Date: 2014-09-04

Kwara state is one of the pioneer states of the federation, created on 27th May, 1967, when the then Federal Military Government of then General Yakubu Gowon broke the four regions that constituted Nigeria into 12 states. The state derived her name from the local name for River Niger called "Kwara". And had since 1976 reduced in size as a result of further state creation until 1991, when we have the present Kwara state.

The state has been mostly ruled by military Government until recent 1999 re-birth of democracy in Nigeria. Though one of the oldest states of the Federation, Kwara state has remain one of the least states economy-wise, as a result of misappropriation and mismanagement of her resources. The economic retardation of the State of Harmony, calls for concern and a need for deliverance.

In the countdown to 2015 general election are two prominent political parties, with one clamouring for "Change" and the other yearning for "Freedom". Those clamouring and yearning establish the fact that there is a problem in the so called State of Harmony. But the question that begs for answers is: "How sincere are these political parties (APC and PDP) for change or freedom?

It is no more news that Kwara APC is old wine in a new bottle. Following the defection of five PDP Governors into All Progressives Congress(APC) late 2013, most of the top Kwara PDP chieftains along with their supporters moved to APC and fortunately for the new APC comers, they were given the machinery of the party, by the national leadership for reason(s) best known to them, though it was widely believed to be for national interest of APC as a party.

This singular gesture made Senator Bukola Saraki to become the new leader of Kwara APC. Hence, the same people that had enjoyed power in PDP are still within the corridor of power now as members of APC.

The question that come to mind is; are these people just waking up? Why will the same people that have been in government since 2003 just wake up and be clamouring for change that they have been unable to bring for over a decade, or will it take a century to make positive impact on the people and deliver dividends of democracy. Does APC has any change in mind or another calculated attempt to continue to enslave the good people of Kwara?

It is also a thing of surprise that Peoples Democratic Party, that has been the ruling party in Kwara state until recently that the incumbent Governor defected to APC is equally yearning for freedom. Freedom indeed! The same party that could not liberate the state under her watch for about 10 solid years, until she lost the control of the state to a rival political party.

Hope this is not one of PDP's strategies to recapture Kwara only to mismanage Kwara's precious resources. Though this present Kwara PDP consist of aggrieved former APC members and some old PDP members that wish to part ways with their acclaimed leader, but the fact remain unaltered, how can PDP that has been in government for good 10 years without meaningful development be yearning for freedom.

Does that means PDP knew that Kwara was in bondage all this while and refused to do anything to liberate the State of Harmony?

It occurs to me that deliverance of Kwara state is not embedded in APC's manifesto neither is it included in PDP's ideology. Both political parties are mere platforms for people vying for one political position or the other. Our political parties up till now don't have distinct ideology. They only have academic ideologies just to fulfill INEC's registration requirement.

Hence, for the state to be delivered, Kwarans must be on a lookout for credible candidates, irrespective of political affiliation, and vote for such, to pilot the affairs of the state into the promise land, so that the state can favourably compete with her peers and take her leading role amongst the states of the federation.