Date: 2014-12-06

I am deeply humbled by your unambiguous endorsement for me to stand for re-election as our party’s candidate in the 2015 gubernatorial election. From all nooks and crannies of state, from the remotest part of our land, you have spoken with one voice and given me a clear mandate to run again as Governor of Kwara, the State of Harmony.

I am grateful. I thank all party members, executives at all levels, our stakeholders and our Leader, Distinguished Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki (CON) for the confidence you have reposed in me.

Today, we have served a strong message to those who mistake consensus for imposition. Those who envy our political structure in private and begrudge it in public. The message is that that we can manage our affairs and conduct transparent elections without rancour or violence. That our structure is inclusive. That it offers hope that you can be anything you want to be, subject only to the limits of your abilities. This structure guarantees participatory democracy and inclusive governance.

In four years, we have worked tirelessly to fulfil our pledge to sustain continuity and chart new pathways to growth. We have broken the jinx of abandoned projects and demonstrated to our people the tangible benefits of continuity. In four years, we have made life better for a significant number of our people and made our state more prosperous.

Thousands of our youths are now productively engaged while many more small and medium scale enterprises now run thriving businesses.

Our people are now guaranteed quality health care with our modernisation programmes and the expanded community health insurance scheme while more of our children can now access free and qualitative education.

Additional cities, towns and villages are now connected through our urban and rural road projects while a greater number of our communities now enjoy more regular electricity following our supply of power infrastructure. We have brought clean piped water to thousand of homes thus reducing the incidence of water-borne diseases and making life better for our people.

Some will say it is my job as your Governor to provide these services and programmes. That is true. Certainly, these strides demonstrate how far we have come. But the reality is that we are not done yet. Indeed, I am the first to admit that there is more work to do for our state and its people.

My dear compatriots and party men, these indeed are challenging times for our country and our state. However, I offer hope over fear; change over stagnation and prosperity in place of despondency. Together, we will achieve the Kwara State of our dreams, a state in which our children and theirs will prosper and feel proud to call home.

I commit to work harder to transform the lives of our people and our state when re-elected for a second term as Governor. I will continue to prioritise youth empowerment to get more young people into work through entrepreneurship and targeted employment.

We will expand schools and hospitals and build new ones where necessary.
I promise to do more to better your lives, uplift our communities and elevate our state. I have done it before and commit to do even more when you return me as Governor in February 2015, Insha Allah.

In the run-up to today’s primary elections, many party members indicated interest in running as candidates at several levels. Some were successful, others were not. I call on all you all to join hands with the leadership and membership of our great party so that together we can make APC stronger. Working together, we can build a more prosperous Kwara State, with limitless opportunities for everyone to realise their legitimate aspirations.

Once again, I thank you all for this privilege to stand as your candidate and the opportunity to serve you again as Governor. As a party, we will achieve change for our people at all levels starting with the 2015 General elections.

Thank you all and God Bless you.