about any clamour for office. It is about working with all like minds for the greater benefit of our people.’’

    The minister warned that the battle ahead would not be easy, and that those who are opposed to change in the state will deploy all strategies, including blackmail, to retain their stranglehold on power

    ‘’Make no mistake about it, the battle ahead will be tough. No one with power will ever give it up easily. But the power of the people supersedes all powers. That’s why I am delighted, and indeed encouraged, that the good people of our state, whether from the North, South or Central, are all united in their singular determination to rescue their state from the grinding poverty, monumental misgovernance and the general state of funk that has enveloped it,” he said.

    Alhaji Mohammed said it is a mere blackmail to say he does not like the people of Ilorin, and went ahead to enumerate his antecedents, which include actively supporting an Ilorin indigene for governor in 2011.

  • Lai Mohammed: Kwarans ready to wrest power from Saraki

    •Minister inaugurates road rehabilitation in Oro

    Minister of Information and Culture Lai Mohammed has said Kwarans are set to wrestle power from the Saraki dynasty in 2019.

    According to him,  Kwarans are now more united to rescue the state from grinding poverty and mis-governance.

    Mohammed, who spoke in Ilorin at a political summit, said in the new dispensation, every Kwaran will count and have a voice.

    He said: “The resources of Kwara will be used for the development of the state and its people. Never again will our people be turned to panhandlers; never again will our people eat crumbs from the master’s table.

    “Never before have we had an opportunity like this to take our state back from the rapacious few, who have held it by the jugular and prevented it from meeting the hopes and aspirations of its people.

    “From my consultations with stakeholders, I can say categorically that Kwarans have resolved to take their destiny into their hands, and take back what rightly belongs to them. This is unprecedented in the history of our state, and we must not waste this opportunity.

    “If we all remain united, we can’t and we won’t lose the battle for the survival of our dear state. All that is required is for us to subordinate our individual ambitions to the collective efforts, work to wrest our state from the hegemony of one man and his cohorts.

    “On my own part, I can say here, without equivocating, that I won’t be running for any office in the coming elections. For me, it is not about any clamour for office; it is about working with like minds for the greater benefit of our people. Make no mistake about it, the battle ahead will be tough; no one with power gives up easily.

    “But the power of the people supersedes all powers. That’s why I am delighted and encouraged that our people are united in their determination to rescue their state from the grinding poverty, monumental mis-governance and the state of funk that has enveloped it.

    “They say I do not like Ilorin people; but what they do not know is that no amount of cheap blackmail will deter us. The people of Ilorin should know who their friends are; I do not hate them.”

    The Minister yesterday inaugurated the rehabilitation of township roads in Oro, his home town.

    Mohammed said the project is the dividend of democracy to his people and an attestation of President Muhammadu Buhari’s committment to infrastructural development.

    He said: “We came to inaugurate the rehabilitation of Oro township road. When we said the contract had been awarded, some people were in doubt. We thank God that we are witnessing its inauguration today.”

    Mohammed appealed to the people, particularly the youths, to give the contractor the chance to deliver the project on time.

    “We appeal to you that no one should exploit the contractor by asking for money before working,” he added.

     

  • Offa robbery: Kwarans in heated debate over Saraki-police rift

    Prominentb Kwarans and residents were yesterday in heated debate over  the probe of the allegations made against Senate President Bukola Saraki by suspects robbery suspects in the April 5 Offa bank robbery.

    Thirty three persons including nine policemen were killed. Millions of naira was stolen by the gang. 22 people are in the police net over the bloody robbery.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the police had initially invited Saraki for interrogation before soft pedalling to request for only a written explanation within 48 hours.

    Also linked to the suspects is Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed following alleged claims by the suspects that they were political thugs working for the duo.

    Both the senate president and the governor dismissed the allegations as an attempt to frame them.

    Many Kwarans expressed support for the police in the ongoing investigation and have called on Saraki to respond to the allegations made against him in order to clear his name.

    Others dismissed the allegations, saying they were aimed at tarnishing the image of the senate president and the governor of his home state.

    The respondents  spoke to NAN in separate interviews in Ilorin.

    Dr Amuda Aluko, an elder statesman,  said it would  be better for the senate president to respond to the police request in order to clear his name.

    Aluko, the Tafida of Ilorin, who  was of the view that Saraki could  never be involved in robbery, however, said it had become expedient  for him  to clear his name since he was allegedly mentioned by the suspects.

    He said his Kwara Liberation Group had spoken out about a week ago urging Nigerians to  allow the police carry out their  duty on the case of  cultists transferred to Abuja from the state.

    Prof. Suleiman Abubakar, a former Minister of National Planning, was of the view that “ if the senate president has  no skeleton in his cupboard, he should honour police invitation to clear his name.’’

    According to him, the claim by the  suspects that they have links with the senate president makes it imperative that Saraki avails  himself of the opportunity offered by the police  to clear his name.

    Prof . Abdulwahab Egbewole of the Department of Law, University of Ilorin,  on his part,  warned  against “ the politicisation of   the lives of Nigerians.’’

    According to him, the  police have  the right  by law to investigate everybody.

    “From the trajectory of the matter, it is not regarded as purely a legal issue. It has some fundamental political undertones, ” he said.

    The don  said that from the alleged confession of the  Offa robbery suspects, it was revealed that Saraki gave a vehicle to a suspect.

    “They also alleged that he gave them guns;  they, however,  stated that he did not tell them to rob,’’ he said.

    He also argued that this may be seen as being an accessory to a particular crime in law.

    Egebwole, however,  pointed out that the anti-cultism law in Kwara  put in place by the Saraki administration  was the most stringent in the country.

    He wondered how “ a person who puts  in place such a law will now  go against it,’’  adding that  ” Saraki after all had  said he is ready to comply with the directives of the police during the course of investigation.’’

    Mr Iyiola Oyedepo, the PDP Chairman in Kwara, urged  the police to carry out  a thorough investigation into the Offa robbery incident.

    He also expressed doubt that the senate president  would  support  the suspects to engage in robbery.

    Oyedepo, however, said  Saraki has a  moral duty to clear his name.

    He advised the senate president to honour the police request  by  sending  his statement  so as to clear his name.

    “Did Saraki give them vehicle? Did Saraki provide them guns, are they his political thugs?

    “All these questions should be answered by Sen.  Bukola Saraki to clear his name,” Oyedepo said.

    The chairman  called on the people of the state to rise up and demand justice so that the case would not be compromised.

    In his reaction, Rafiu Hotonu, the State Secretary of the National Union of Local Government Employers (NULGE), said there was nothing wrong with the police request asking Saraki to respond to  allegations.

    “He should honour the request  to clear his name. NULGE wholeheartedly supports  the police because the suspects  confessed that they work for the senate president, so he needs  to clear his name.

    “No matter how highly placed you are in the society, once the police invite you, you are bound to honour the invitation,” Hotonu said.

    An Ilorin based legal practitioner, Mr Isaac Oladele,  said there was no crime in a police invitation, urging Saraki to use  the opportunity to respond to the allegations.

    Oladele, who  noted that the police had  even said the senate president need not appear in person,  also adds:  “ This is an opportunity for Saraki to clear his name of all the allegations of sponsoring cultists as thugs and having a link to the  Offa robbery.

    ” Nobody is above the law, whether  you  are  rich or poor. The law is no respecter of anybody. I will advise the senate president to honour the invitation and clear the mess on time.’’

    But another  lawyer, Mr Tunde Jimoh,  appealed the public to stop politicising the matter and allow the police to conduct  their investigation.

    ” Nigerians must allow the  police to do a thorough finding. They must stop the different protests and distractions on social media.

    “Enough of  interference from the external forces; there is no need to mount  pressure on the senate president and the  Nigeria Police in order not to complicate the matter.

    “The fact that the suspected robbers mentioned Saraki’s name in their confessional statements  doesn’t mean we should jump to conclusions.

    “Nigerians must be patient and give room for thorough investigation and fair hearing from both parties rather than drawing  conclusions, ” he said.

    For Funsho Aina, another legal practitioner, the senate president must respond promptly to the matter “ because of the sensitive position he is holding. ‘’

    ” It is still an allegation for now and he is not yet found guilty. The best for him (Saraki) is to honourably make his statement on the matter available before it turns to another thing.

    “If there is the need for him to step down from his post as senate president to clear his name, he can do so for the sake of his  integrity and that of the National Assembly, ” Aina  said.

    Mr Bayo Adeyipo, a resident,  said there was need for the ruling party to close ranks and imbibe unity  while  shunning  acts capable of derailing its  future plans.

    Adeyipo  stated that the  initial invitation extended to the senate president  bordered on a  criminal act and  should not be subjected to political debate.

    “If anybody in power is found wanting, he  should be ready to give necessary explanation by way of clearing his or her name of any wrong doing.

    “The police have laid out their facts, the onus is now on the person so accused to explore all avenues to clear his name of criminal allegations and maintain his or her integrity,” he said.

    The Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union (lEDPU), a soicio-cultural organisation, however,  described the police action  as “ a calculated attempt to tarnish the image of the senate president.’’

    Amb.  Usman AbdulAzeez, the National President of the union, said the invitation of Saraki in connection with the robbery incident   was a ploy to discredit  him.

    “The lEDPU,  which is non-political,  strongly condemns  the invitation of our illustrious son who is the number three citizen of the country in connection with the robbery case,’’  he said.

    He described the initial invitation as an attempt to drag the name of the ancient  town of Ilorin in the  mud, stating that the senate president could not be involved in robbery.

    Alhaji Busari Adebayo, a community leader in Ipetu,  also  described the development as “political witch hunt ‘’   which could heat up the polity.

    “As the 2019 general elections draw  nearer, the political class should imbibe tolerance and close ranks in the interest of moving the country forward.

    “The invitation to Saraki over Offa Robbery is a direct fall-out of  the power play as the processes toward the 2019 general elections gathers momentum.

    “What the country needs  most is absolute peace and unity to achieve the sustenance of our democratic system,”  he said.

    Mrs Motunrayo Aboyade, a civil servant, believes the current travails of Saraki is  part of the on-going superiority tussle among APC  leaders ahead of   the 2019 general elections.

    “The case of armed robbery levelled against Saraki will not  hold water;  it is  a result of the powerful tussle at the top.

    “You can see that the invitation has now been replaced with a written explanation, that is to tell you that the whole thing is just a power game and the drama will continue to unfold with time,” Aboyade said.

    A lawmaker in  the Kwara House of Assembly, Hon.  AbdulRafiu  AbdukRahnan  condemned the police over the initial invitation to Saraki, saying it has negative political implications.

    Bisi Owolabi, the APC Chairman in Irepodun Local Government Area, on his part, sees the development  as “  continuation of the persecution of Saraki since the  inception of the present administration.’’

    He maintained that the persecution, if continued unchecked, was capable affecting the fortunes  of the party in future elections.

    “Saraki worked for the success of the party by winning all available position in the state and he is still very much committed to the party’s  principles and ideas,’’ he said.

    Another resident, Victor Peter,  urged public  institutions to “ refrain from playing  to the gallery because of politics.’’

    “The police cannot continue like this;  convicting people in the court of public opinion has never worked. They should do better; Nigerians deserve that.

    “Now that they have made a U-turn about their initial planned invitation to Dr Saraki, let’s see how it all plays out, but as usual, I  am confident that this case is dead on arrival,’’  Peter said.

  • Police alert Kwarans on fleeing Boko Haram terrorists

    Kwara State police command has alerted residents of the state on the probability of the fleeing Boko Haram insurgents dislocated from the Sambisa forest, Borno state, infiltrating the state.
    The command also alerted the public “to watch out for person/persons finding asylum in different communities across the state”.

    In a statement the command spokesperson, Ajayi Okasanmi, advised the public to watch out for people posing as new converts into religious
    folds in order to attract sympathy of the unspecting communities.

    It warned that such strategy might be a calculated attempt “to create sleeper-cells in order to enable them to hibernate and restrategise for terrorist activities”.

    “Hence, landlords, tenants, religious and traditional community leaders are to report any of the above tendencies to the police.

    “Landlords, ward/district Heads and property agents are to report strange faces seeking accommodation and ensure that accommodation
    whether for rent or sales are not offered without the consent and proper documentation with security agencies.

    “Denial of insurgents to have any foot hold in the State must be ensured”, the command said

  • N20b bond: PDP plots to incite Kwarans, alleges APC

    N20b bond: PDP plots to incite Kwarans, alleges APC

    •Opposition: they’re confused

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State has accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of plotting to incite the people against the government on the proposed N20 billion bond.

    It said it was informed that the PDP leadership planned to publish lies on the proposed N20 billion bond.

    But the PDP challenged the APC to produce evidence to substantiate its allegation.

    APC spokesman Sulyman Buhari said in a statement: “Among other evil plans, PDP has contracted a printing press at Opomalu in Ilorin to produce handbills and leaflets containing lies for distribution in the state.

    “The Kwara APC reiterates that it is not opposed to constructive criticisms either on the proposed bond or any other issue.

    “However, we condemn any attempt to mislead the people through propaganda and misleading information in the name of opposition politics.

    “Considering PDP’s reputation for mischief and violence, we feel obliged to raise this alarm to disabuse the minds of the few impressionable Kwarans, who may be swayed by the PDP’s impending propaganda.

    “We wish to maintain that the bond is being floated to engender improved welfare for the masses.

    “We, therefore, urge the people to disregard PDP’s antics. We enjoin the party to desist from its planned action, which can only overheat the polity and set the people against the good intention of the government.

    “But if PDP refuses to heed this advice, we will not hesitate to encourage the government to use the long arm of the law to forestall untoward actions that seek to incite the people against the government.”

    Speaking with our correspondent on the phone, PDP Chairman Akogun Iyiola Oyedepo said: “APC is confused. They don’t know what to say; they are broke. They have mismanaged the money that should be used for the betterment of the people. They should face their challenges; they should look inward.

    “Are they saying we incited the teachers to go on strike? The teachers went on strike because they are hungry.”