Saraki to Kwara North: 2023 not far away


The Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, on Saturday assured the people of Kwara North that their zone would produce the governor of the state come 2023, saying the next four years is not far again.

Though, the state’s chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with stakeholders from the North on power shift to the zone in 2023, Saraki, who is the national leader of the party, spoke on the pact for the very first time Saturday.

He endorsed the pact between the PDP and Kwara north stakeholders in the palace of the Emir of Gwaranara, in Baruten local government area of the state, Alhaji Sabi Idris Kotokotogi II, during his campaign tour of the area.

‘We have commitment to Kwara North and In sha Allah in 2023 governorship of the state will come to Kwara north. Ilorin and Kwara north have always been together and we shall continue to be together.

“This year’s election is important not to only the people of Gwanara, or Kwara but Nigeria as a whole. Things are very difficult generally in the country and we all need to be Atikulated to get Nigeria working again,” he said.

Saraki blamed the non-construction of Ilesha-  Gwanara road on the non-cooperative attitude of the All Progressives Congress (APC) led federal government, assuring the monarch that the road shall be constructed once the PDP return to power.

Responding, the Emir of Gwanara, Alhaji Sabi Idris, who broke down in tears while recalling his relationship with the late Dr Olusola Saraki, declared his people’s unflinching support for Saraki’s political dynasty.

He said: “Today is a very happy day for me personally. Today, Nigeria is here because the Senate president is here. I pray God to grant Dr Bukola Saraki and his party success in the 2019 general elections.”

At Ilesha Baruba, the monarch of the community, Prof. Halidu Abubakar, said his subjects were solidly behind Saraki, adding that, “in Kwara elections, its individuals that matter and not the party.

“As far as I am concerned even if the party which Bio Ibrahim, a former minister and Senator Mohammed Ahmed (both sons of Baruten local government) belong will take me to paradise I won’t vote for them.

“When they came and said they were led by Bio Ibrahim and Mohammed Ahmed, my people said ‘ we are tired of most of these guys from here. A lot of these people shouting O toge have benefitted immensely from Saraki dynasty and without any impact on our community. You don’t even need to come here, you know where I stand. I’m doing this for Saraki as a reciprocal.” 

Also speaking, the state governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, said Baruten and the entire Kwara north “is home for us”.

“PDP has put machinery in place to keep Kwara moving from grace to grace. We’ve come here to see how we can still improve development in Baruten. Ours is a party that has come with a sense of comfort to all. Even when resources were scarce we ensured that Baruten gets its fair share of development.

“We need a governor that will take us to a greater height and that person must be someone that is already part of the system and understands the need for continuity of projects and policies of the current administration. The only person that description fit is the PDP governorship candidate, Hon. Razak Atunwa.”

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