Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara has said only Senator Bukola Saraki can negotiate on behalf of the state chapter of the PDP on whether they should join the All Progressive Congress, APC, or not.

This was even as he  has  pledged to find a lasting solution to the communal clash between Alapa and Agboro communities in the state.

Ahmed said this, yesterday, in Ilorin when he received the national leaders of APC, who were in the state to invite him to join the party.

The governor is one of the seven PDP governors currently having a misunderstanding with their party.

Ahmed said though APC was a formidable party, PDP was taking necessary measures to resolve the crisis within its ranks.

He, however, said given the prevailing political structure in Kwara, only Saraki could determine the next move of the PDP members in the state.

Ahmed said the people of the state belong to a political dynasty and would not give away the structure at any cost.

"It is an existing structure for the past 40 years with assured election winning machinery", he said.

He, however, said the dynasty was ready to collaborate with any political party with a view to moving the nation forward.
His words: "The APC has turned itself into a formidable party. One can reasonably say that the leadership of the party has come to Kwara to market the party.

"But before anything else, let me tell the leaders of the APC that we have a structure called 'Election Winning Machinery' here in Kwara State.

"We are one big family here, under a political structure inherited by our leader, Dr Bukola Saraki. He has given all of us joy and comfort that he can lead us well.

"That is why we want to see ourselves joining hands with any party with respect for internal democracy because that is where our strength lies."

Former governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu had earlier called for the progressive-minded Nigerians to close ranks with a view to bringing positive changes to the polity.

He said given its abundant material resources, the nation should not be suffering from high rate of unemployment and poverty.

Tinubu described the APC as a child of necessity, formed in order to save the country from its present social, political and economic problems.

Other members of the delegation included, former Head of State Gen Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), APC Interim National Chairman Chief Bisi Akande, former governor of Edo, Mr. John Oyegun, former governor of Benue Mr. George Akume and former Speaker, House of Representatives, Aminu Masari, among others.

Meanwhile, speaking when he inaugurated a seven-member judicial commission of enquiry into the Alapa-Agboro communal clash in Asa Local Government Area of the state, Gov. Abdulfatah promised to find lasting solution to the crises.

He was represented by his deputy, Elder Peter Kishira, described the destruction of lives and property during the crisis as alien to the ways of life of people of the state.

Ahmed condemned the increasing use of violence as a means of settling disputes between hitherto friendly neighbours, reiterating that violence had never been part of "our culture in Kwara State".

He, however, pleaded with the people of the community to bury the hatchet and live in peace.

He vowed that everything possible would be done to ensure that the incident did not happen again.
Ahmed enjoined the commission to identify the perpetrators of the violence and proffer solutions to the perennial dispute.

The committee's Chairman, Justice Baba Muhammed, thanked the government for the confidence reposed in the members of the committee.