A popular saying among Nigerians is that a weekend that holds strong promises will begin to show positive signs from Friday. This succinctly explains the current socio-political situation in Kwara State, popularly referred to as State of Harmony.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) administration of Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed said it has been keeping faith with the yearnings of the people as expressed during the last election campaigns in Kwara, and hence had been using the information gathered to guide its transformation agenda for taking the state to a new sphere of development.

The administration, which prides itself as a government of continuity, hopes to build on the existing level of development, as laid down by the immediate past administration of Dr. Bukola Saraki, with a determination to set a synergy between the past and future levels of development in the state. Armed with a master plan, formulated by the demands and needs of the populace, the present administration is embarking on development programmes in some key sectors of the state's economy with the determination to showcase some of the completed works to the people in its first 100 days in office.

While critics of the government, constituted mainly by members of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), keep the government on its toes with constant comments on almost every step taken, the present administration has been busy with plans and programmes aimed at meeting the expectations of the people.

The Senior Special Adviser to the governor on media, Dr Muyideen Akorede, who spoke with Gamji on efforts by the PDP government in effecting changes in some sectors of the state's economy, said various ongoing development projects include completion of renovation work on the Shari'a Court of Appeal complex, Ilorin, in the office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG). He added that the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Secretariat, Ilorin, in the office of Head of Service, would also be completed before the celebration of 100 days in office of the new administration.

On provision of potable water to rural areas of the state, he said rehabilitation works on Pepele Waterworks, located in Ilorin East Local Government Area, meant to serve seven communities, was still going on, adding that provision of boreholes across the three senatorial districts in the state would include 40 motorised and 32 hand pumps. Dr Akorede also said that government had purchased and repaired Roro bins to take care of collection of refuse across the metropolis.

Meanwhile, investigations conducted on major roads in Ilorin, the state capital, and its environs showed that Operation Free Potholes, designed to fill pot holes that had been disturbing free vehicular movement, has almost completed work on the roads, while the contractor handling the Osi Etan-Ekiti State Boundary Road pledged to deliver the road project before the 100 days in office of the new government.

Also, Governor Ahmed recently provided mobility aids to 100 disabled persons as part of his administration's efforts to ensure the integration of physically-challenged people in the state into the mainstream society and  as part of his 100 days' projects. The governor is also billed to commission the newly-refurbished School of Special Needs in the state capital on the same occasion.

The governor's aide said both projects were in fulfilment of Ahmed's inaugural pledge to run an inclusive government which would give all in the state a sense of belonging, and give the less-privileged in the society all the support needed to actively participate in all aspects of the social, economic and political life in the state.

On the state's School for Special Needs which he inspected immediately after he came into office, the governor said the renovation was  in fulfilment of his pledge to completely transform the school within a year, adding that it was also part of his efforts to empower youths in the state through the provision of quality education, need-based modern skills and employment.

He said mobility aids were based on requests made to the state government for assistance. A breakdown shows that the mobility aids comprise 20 tricycles, 40 wheel chairs, 20 hearing aids and 20 crutches. He also said that the 100 days projects were designed to ensure that Kwarans felt the impact of governance within the shortest possible time.

The government's spokesman said the efforts made to improve the energy sector included ongoing rural electrification network in Yagbagi and Kampe in Patigi local government areas and the installation of three 300/33 KVA distribution transformers at Kanbi and Jokolu communities. Others, according to Dr Akorede, included the installation of one 200/33 transformers at Aran Orin in the Irepodun local government and installation of two 300 KVA transformers at Agbabiaka in Ilorin South Local Government Area.

Among other projects of the government are the provision of 72 boreholes across the three senatorial zones, road maintenance and construction, and a youth employment scheme designed to provide an initial 2,000 jobs.

Many people spoken with in various parts of the state attested to the performance of the present administration in less than three months of assumption of office, while they enjoined the governor not to relent in his efforts at providing dividends of democracy to the people, particularly at the grass roots.

Ade Amos, a general manager at a telecommunication company in Ilorin said, "He is performing, no doubt about that. Even members of the opposition can only point to areas that need improvement, not that he is not doing something. One thing that should be said is that the performance should not be like a short rainfall. He should keep it up to continue to enjoy the support of the populace."

Amos, who said the state could now boast of infrastructure and amenities available in other leading states in the country, added that gone were the days when Kwara State was referred to as a backward state.

Also speaking, a community leader, Chief Adegboyega Ahmad, however expressed scepticism on the sustenance of the performance of the state government, saying that politicians in the state would not give the governor room to perform.