Enitan Olukotun
“I make this solemn pledge: I will make your life much better, our state greater and our communities safer when you offer me a chance to continue to serve you. Together, we will create inclusive prosperity for all stakeholders in our state. These I commit to and these I will deliver to you my people, by the grace of Almighty Allah,”
These were the pledges of Governor Abdulfattah Ahmed to Kwarans on 5th, November, 2014, the day the Governor officially declared to seek second term as governor. The day will remain indelible in the memories of Kwara people.
As early as 7 a.m, Metropolitan Square, Ilorin the venue for the declaration was agog with activities as supporters of the governor and members of the All Progressives Congress, APC from nooks and crannies of the state streamed into the venue.
The massive crowd decked in various colourful attires were united in their demands, “ Let Governor Ahmed Go Again’, they chorused.
Aspirants on the platform of the APC in Kwara state also leveraged on the popularity and the grassroot appeal of the governor to sell themselves t their respective constituents.
The atmosphere was electrified as chieftains of the party trickled in to identify with the governor whom many adjudged an achiever.
The dignitaries in attendance were, Former Head of State General Muhammadu Buhari, Ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, National leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Kwara APC leader, Senator Bukola Saraki, Governors Adams Oshiomhole(Edo), Aliyu Wamako(Sokoto), Rochas Okorocha(Imo), Chibuike Amaechi(Rivers), Rabiu Kwankwaso(Kano)among others.
Reliving how he had successfully steered the ship of affairs in Kwara State, the governor reeled out his achievements in the last fourty month in saddle as governor.
In an unusual display of gratitude, Ahmed attributed his sterling performance to the support he enjoyed from the political leaders in the state especially his predecessor, Senator Bukoola Saraki, whom he described as a pathfinder of modern Kwara.
“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”, the governor submitted.
The governor said his administration has brightened the future of youths in the state through the provision of sustainable employment through various intervention programmes. According to him, over 10,200 youths have been employed adding that, “Our informal sector is now bustling with the injection of N700m in micro credit to 48, 000 small business owners”.
Under his watch as governor, Ahmed boasted that Kwara education sector remains one of the best in the country. He noted that access to education has been deepened through tuition free education policy of his government.
He said, “In the education sector, we have expanded access, as tuition is now free up to senior secondary school level where students also receive 10 free notebooks per session. Recognizing the need to create an atmosphere conducive to learning, we have rehabilitated hundreds of classrooms in primary and secondary schools across the state”, the governor declared to the admiration of thousands of who had gathered for the rally”.
In the area of health, the state parades the best health facilities in the north central geo-political zone. The state owned Harmony Advanced Diagnostic Centre in Ilorin is a testimony to the governor’s commitment to the health of the people. The centre which is equipped with the latest diagnostic machines in the world screens various ailments at affordable costs.
To further ease access to world class health services, the governor added, “We have remodeled, modernized, and equipped the general hospitals at Ilorin, Offa, Share, Omu-Aran, and Kaiama, turning them into first class health facilities”.
He continued, ‘Eighty-Five Thousand rural dwellers now have access to subsidized health care thanks to our innovative Community Health Insurance Scheme that has received wide global recognition, including an OECD Prize in Paris, France recently”.
On infrastructure, Ahmed said ‘we have significantly boosted physical infrastructure in our state. Four hundred of our communities are now connected to the national grid following the supply and installation of transformers. From an inherited distance of 1500 meters, everyone in Kwara State now has access to portable water within an 800-meter radius following our revamping of 17 waterworks and installation of about 400 boreholes across the state’.
The speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal who was among the dignitaries who took turn to commend the sterling performance of the governor urged the people of the state not be hoodwink by the deceit of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP saying the party had no good plans for them.
He said, “They have nothing to offer. They have been lying all along in power. They have not done anything to improve the lives of the people. “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 has always delivered Kwara to the right place.
“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”.
The national leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu said the governor had performed excellently urging the people to return him for second term.
“What I want to beg of you 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 received the mantle of good leadership from Bukola, who has equally done tremendously well for the Kwara people, he is our choice because he is your choice,” Tinubu appealed.
