Opinion: Gov Ahmad: Unspoken Words For A Renewed Mandate By Attanda Lawal

Date: 2015-06-18

The victory of the APC governorship candidate and incumbent governor at the April 11 polls might have been achieved with numerous parameters influencing the decisions of voters notwithstanding the glaring low voters turn-out. Among the factors assumed to be at play were the undeniable indefatigability of political structures of the legendry political icon, late Dr. Olusola Saraki (Oloye,of blessed memory), strongly anchored by Senator Bukola Saraki.

The bandwagon effect of March 28 election produced the peoples' General and APC presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari. Even though Kwara State has always been playing politics of centre except towards the end of the second republic when late Dr Olusola Saraki's support gave UPN candidate, Chief C.O. Adebayo a resounding victory over late Alhaji Adamu Atta of NPN in his bid to secure a second term in office in 1983 elections and at the beginning of this present political dispensation in 1999 when late Real Admiral Muhammed Lawal clicked the APP ticket with Dr. Olusola Saraki's backing and won the main election thereafter to govern the state for four years. The third factor of disarray and disunity in the PDP was an impetus which gave APC stabilizing momentum before the icing on the cake of victory of the APC with the PDP fielding a less popular candidate for the governorship content.

The turn-out of voters in Kwara State for the governorship and state assembly elections of April 11, should be less admirable and pensive for any politician and indeed government that is perceived to be with the grassroots. For example, they are nearly 450,000 valid votes for the presidential election in the state while there was a whole 30% reduction in participation by voters when it came to the state governorship election of April 11 with total valid votes of 311,052.

Taking a neighboring state of Oyo controlled by the APC just like Kwara and also the governor seeking re-election as Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed recorded just marginal of 3.5% reduction in participation between presidential elections of 28th April with total valid votes of 876,237 as against valid votes of 844,960 for governorship election.

On the other hand, a neighboring state of Kwara to the north; Niger though a PDP controlled state with the governor not seeking re-election even recorded more valid votes for governorship content than the presidential election.

The conspicuous low voters empathy at the April 11 elections in Kwara state might not be unconnected to index of rendezvous impact of structure of good governance at state level and the citizen at grassroots. The most important message for the four years renewed mandate of the governance in Kwara State is the focus on people oriented governance driven in-line with the people aspiration for all inclusive and encompassing development in the overall interest of the state rather than the pleasure and acceptance of few individuals.

When declared the winner by Independent National Electoral Commission, the state governor and governor elect, Alh. Abdulfatah Ahmed said " I want to see this as a great change for Kwarans and Nigeria and I see it as a good platform for ushering in not only good governance but true dividend of democracy'.

One would wish that the great change in the state will start with a diligent and comprehensive recovery of vestige of arms and dangerous weapons in possession of deliberately fortified political and thugs occasioned by the just concluded electioneering campaign in the state by some politicians with myopic and parochial mindset.

A fall-out of this was the sporadic shooting on the Sunday following the Saturday April11 Election Day in some areas of the state capital. It would be disservice to the development of the state for governance not to contend with belligerent ambition of negatively armed individuals with respect to people of the state who loved peace.

There is no platform for ushering in good governance and true dividend of democracy better than infrastructural development of the state. This is not only to be applied to the state capital and main towns but more importantly rural areas with regards to agricultural infrastructures particular of roads both asphalt and feeders, potable water, sanitation and electricity.

It shouldn't be subject of debate whether these infrastructures had been executed, in the pipe line or not executed. The veracity of its presence should be pervasive that both the rural dwellers and people in towns within the state would come to see government and governance as their own and not for the few nobles.

This fate of rural infrastructural development is not unachievable with conscious and concerted policy direction and implementation in a short time within a cycle of any committed and development driven governance. With the recent dwindling federal allocation to the state already on meager monthly subvention, any venture to be undertaken by purposeful governance should be a scheme that would obliterate the menace of youth unemployment and assuage the revenue base of the state government.

In this regard, focus on agriculture through rural infrastructural development would serve the purpose of mitigating effect of unemployment and increase revenue generation of the state government on the economic point of view whilst it would serve the purpose of bringing governance to the grassroots for political gains during electioneering.

It is of common knowledge in basic economic terms that resources are scarce and limited, wants or needs insatiable, hence scale of preference. Within the limited resources of the state government it wouldn't be out place if rural mechanization through offensive acquisition and transfer or hiring services of tractor and implements

– Dr Lawal of the department of Agricultural Engineering, BUK, kano

Source

 


Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

Taofik Abdulkareem     Abdulkadri Ahmad Alaiye     Sabi     Ilorin General Hospital     Oro Grammar School Old Students Association     Tsado Manman     Sobi Specialist Hospital     Olugbense     Edu     2017 Budget     Kwara State Football Association     Valsolar Consortium     Press Release     Olabimpe Olani     Tafidan Kaiama     Senior Staff Union Of Colleges Of Education     Lateef Alagbonsi     Aso-ofi     Jalala     Ilorin Curfew     Summit University     Saka Asiat Ayinke     Abikan     Awwal Jawondo     Jide Oyinloye     International Public Sector Accounting Standards     Muhammed Abdullahi     Sunday Popo-Ola     Madawaki Of Ilorin     Kubra Kazum     NITDA     Alabi Lawal     Centre For Digital Economy     Lola Ashiru     Zara Umar     Saliu Ajibola Ajia     Aliyu Olatunji Ajanaku     Women Radio     Kayode Alabi     Yahaya Abdulkareem Babaita     KWATMA     Odo-Owa     Iyabo Adewuyi     Kwara Hotel     Hamidat Sulyman-Yusuf     Folorunsho Erubu     Alabere     Saadu Yusuf     ASKOMP     Kwara State University Of Education     Sheikh Ridhwanullah El-ilory     Emir Of Shonga     Jumoke Monsura Gafar     KSIRS     Dar-Al-Handasah Consultants     Bahago     Bamidele Adegoke Oladimeji     Metro Park     Jide Ashonibare     Obasanjo     Lawal Olohungbebe     Abdullahi Samari     Bola Ahmed Tinubu     Ibrahim Abikan     Trader Moni     Aro Yahaya     Binta Abubakar Mora     Taofik Abiodun Ahmed     Olaitan Buraimoh     Babatunde Ishola Babaita     Saliu Alamoyo     Sola Saraki University     Gbugbu International Market     COEASU     Hakeem Idris     Amos Bajeh     Sam Onile    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

Jumoke Gafar     Christopher Odetunde     Benin Republic     Damilola Yusuf     Lanre Issa-Onilu     Jimoh Akani     Ayobami Akanbi     Lithium Deposit     Ayo Opadokun     Shehu Salau     Muhammad Ghali Alaaya     Femtech     Oluranti Idowu     Aisha Gobir     Aso Ofi     Gani Saadu     Kwara Basketball Association     Sa\'adu Gambari     Arca Santa     Sherif Sagaya     Iyiola Oyedepo     Ayoade Akinnibosun     Okin Group     Facebook     Chief Imam Of Omu-Aran     Young Progressives Party     Haashim Initiative For Community Advancement     Yemi Sanni     Olubukola Kifayat Adedeji     Afusat Nike Ibrahim     Olomu     David Oyepinola Adedumoye     Abioye Bello     Ahmed Shuaib Buranga     Ijagbo Health Centre     Okiki     Age AbdulKareem     Isiaka AbdulRazaq     Mary Kemi Adeosun     Lola Ashiru     Afolabi-Oshatimehin Adenike Harriet     Dauda Adeniran Adeshola     Abikan     Elections     Sheikh Ridhwanullah     Abdulmumini Sanni Jawondo     Ilorin Amusement Park     COVID-19 Palliatives     IPSAS     Shuaib Boni Aliyu     Imodoye Writer’s Enclave     Bamidele Adegoke Oladimeji     Kola Adesina     Taofeeq Olateju     New Naira Notes     Samuel Elizabeth Keatswa     Sunset Workers     Toyin Olayinka Tejidini     Sunday Fagbemi     Kwara Coalition Of Business And Professional Associations     Abdullahi Imam Abdullahi     Bayo Mohammed Onimode     Frootify     Jumoke F. Ajao     Chikanda     Ita-Ore     Lateef Ademola Olatunji     Kayode Zubair     Ahmed     Usman Yunusa     Boko Haram     Busari Alabi Alausa     Tsaragi-Share     Yahya Mohammed     Adebayo Salami     Abdulwahab Olarewaju Issa     Bisi Oyeleke