lorin, Kwara State received a mammoth crowd on Wednesday when the incumbent Governor of the state on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdulfatah Ahmed declared his intention to run for a second term in office.
In their thousands, APC supporters including the newest convert,the Honorable Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal all stormed stormed the Metropolitan square along Asa Dam road, Ilorin venue of the public declaration.
In his speech at the event, Tambuwal called on President Goodluck Jonathan to resign from office, stating poor leadership as his reason for the call.
He warned the president that if he does not resign voluntarily, the electorates will vote him and his party, Peolpes Democratic Party (PDP) out in the 2015 general election for peace to reign in Nigeria.
Former governor of Lagos State and APC leader, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu who was full of energy throughout the ceremony explained to the crowd in Yoruba language why they needed to vote for the leadership of his party and vote Jonathan out.
Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar; General Muhammadu Buhari; Alh Rabiu kwankwaso and former minister of FCT Mallam El Rufai — APC presidential aspirants were all in attendant.
Also governor of Kano State and other APC governors like Governors Aliu Wamako of Sokoto,Adams Oshiomole of Edo,Rochas Okorocha of Imo,Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers and representatives from Osun Ogun and Oyo States were also present.
The host governor,Abdulfatah Ahmed and the leader of the party in kwara state,Senator Bukola Saraki also took their turn to justify the reasons for granting second term to the incumbent governor and why they defected to APC .
Saraki said he endorsed the governor for second term because of his impressive performance and loyalty and urged the people of kwara not to be deceived and intimidated by the power of presidency and members of PDP in the state he described as artificial politicians who come around only during election period.
‘’In Kwara state your political history is very rich. You have had the foundation of the political struggle of this state laid by our late leader, Dr Olusola Saraki. This structure that is being sustained by God Almighty who has always delivered Kwara to the right place,” Tambuwal said in his address.
“I believe that this time around there will not be anything different. With the support of the people of the state APC shall form 100 percent the government in the state from the local council to state Assembly and to the government house. Eventually and ultimately the state has always been providing leadership in the politics of this country.’’
“When it comes to presidential elections, I am sure that the state will provide such leadership to the extent that we shall deliver this country to the government at the centre to APC’’.
Tambuwal charged the people to vote Jonathan out.
“Let me forget the protocol, because you are the votes. You are the people who must vote. We bring the greetings and respect of Lagos, Oyo, Osun, Ogun, Ekiti, Edo, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and the entire APC states in Nigeria,’’ Tinubu said.
‘’What I want to beg of you is to be ready to defend for change. The race has started again. We have endorsed Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed for second term in office as he has performed creditably well just like his predecessor, Senator Bukola Saraki’’.
He described the PDP government as thieves.
“The thieves that daily steal your money. They have not given you any job; they cannot create jobs and they are starving states of funds to pay workers salaries. The best thing to do is to sweep them away through broom revolution. APC is a party of the masses,” he said.
“I saw the sea of refuges and the lies coming from Jonathan’s administration. They have exhibited failure, lack of capacity, vision, creativity; the lie of yesterday is what they repeat today and it is what they will repeat tomorrow. They are lying to you. They are lying about the security; toying about the security of this country. I don’t have time to explain the logic of their lies.
‘’But if you control the armed forces and you are the Commander-in-Chief of the armed of the federal republic, why should any part of this country be under occupation? And you give us excuses every day. In any civilised country Jonathan should resigned. But if he will not resign he should wait for our broom we will sweep them.’’
He said it is time to apply commonsense revolution and it is about the people’s lives.
“It is about your education, your jobs and about the security of this country. We stay together since independence and we will remain together. Any affecting any section of this country affects all of us,” he said.
‘’I will come back. This is just the endorsement of Governor Ahmed; that he will be re-elected by the grace of God with the support of you people here and those outside there. The unemployment situation will be conquered by this administration of APC. We have the vision for the security of th e lives of our children.”
Governor Adams Oshiomole of Edo state in his remark who said he was impressed by the notable achievements of Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed hence his personal attendance also poured encomiums on the political legacies of the late sage Dr Abubakar Olusola Saraki which has continued to provide good leadership to the state even till now.
The governor of Rivers state,Mr Rotimi Amaechi said,this is the time to say the truth,the other party PDP is a party of liars,they are not truthful.When some has done well,you say thank you,we have come to say thank you’’
’’On the day of election,don’t allow PDP to rig you,they will bring soldier,and police, don’t allow them to intimidate you.They are stealing our money,they took it to South Africa,its time to fund our military to overrun these terroristst’’he said.
Atiku in his own speech said: “I was a foundation member of the current dispensation in Kwara State, I wish Oloye were here alive today,we should make sure we sustain the legacy Oloye left behind by making sure that Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed is returned.”
Finally, the declaring governor himself took the podium to declare formally: “I pay homage to my predecessors for laying the foundation for a flourishing Kwara State that we upscaled through Shared Prosperity. Our state is much better than we met it and is growing everyday. Today, before all of you, I make bold to say we have essentially fulfilled our covenant and in the process strengthened your faith in governance,” Ahmed said in his own address.
“I humbly and formally declare my intention to run for a second term in office so that I can do more for our state and its people. By the grace of God and with your mandate, we intend to accelerate the development of our state when re-elected for a second term in office.’’
