Biola Azeez writes on how the All Progressives Congress (APC) is trying to put itself in good stead ahead of the election year.

A school of thought has it that a well organised and stable political system is a precursor to good governance. It adds that such arrangement must have an in-built mechanism that guarantees inclusiveness, thus promoting equity, fairness and justice.
All these principles, according to the Kwara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), constituted the fulcrum of its congresses from ward to local government and state levels. It said the politics of inclusiveness underscored the consensus arrangement that culminated in the election of all members of the party executives in the state.

Some form of sceptism had heralded the berth of the APC in Kwara after the party was formed by the then ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) along with the Action Congress of Nigeria ( ACN), All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Congress for Progressive Change (CPC0 and the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), among others. The assumption in a few quarters was that most members of the PDP would not identify with the coalition. Today, the leaders say such fears appeared unfounded and indeed only existed in the imagination of the unperceptive few.

There was no surprise, when the APC leaders rolled out drums for having been able to achieve what their ‘detractors' thought it was a tall dream in the politics of Kwara and within a very short period. A total of 1,264 delegates drawn from 193 wards attended the state congress. The hitherto interim state chairman, Alhaji Isola Balogun-Fulani became the substantive APC state chairman, just as the former interim secretary, Prince Yemi Afolayan retained his position in the elected party executives. All other positions had one nomination each as that of the chairman and the secretary.

The congress was attended by the leader of the party in the state, Senator Bukola Saraki; Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed; his deputy, Peter Kishra, interim national publicity secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Alhaji Kawu Baraje, Speaker of the state House of Assembly, including all members of the state House of Assembly, as well as the APC members in the National Assembly from the state. The event marked the conclusive part of a process that commenced on April 5, 2014, which aimed at constituting elected party executives at wards, local government and state levels as enshrined in Articles 11 and 12 of the party.

Speaking at the event held in Ilorin, Senator Saraki, who is representing Kwara Central senatorial district in the National Assembly, congratulated all the APC party members on the state congress, saying: "We've made history not only the best in the election of these party executives, but in peaceful manner the election has come and gone. Before, when this journey started, many cynics said it will not be possible, that there will be crisis, that there will be no inclusion, they said we could not come together. But we thank God that we have a lot to be proud of and we thank ourselves for a rancour-free congress.

"The real winners today are not the elected executives, but those who have made personal sacrifice in the interest of this party. This is because, for each of the positions, there are five people that are suitably qualified. But you made sacrifice for us to move forward and bring sanity to the party and I want to assure you that you will not be disappointed for this personal sacrifice."

Saraki advised the new party officers to see themselves as representatives of all other members in the party. The political leader, who said the APC in the state had made commitment on behalf of the winners of the congress for those that agreed to the consensus arrangement, added that unity was important for expected victory in future elections.

"Today, we are already halfway to the Promised Land. We've shown the difference from the other party. We've showed unity, commitment and purposefulness in what we want to do, because a party that cannot organise congress successfully cannot run a government. We'll continue to run government in Kwara State because this is our strongest test. We are coming from opposite direction, but we have so far achieved just because of our commitment," he said.

He also charged the APC supporters not to be deceived by anyone, promising that the APC would bring succour to Kwara. His words: "This is not a party of promises upon promises. This is a party that said in November last year that 4,000 people will be employed by the state government. Today, I'm aware that up to 5,000 have picked their forms. This is a party of performance. It's only Kwara that will continue to develop Kwara. Abuja cannot come to Kwara. Abuja is too busy with Abuja problems.

"It's only God that has perfection. We are not perfect, but we've showed purposefulness in our commitment and unity. They had said it would be one way thing only. But you can see the spread in the positions of the party executives. For those that were deceived, the door is still open. So, come back to the party that will bring progress. Almighty Allah sees our intention. It's for the progress of this state. We don't come during election and go after election. We are here all the time. They will surely come to you to deceive you, but remember to tell them that this is where you are," he said.

Saraki charged the new party executives to deliver Kwara state right from ward to state level and at national level, adding that they should go round every nook and corner of the state to meet with everyone, saying one vote is important. "Don't be arrogant in your approach. Bring everyone on board. There is room for everyone. We have a government that is performing and a party that's functional. We want to double what we got in 2011 elections and with this team, we shall succeed," he said.

Also speaking, Governor Ahmed said what had sustained the APC in the state was the political structure created by late Dr Olusola Saraki and being led by Senator Bukola Saraki. "Good governance can only come to place under good political system and good political system can only come to be place when we have a good political party that allows for inclusiveness and fear of God. This process we have today will drive good governance in the state. Youth unemployment is one of the greatest factors encouraging security problems presently bedeviling the country.

"We are lucky with the lowest youth unemployment rate among other states in the country, but we'll not rest on our oars to provide jobs for our youth so so keep them busy.

"This year, we'll employ 8,000 youth alongside delivery of development services in health, water provision, energy, infrastructure among others. All these will only happen with good political system and a good political system will only happen when we have a good political party," he said, the chairman of the congress committee, Alhaji Yunus Akintunde, charged the new party executives to be resolute in achieving one man, one vote. He urged them to continue to demand full adoption of biometric system from the INEC, adding that "it is the only indisputable ladder to the conduct of free and fair elections in Nigeria." The congress chairman advised the new party executives to imbue true leadership qualities and values, adding that they should accommodate and engage all in true spirit of inclusiveness in the state.

The new APC chairman, Alhaji Balogun-Fulani said the party still controlled the state through political dynasty of the patriarch of the Saraki family, which spanned over 40 years. He said the state had developed from civil service state to industrial and business destination, adding that Kwara would witness more development at all levels under the APC governments.