Date: 2019-06-14

Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara state on Friday said that the state is poised for greatness on all fronts under his administration, promising to change decades of socio-economic stagnation.

Speaking at the event commemorating the June 12 Democracy Day in Ilorin, Governor Abdulrazaq said that, "Let me reiterate that my government will carry the good people of Kwara state along in this journey of renewed hope and prosperity and never are we going to disappoint you on our campaign promises". The event was attended by thousands of supporters and creme de la creme of the state and other prominent Nigerians, including Deputy Governor Kayode Alabi; Speaker of the House of Assembly Salihu Yakubu Danladi; Secretary to the State Government Dr. Mamman Jibril; Chief of Staff Aminu Adisa Logun (mni); and members of the State House of Assembly.

Others included the state chairman of the APC Bashiru Bolarinwa; permanent secretaries; the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Gambari; businessman and son of the acclaimed winner of the June 12 presidential polls, Kola Abiola; former Deputy President of the Nigerian Labour Congress and guest speaker of the day Isa Aremu; former governorship aspirants; and several other dignitaries.

Kwara had shifted its commemoration of the event to Friday to enable the governor join his counterparts and President Muhammadu Buhari for the national celebration of June 12 in Abuja.

Mobbed by thousands of ecstatic supporters as he walked up to the stage, Abdulrazaq said he is committed to making the state a better place for every Kwaran and residents of the state.

"I promise to run an inclusive government in order to carry everyone along. No matter your age, sex or tribe, as long as you reside in Kwara State, we will make Kwara a conducive working environment for you", he said.

Abdulrazaq praised President Muhammadu Buhari for his courage to accord June 12 the national recognition it deserves and his support for the Kwara liberation struggle. "Nigerians of good conscience have lauded President Buhari for finally recognising the June 12 as Democracy Day," he said.

"We in Kwara State also owe Mr President a debt of gratitude for standing firm on his resolve that people’s votes must count in the last election. In the past, Kwarans had often voted to reject tyranny and a suffocating hold on their destiny but they always had their mandates brazenly stolen with nobody to resist such oppression. We thank Mr President for standing for truth and justice."

In his opening remarks at the event, the All Progressives Congress (APC) state chairman, Bashir Bolarinwa thanked Buhari for "his show of magnanimity for making June 12 a reality."

Former Deputy President of the Nigerian Labour Congress and guest speaker of the day, Isa Aremu, for his part, drew a similarity between the June 12 and the struggle of Kwarans, describing Abdulrazaq as a governor of destiny.

Apart from Abiola and others, he called on Buhari to immortalise other heroes of the June 12 struggle, including the late Comrade Ola Oni, Pa Anthony Enahoro, Abraham Adesanya, and Frank Kokori, among others.

Also speaking, son of the acclaimed winner of the June 12 presidential polls, Kola Abiola, said it took 25 years to get Abuja to recognise and honour the mandate of his late father.

He added, however, that the greatest legacy to the struggle is for Nigerians to treat one another as brothers as they did on the day of June 12 election.

"The significance of June 12 is not just about MKO. It also symbolises what we can do together if we set aside our differences and relate as one tribe," Kola said in his remarks at the event.

"If we do that, the sky is the limit. If we don't allow ourselves to be divided along ethnoreligious lines, we will succeed as a people. if we hold our unity then June 12 will remain alive forever".