Abdulrazaq, Pategi leaders parley on River Niger bridge

The Kwara State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, has promised to build a bridge linking Pategi to Bida Emirate in Niger State.

He said this would deepen cultural and trade relations between the two states.

“River Niger is, for us, not a dividing line but an area of convergence between Kwara and Niger states. We will link Pategi and Bida Emirate in Niger State with a bridge, even if by public private arrangement,” Abdulrazaq told community leaders at the Etsu of Nupe’s palace at the weekend.

The APC candidate was in the area during his campaign tour of the northern part of the state.

He added: “We, therefore, urge you to vote massively for the President (Muhammadu Buhari), all our candidates for the National and State Assembly and for me as your governor. Once you do this, we will collaborate with the administration of the President to build a bridge to link the two states and end the agony of losing our people to incessant boat accidents.

“We will provide jobs for our youths. We will make sure that you have infrastructure, which will not only boost trade but will also generate jobs. We will revive local industries, especially agro-processing factories. Importantly, our administration will accord proper respect to the traditional institutions.”

Abdulrazaq also promised to end the diversion of local government funds through the so-called joint accounts, a practice he blamed on lack of development and rising poverty at the grassroots.

Pategi community leaders pledged to support Abdulrazaq in exchange for his promise to ensure the construction of a bridge linking the area across the River Niger.

“Your aspiration has our blessings in view of your pledge to guarantee the construction of a bridge across the River Niger,” said Alhaji Ibrahim Abubakar, the Akimi of Chegban, a community under the Etsu Nupe.

Abubakar urged the APC candidate to activate the long-abandoned Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) facilities in the town.

In Kpada, Abdulrazaq pledged to build the long-abandoned Pategi-Kpada road, if elected.

Sadiq Umar, the APC senatorial candidate for Kwara North, said the area would not remain the same if they support the president and all APC candidates in the general elections.

Abdulrazaq was accompanied on the tour by top party chieftains, elder statesmen, all the APC candidates from the northern senatorial district, and former APC governorship aspirant Abdullahi Yamman.

The tour has taken Abdulrazaq to several towns and villages in Pategi and Edu local government areas, including Pategi, Kpada, Lade, Tsaragi, Lafiagi and others.