• As candidates reassured of massive support

Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

The candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State have resumed their state-wide ‘thank you’ visit in the Central Senatorial District after rounding off the Southern turn.

The visit, which commenced in Afon, the headquarters of the Asa Local Government Area, and also covered the Ilorin West Local Government Area, was led by the gubernatorial candidate and Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Salihu Yakubu Danladi. The team was warmly received in both local government areas by traditional chiefs, some government officials, religious leaders, and an array of party faithful.

Balogun Alanamu of Ilorin, Dr Usman Abubakar Atolagbe Jos, who spoke for the Emir of Ilorin, described the visit as thoughtful and a show of respect for the traditional institution, praying Allaah to grant them success at the polls.

“When we heard you were coming to Ilorin West, the Emir of Ilorin, under whom this local government area is, mandated us to receive you. You are being received here this afternoon by Magajis, Alanguas, and Daudus in Ilorin West Local Government area as instructed by the Emir,” Balogun told the candidates in his palace.

“As you have said that Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and Sardauna Ngeri asked you to come to us, we are happy to receive you and we pray Almighty Allah to protect and grant you victory. I also pray for the successful completion of the administration of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.”

The District Head of Balah, Alhaji Kolapo Abdulkadir, led other district heads in Asa LGA to receive the APC team, while praying for the electoral success of Hon Danladi and other candidates.

The community leader pledged overwhelming votes for APC candidates.

Speaking on behalf of the team, Danladi thanked the traditional and religious leaders and party stakeholders in Ilorin West and Asa for their support, which he said would lead the party to victory.

He commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the stability of the country, saying: “The President has done a lot and by His grace, his second term is assured for continuity of progress and development.

“We are here to thank the people of Ilorin West. That is the purpose of coming here today. We are here to reassure you that, by His grace, as you stand for APC, we are going to win. Relax your mind. Let campaign starts.

“In this hall are youth, women and elders. We have who is who in Ilorin West Local Government here. We thank you for standing by us. I want to reassure you that you will not be disappointed as far as APC is concerned.

“You already know what your son, His Excellency Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has done for Ilorin West and Kwara State in general. What he is doing will never stop. You will not be disappointed for having SYD.”

House of Representatives’ member and candidate for Ilorin West and Asa Federal Constituency, Hon Mukhtar Tolani Shagaya, while speaking in Afon (Asa), said he was confident that all the party candidates would coast home to victory come 2027, adding that the people of the State would not want to go backward.

Chairman, Lower Niger River Basin Development Authority and a native of Asa, Alhaji Abdullateef Gidado Alakawa, said Governor AbdulRazaq could not have achieved this much if his government lacked adequate support of the legislative arm.

Calling him a grassroots politician with electoral value, Alakawa commended Danladi for giving the Governor the needed legislative support to deliver his campaign promises to the citizens.

Chairman, Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Prof. Shehu Raheem Adaramaja, said Asa LGA benefitted a lot under the administration, pointing out some of its achievements in key sectors, including in education, road and health sectors, and social investment programmes.

Alhaji Issa Amasa, a party elder in Asa, who vouched for the integrity, humility and competency of Hon. Danladi, advised him to continually make himself accessible to the masses even after achieving his political ambition.

An aide to Senator Ibrahim Yahya Oloriegbe, Engr Jimoh Ajani Olarenwaju from Ilorin West, who said that party politics requires members to be loyal and dedicated to the ideals of the party, appealed to those who are aggrieved to embrace peace and work for the success of the party.

“I believe Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has performed exceedingly well,” he said.

“Party politics is about dedication, commitment and absolute loyalty to the leadership of the party. That is what we believe an average politician should possess. In APC, we accept all our candidates as produced from the primaries.”

Accompanied by members of the state House of Assembly and some party chieftains, the candidates were hosted in Ilorin West by Senior Adviser and Counsellor to the Governor, Alhaji Sa’adu Salau; Chairman Ilorin West LGA, Hon. AbdulRahman Ladan; Alhaji Mustapha Kobe; Dr Ghali Alaya; Hon. Bamidele Aluko; Alhaji Abdulrazaq Jiddah; Alhaji Ibrahim Danmeigoro, Engr AbdulRahman Giwa, and various support groups.