Date: 2018-03-07

Eleven months to the 2019 general elections, political landscape in Kwara State has taken a new shape with opposition making moves to undo the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). The President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, was in the state weekend to commission some of his office in Kwara Central. AHMED 'LATEEF reports.

If the timetable released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the conduct of the 2019 general elections is anything to go by, all appears set for major political battle across the country.

Politics would in the next few months take an unimaginable dimension as both the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition led by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) engage one another by the jugular.

Though indication to this effect began shortly after the PDP successfully concluded its National Convention where Prince Uche Secondus emerged the National Chairman of the party. The convention was seen as last chance for the leading opposition party to reclaim its position in the polity, failure of which could bring about its ignominious end in the political annals of the nation.

With the nationwide congresses and national convention, the PDP is apparently better positioned and currently putting the APC to task and given it a good run for its money. Unlike before that the PDP was in disarray due to internal strife amplified by supremacy battle, it is now seen as a pound in the flesh of the APC.

The role of the opposition in making and unmaking of democratic setting cannot be over-emphasised. It is that role that was lacking in the past that made the ruling party to have gone with two eyes closed. Ever since the PDP got its acts together, the narrative had obviously changed. It has continued to take on policies and programmes of the APC, especially when perceived to be punitive for the masses. Whether the PDP is trying to make political capital out of its frequent criticism of the APC government, timely will surely tell.

As opposition is making desperate moves with threat to sack the ruling party at the centre in the 2019 polls by capitalising on its failings, so also it percolates down across the states of the federation where the ruling and the opposition parties are not leaving anything to chance to undo each other.

There are other opposition political parties that are also oiling their machinery to spring surprises in the make or mar elections for the ruling party. Among them are Labour Party (LP), Social Democratic Party (SDP), Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), National Conscience Party and of recent is Coalition for Nigeria Movement founded by former President Olusegun Obasanjo but with a vow to quit if it metamorphosed into a political party.

As rhythm of politics is changing and tempo heightening at the national level, so also at the states. The story is not different from Kwara State where the major opposition party, PDP is taking on the government in power as well as political leadership in the state.

Saved for any opposing view, the state political leadership is generally believed to be at the behest of the President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki. In recent time however, there have been allegations and counter allegations on the political leadership of Saraki and the need to uproot the political structure that has apparently become deeply rooted.

The opposition is not taking it lightly and deploying weapons in its armoury to change the perception of the voting populace and the urgent move to alter and replace the status quo.

The incessant criticism of the political structure through radio programmes in the state has risen awareness politically and both the ruling and opposing camps have returned to the drawing boards to ascertain better ways to navigate into the heart of the masses ahead of the election time.

Because Bukola Saraki has not rested in sustaining the political dynasty of Saraki, he is seen as stumbling block and must be crushed before having a smooth sail to power. His representation of Kwara Central Senatorial District at the National Assembly has become a subject of debate among members of the opposition, who are currently making frantic effort to unseat him.

However, the President of the Senate is also making a deft move to unhorse the opposition that has somewhat received public sympathy through its weekly radio programmes.

Beside frequent empowerment scheme he rolls out to the people of Kwara Central, Saraki has also seen the need to warm his way into the heart of the people through financial help, scholarship and employment opportunities for jobless youths.

Some few weeks ago, the ABS Mandate office of the Senate President defrayed the examination fees of Students preparing for Senior School Certificate Examination. Hundreds of them also benefited from free JAMB forms for the forthcoming Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

Apparently as a way of sending strong signal to opposition that Kwara is no go area for them, Saraki stormed Ilorin, the state capital last Friday where he commissioned ABS Constituency Office outlets in Akanbi Ward Five Oke-Oyi/Oke-Ose Ward in Ilorin South and Ilorin East Local Government Areas of the state respectively. The office outlets had been opened in the 52 Wards of Kwara Central and would serve as annexes for ABS Mandate Office.

At the commissioning of the offices, the President of the Senate was ushered into the venues with members and supporters of the APC singing his praises. It was another day for him to re-enact his popularity among party loyalists and supporters.

The Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Dr Ali Ahmad, was among staunch allies of Saraki that accompanied him to the places he visited and particularly the commissioning of the ABS office outlets.

Contrary to erroneous impression on the rationale behind the proliferation of the ABS offices, Saraki said his intention to open office outlets across the 52 wards of Kwara Central was to make his representation pervades every part of the Senatorial District.

He said the opening of the offices would avail him more opportunities to reach out to the people in the areas of educational scholarship, empowerment and employment.

Saraki noted that people remain the cornerstone of democracy, saying their welfare should be of paramount importance at all time.

With the opening of the office outlets, the Senate President said the era of some people manipulating employment opportunities provided through his coordinating Mandate Office had ended.

He said people would, by implication of the new office outlets, have unhindered access to him and channel their requests as appropriate.

"It has always been in our agenda to reach out to people and be closer to them. We have always been doing our best to represent and feed them back on what we are doing.

"We have therefore opened our constituency office outlets to further bring down government closer to the people. With these offices across the 52 wards in Kwara Central, people can communicate us effectively without any hindrance.

"We have heard that some people used to change things whenever you approach us for inquiry or assistance, I want to assure you that with these offices, there is no room for manipulation anymore. People would be able to reach and communicate us. We are doing more in the areas of empowerment, employment and scholarship for the people", the President of the Senate said.

Saraki challenged members and supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to mobilise themselves and prepare for the task ahead of them.

Shortly after performing the commissioning of the office outlets, the President of the Senate moved to Tsaragi where he paid condolence visit on the Etsu of Tsaragi, Alhaji Aliyu Ndakpoto, over the demise of his wife.

He also paid similar visit to the family of late Alhaji Saidu Issa, former Minister of State for Education and the Emir of Lafiagi, Alhaji Sa'adu Kawu Aliru, where he joined Muslim congregants to observe Jummat prayer.