The Kwara State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) appears not leaving any stone unturned to ensuring that it sack the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the State in a build up to 2015, going by its strategies and activities in recent times.

Signs that the party means political business were manifested in the ways and manners it conducted its State congress recently. The executives led by Akogun Iyiola Oyedepo have since proved the doubting Thomas’s that the PDP was not only running an all inclusive administration, but remains an indivisible united family.

To further convince stakeholders in the Kwara project of its readiness to take over the reins of government in the State of Harmony next year, the party penultimate Saturday organized a one-day retreat for its members across the State.

The immediate past Deputy Governor of the State and chairman of the occasion, Chief Joel Ogundeji in his remarks at the retreat with the theme: “A new dawn for the development of Kwara State”, said contrary to the insinuation that PDP is dead in the State, “the party is alive and vibrant”

He assured that the party would toe the part of equity, fairness and justice if given the peoples’ mandate to rule in 2015, stressing that committed leadership, participatory governance and collective responsibility were prerequisites for the accelerated development of the State. According to him, party leaders must be fair to all so that the essence of democracy would not only be seen to be preached, but also be seen to be practiced.

His words: “I, therefore, charge party leaders and other relevant stakeholders to shun selfish gratification and collaborate to transform Kwara State to the hub of socio-economic growth in the comity of States in Nigeria. Today, the present PDP is taking steps not only to reverse, but correct the ugly activities of the recent past.

“Therefore, this discourse could not have come at a better time, if only we will build a Kwara of our dream where equity, fair play, decorum and genuine democracy will thrive.

“A State where all our children will be able to raise their heads and say ‘Thank God for creating me here’; a place where every child has equal chance and opportunity and not a place where some are treated as second class citizens. Not a place where people are retired from active service based on sentiments and without due regard to the fear of God and rule of law; A place where though, tribe and tongue may differ, where religion may differ, but that we stand in brotherhood”.

The State chairman of PDP, Akogun Oyedepo, said the retreat was aimed at training party members and workers on the modus operandi of the party, with a view to assisting them in their membership drive for the party.

“Those that would recruit members as well as mobilize voters for the party to win elections must themselves be fully equipped and prepared to do the job effectively. The retreat was a significant part of the party’s tripod policy of sensitisation, mobilisation and organization. It is not good to send party workers out without adequate training and information about the party manifesto and programmes”, he maintained.

The first assignment arising from the retreat, Oyedepo explained, is the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) programme of Permanent Voters Card (PVC) which would replace the Temporary Voters Card (TVC), with those who registered in the past and the Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) for those that may want to register afresh.

According to him, both are germane to winning elections in 2015, urging party faithful to adequately mobilize prospective voters for either the PVC or CVR, adding that for electorate for the electorate to exercise their franchise in next general elections, permanent voters card must be obtained by them.

The chairman stated: “The assignment before all of us is to mobilize prospective voters for either PVC or CRV. Since time is of essence and as the program forms the beginning of our electoral success next year, we need to do it with all sense of dedication and responsibility”.

The PDP boss who hinted that the State edition of fund raising will hold immediately after Ramadan, stressed that joint public funding of the party will be fully encouraged with a view to giving members sense of belonging.

“Our party is being funded by members and people now participated in the funding of the party according to capacities. With the very successful stakeholders’ fund raising held recently, the spirit of commitments through joint funding of the party programs and projects is now fully established in the party”, he explained.

At the occasion, papers were presented by various speakers. In his paper entitled: “PDP: The challenge of opportunity”,  a retired Director, Federal Ministry of Health, Dr. Hezekiah Oyedepo, charged PDP members on the need for loyalty, diligence, tenacity of purpose and support from the party faithful with a view to building a strong and formidable platform that is capable of entrenching true democracy in the State.

He identified poverty and underdevelopment as some of the challenges bedeviling the State, even as he advocated a virile legislative arm that would not be compromised under any guise, while also admonishing prospective party holders in the State to focus on infrastructural growth, job creation, accountability and prudence in governance towards turning the tide of the State for the better.

His words: “As we re-brand the party with clear vision, objectives, attractive products to all, targets to meet and to achieve and service to offer, we should all drink into one bottle and keep our people mobilised in order not to leave them in the dark but sharpen their expectation of our coming and our preparedness to deliver on our promise”.

In another paper entitled: “Kwara’s commonwealth: The imperative for collective leadership”, the chairman, Editorial board, Blueprint Newspaper Limited, Mallam Isiaq Modibbo Kawu, charged party members to ensure effective youth mobilization as well as keying into the party’s agenda as a way of promoting collective participation.

“It is clear that the people of Kwara are yearning for change and a new dawn. Therefore, the PDP must mobilize youths and young people because they are impatient and yearning for change. Besides, we must moderate our ambitions in order to have a common interest. We must be united and not allow anybody divide us.

“The level of poverty and alienation are very alarming in the State. We must therefore, struggle to have changes. The people should use the same platform used by the ruling party in the State to get to power to re-claim the State”, he urged.

The Speaker of the State House of Assembly between 1999 and 2003, Pastor Yisa Ezekiel Benjamin, in his own paper titled: “Transformation agenda, 2015 and beyond”, charged the party to initiate programs that would engender development and bring the dividends of democracy to the citizenry.

Benjamin, who alleged that Kwarans have been subjected to horrible conditions since 2003, maintained that the State requires courageous, focused and compassionate leaders who would make modern agriculture and industrialization the focal points of their economic policy at the helms of affairs from 2015.

His words: “He that must take the mantle of leadership as from 2015 in the State must be courageous, focused, and compassionate and must make modern agriculture and industrialization the focal points of his administration. More importantly, the person must live above board”.

The Technical Adviser of Lubcon Oil Limited and governorship aspirant in the State, Alhaji Jani Ibrahim maintained that the job ahead was very tasking and difficult, urging stakeholders’ in the PDP to work towards building unity.

“All that were said here were inspirational and inspirational. Freedom to Kwarans is not enough. We must work assiduously to build unity, consolidate and make sacrifice. We have potentials and capacities to move the State forward. Therefore, we must be focused and purposeful”, he stressed.

Dignitaries at the retreat included former presidential aspirant in the defunct National Republican Convention (NRC), Dr. Amuda Aluko, erstwhile Minister of State for Health, Dr. (Mrs.) Amina Ndalolo, second republic member of the House of Representatives, Amb. Aremu Yahaya, Deacon John Dara, immediate past Speaker of the State legislature, Hon. Babatunde Mohammed, former House of Representatives member, Hon. Nimota Oba Suleiman, Chief Henry Olaosebikan and Alhaji L. A. K. Jimoh