APC vs PDP: Kwara North leaders state position on governorship election

Kwara North Leaders of Thought have expressed their readiness to work for the victory of the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) candidate, Hon Razak Atunwa, during next Saturday’s governorship election in the state.

They maintained that it is only an Atunwa governorship that can guarantee the return of the governorship seat to their zone in 2023.

The leaders of thought, on Sunday during a press conference in Ilorin, addressed by Alhaji Abubakar Ndakangi, called on elders, traditional institution, youths and women and most especially political actors to put Kwara North first in any political decisions they may be considering.

They reminded their kinsmen that while the leadership of PDP in the State had entered into an agreement with the Kwara north’s leaders to the effect that power will rotate to the district in 2023, the opposition All Progressives Congress( APC) has kept quiet on this issue.

They opined that the APC’s candidate for the election, Abdulrahman AbdulRasaq will stop at nothing to spend the maximum eight years in office if elected as the state governor.

“Besides, put side by side, the PDP’s candidate is a better choice for the people of the State.

“He has garnered enough experience at both the legislative and executive arms of government needed to perform well as the state governor.”

The leaders appealed to the traditional rulers to sensitise their subjects on the need for “us not to allow the golden opportunity of getting the governorship seat in 2023 offered to us by the MoU our leaders signed with PDP’s leadership in the State.”

“It’s true that last week, out of annoyance over some issues, we in Kwara north voted for candidates of the APC including President Buhari for his second term. This is due to our likeness for him. This time around, it is wise we reconsider our stand as Kwara north people.

“During the Presidential and National Assembly elections we have made our point by not voting PDP candidates but for the forthcoming gubernatorial and House of Assembly elections, we shall now support and vote for PDP candidates.

“We need to be wise and not to throw away the baby with the birth water. We in Kwara north need to be strategic. We must not forget our foundation. We must not forget the basics of our struggle so that we don’t become the loser at the end of it all.

“Kwara North has been marginalised for years. We were supposed to produce the 2019 Governor but the will of God prevailed. We, therefore, need to align ourselves with the party that has a better offer for Kwara North.

“The PDP has written a commitment that its gubernatorial candidate will only serve for one term of four years. It has also allocated the speakership of the state House of Assembly and office of the Secretary to the State Government to Kwara North. We call on our people to let us look inwards to ensure that power shift to Kwara North by 2023.

“PDP is still the only party with clear agenda for Kwara North people. We must be wise and smart in our choice so that posterity will judge us well; that we did the best thing for our people. We must consider our younger generation,” Ndakangi said.