Date: 2011-06-02

Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed has identified disconnect between successive administrations as the bane of the country’s development and called for a reversal of the old order if Nigeria must progress.

Receiving the out-going members of the Kwara State House of Assembly led by the Speaker, Alhaji Babatunde Mohammed on a farewell visit, Alhaji Ahmed, who ascribed the low pace of development to lack of a good linkage system between one administration and the other, said continuity was the only panacea to good governance and development.

Kwara State, he noted, is a case study for smooth transition from one administration to the other. "As a major player in the last administration, I’m morally and logically bond to complete and continue the novel programme of the administration". Alhaji Ahmed assured the legislature that his administration would be accountable to the people of the State who voted him in as their governor.

"Our intention is to carry all the programmes of my predecessor, Dr Bukola Saraki to the next level so that Kwarans can fully reap the fruits of democracy", the governor said.

He observed that resources are scarce at all levels of government, hence the need for optimum allocation to achieve the desired result.

According to him, there were quite a lot of wastages which he said must be curbed if we must progress as a nation, promising that his priority now is to complete all on-going projects embarked upon by his predecessor between now and end of the year.

Alhaji Ahmed disclosed further that machinery had been set in motion to showcase his administration’s programmes for the first 100 days in office, pointing out that it will reflect the yearnings and aspiration of the people of the State.

He also hinted that the programmes of action of his first 100 days in office have been articulated and would be prioritized based on resources available in the State.

Alhaji Ahmed however commended the efforts of the members of the sixth legislature for contributing to the success of Dr Bukola Saraki’s administration, expressing hope that the in-coming legislators would follow the footsteps of their predecessor to ensure effective legislation for the State.

He also assured Kwarans that he would continue to be fair to all and sundry and to always uphold the principles of the Rule of Law to ensure good governance.

Earlier, the out-going Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Alhaji Babatunde Mohammed had on behalf of his colleagues congratulated the governor on his landslide victory at the last general election in the State.

The Speaker, who said they were in the Government House to felicitate with Alhaji Ahmed for successively taking over the mantle of leadership from his predecessor, disclosed that the State witnessed a lot of transformation and development in the last eight years and urged the governor to consolidate on the achievements of his predecessor and even do more.

He said the out-going legislators will continue to give expert advice to the in-coming law makers for effective legislation and also pledged their loyalty and maximum cooperation to the governor.

Alhaji Mohammed told the governor that the sixth legislature held its valedictory session on Tuesday, adding that the inauguration of the seventh legislature has been tentatively fixed for next Monday subject to his approval.

Abdulwahab Oba
Chief Press Secretary to the Kwara State Governor
02/06/2011