Date: 2014-07-04

Since the announcement of the commencement of distribution of this year's Ramadan handouts to poor APC members by Sen. Bukola Saraki, the Kwara state chapter of the PDP, just like all concerned Kwarans, has held its breath, hoping that this time, unlike in the past three years, the distribution would be done without the annual harvest of death at the campaign office of the former Governor. As commendable as the gesture of giving to the needy during the holy month of Ramadan, we are nevertheless scared stiff of yet another round of avoidable death that naturally herald such gestures. The death of innocent souls at Sen. Bukola Saraki's house, and anywhere else for that matter, diminishes us, for beyond party line, we are also humans who are genuinely concerned about the safety of all Kwarans, no matter their political inclination.

Going down memory lane, it is saddening to note that over 200 Kwarans have lost their souls over the last four years, in a bid to partake in the collection of Sen. Bukola Saraki's largess. If there had been just one stampede resulting in the death of even a single individual, one would normally have been saddened by such an unfortunate incident. A second stampede will be seen as a tragic coincidence too many, especially because of the repeated pattern of event and very significant loss of lives. The third stampede, with the same pattern of gathering of the people in a most dehumanising and disrespectful manner, was not only a source of anger and national outrage but was completely obscene and unacceptable!

Our party therefore, fervently appeals to Sen. Bukola Saraki and his sidekicks to thread more carefully this time around to avoid avoidable loss of lives of poor Kwarans during the distribution of the handouts.

Sen. Bukola Saraki and his party should not expect to do the same thing over and over again and expect a different outcome. Thus, instead of waiting in the winds to issue condolences and obituaries, the former Governor is forewarned to take proactive steps to avoid the ritual of death that has come to define his annual Ramadan gift distribution.

Sen. Bukola Saraki is not the only one in the business of Ramadan gifts distribution, but unlike others, his own, evidently, has become a gathering that always predictably ends up in sorrow, tears and blood.

It is instructive to note that the PDP as a political party and several of its chieftains have committed huge amount of private resources into ameliorating the conditions of Kwarans during the glorious month of Ramadan. Our party has done so without much fanfare or propaganda, trusting that the gesture is simply spiritual and should be devoid of unnecessary publicity.

In conclusion, we ask the ruling party to be more seriously concerned about the imperative of genuine empowerment that can translate into wealth creation and dignity for the people as against this kind of irregular handouts that always sadly have tragic end

Rex. K. Olawoye

Kwara PDP Publicity Secretary