Date: 2018-09-03

Three aspirants have declared their intention to pick the tickets of their parties for the Kwara State governorship election.

The aspirants are a former Secretary to the Kwara State Government, Alhaji Saka Isau (SAN); a former secretary, Social Development Secretariat of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, Alhaji Oladimeji Hassan; and a former deputy national chairman of the defunct Congress of Progressive Change, Mallam Saliu Mustapha.

While Isau and Hassan are vying for the ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party, Mustapha intends to be the standard bearer of the All Progressives Congress.

Isau, accompanied by Mallam Yusuf Ali, Keyinde Elega, among other SANs, revealed his intention at a media conference on Sunday in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.

He said he would make education and health the priorities of his administration, if he won the PDP governorship ticket and elected as a governor.

He said, "There is the need for someone who will consolidate on the achievements of a former Kwara State Governor, Dr Bukola Saraki, and the incumbent, Alhaji Abdukfatah Ahmed.

"Besides, Kwara State requires someone that will take measures that will further unite all communities and stop the ambition of those whose sole aim is to disintegrate us and destroy the unity and integrity of our collective existence as a state.

"In the light of the foregoing, I have decided to contest the governorship position of Kwara State under the PDP to enable me serve our dear state."

Hassan who spoke at his Gegele Ward, Ilorin during an interactive meeting with his party members intimated them of his intention to join the governorship race.

He said he was contesting to make Kwara State greater, stressing the need to improve on the welfare of the people.

Hassan said, "Democracy, as a system of government, is meant for the purpose of securing, protecting, promoting good governance, accountability and the welfare of the citizens.

"Politicians are required to implement social reforms and policy measures that would contribute to the general welfare of the populace. Politicians play a central role in people's lives; we represent the hopes, aspirations and the interests of every citizen in the state.

"We will leverage on the already recorded achievements and redouble efforts on social intervention programmes and infrastructure which will be made to reflect strongly in the people's lives in all ramifications."

Mustapha said he would make education a priority if he won the APC's ticket and the election.

He urged eligible voters to register and or collect their permanent voter cards.

He denied insinuations that he was a mole being allegedly used by the Senate President to cause problem in the APC.

Mustapha said, "I intend to partner all well-meaning Kwarans in seeing how we can fix the state; and in that line, I intend to partner others to run for the gubernatorial ticket of the state under the APC.

"We want to partner all well-meaning Kwarans because this project is a project for all hands to be on deck. For me, I think first and foremost, we must try to re-position and fix the state, and we must start from our educational angle for people to be well informed, enlightened to know the positive things that should push the state forward. And for me, one of my core areas of interest will be education and reorientation and enlightening our people so that they can know what serves them better.

"We should also encourage our people not to sit down until the year is closing before everybody will be coming out. We should please encourage them to come out and register so that they can exercise their right."