Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

The National Director of the ICT and Media 11, Face of Good Governance Nigeria (FOGGN), and a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Hon. Adeyemi Timothy Oluwaseun, has charged the youths to prioritize technology and skills acquisition towards bridging youth unemployment gap and driving economic productivity in the country.

Adeyemi gave the charge on Saturday in Ganmo, Ifelodun local government area of Kwara State at a special grassroots mobilisation for Tinubu’s reelection bid as well as all the other APC candidates across the country and medical outreach featuring free eyes tests and treatment, adding that the youths “are not only the leaders of tomorrow but also important stakeholders in the Nigeria of today”.

He added: “Get involved. Acquire skills. Support your communities. Participate in politics peacefully and responsibly. Use technology positively and make your voice count.

“As the Director responsible for ICT and Media, I strongly believe that technology and responsible communication can help us build bridges, educate our people and promote development.

“Let us continue to work together for peace, progress and development.
Let us continue to believe in Nigeria.
Let us continue to support initiatives that bring tangible benefits to our communities. And let us continue to build a Nigeria where every citizen has an opportunity to live a better life. Together, we can build a greater Nigeria. Together, we can strengthen our communities. Together, we can promote good governance.”

The APC chieftain specifically appealed to the people of the Ifelodun local government area, particularly the people of Oro-Ago Kingdom, to continue to support the APC, and vote for all the party’s candidates across board, adding that: “Let us support Hon. Yakub Danladi Salihu for Governor of Kwara State and Hon. Seun Ogunniyi for Deputy Governor. Let us support Hon. Prince Lekan Adewoye for Senator representing Kwara South Senatorial District. Let us support Hon. Rafiu Ajakaye for the House of Representatives. And let us also support our dear brother, Hon. Benjamin Oyinloye, for the Kwara State House of Assembly.”

He added: “I urge our people to come together, remain peaceful and united, and exercise their civic responsibility by voting for the candidates of their choice. Let us continue to support leaders who we believe will represent our interests and contribute to the development of our communities and Kwara State.”

The National Director said: “We recognise that transforming a country as large and diverse as Nigeria is not an overnight task. There are challenges, but there are also opportunities, and we believe that Nigerians must continue to participate constructively in the development of our nation.

“Today is not just another political gathering. Today is a demonstration of our commitment to grassroots development, good governance, community service and the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“Our organisation believes that leadership is not only about speaking to the people during elections. Leadership is also about being present in the communities, listening to the people, identifying their needs and providing meaningful support.

“That is why we have combined our grassroots mobilisation efforts with this Free Eye Medical Outreach, realising that good health is fundamental to productivity and quality of life. Many people, particularly in underserved communities, experience avoidable challenges with their eyesight but may not have the resources to access proper screening and eye care.

“Through this outreach, we are bringing free eye screening, vision checks and eye-care advice closer to our people.”

Speaking before the commencement of the eyes’ medical outreach, Dr. Soladoye spoke on two major eye ailments – cataract and glaucoma – urging the people to embrace regular medical check up of their eyes to avoid blindness.

In his goodwill message, the
Supervisory Counselor for Health in Ifelodun LGA, Hon. Taiwo Micheal Babatunde, commended FOGGN National Director for bringing the programme to the local government, saying it’s complementary of the efforts of the government, urging the people to take the medical outreach seriously by taking good care of their eyes.

Also speaking, the APC Chairman of the Oro-Ago Ward, Com. David Abidemi Oyedeji, who lauded both the mobilisation programme and the medical outreach, urged support for all the APC candidates across the country so as to enjoy more dividends of democracy.

An APC stalwart, Otunba Engr. Simeon Adebayo Daramola, whole applauding the programme, called for the support of the people to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s, Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Speaker Salihu Yakub Danladi, who is the Kwara State APC governorship candidate, and all the other APC candidates in the State and to also take good care of their eyes to avoid going blind.

• Say Gov’s gender inclusion policy, other feats will speak for him at polls

Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

Thousands of the All Progressives Congress (APC) women in the Kwara Central Senatorial District have held a mega rally in Ilorin to mobilise support for the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and election of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, who is the party’s flag-bearer for the Kwara Central Senatorial ticket in the forthcoming general elections.

The rally, led by the Senior Special Assistant, Women Mobilization, Hon Monsurat Abimbola Lawal, kicked off at the General Hospital Roundabout Ilorin and criss-crossed some major streets of the city, including Surulere, Agaka, Oja Oba market, Gambari, Ita-adu, Kankatu, Omoda and Alore.

The marchers, who were decked in uniform, danced to different pro-APC lyrics while also displaying their various banners.

“This public demonstration is rooted in our love, support and commitment to mobilizing votes for our hard working leader and Governor, Mall. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, who is contesting for the Senate,” Hon Monsurat Lawal told reporters on the sidelines of the rally.

“We also staged the rally in support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other APC candidates across the state. And we believe that Kwarans are students of history, who have felt impacts of this government in positive ways. They know the difference between Kwara of yesterday and today. We are confident that they would not make moves that could bring us back. We are indeed going forward.”

She sued for continued peace and unity among party faithful and for an unwavering support for APC candidates across board.

Councilor of Warah-Oshin/Egbejila Ward and Deputy Speaker of Ilorin West Legislative Council, Hon. Sherifat Balogun, for her part, appealed to all aggrieved members of the party to join the moving train in the interest of the state, saying the Governor is doing a lot to transform Kwara.

She noted that the APC is in charge of Kwara State, given ‘the organic crowd’ and the massive support the government continues to enjoy from the residents, who she said have seen the difference.

“APC is in charge, as evident in the turnout. We didn’t hire anybody. You can see all of us in uniform. These are just a few of us who came out from Kwara Central, because it’s a voluntary rally. Nobody is paying us for anything,” she said, explaining that the purpose was chiefly to prove the Governor’s success story and the feedback from citizens, particularly the people of Kwara Central.

“We are appealing to the aggrieved members to join the moving train for the continuity of good works that the Governor is doing.”

A member from Oloje Ward, Amb. Zakariya Muminat Jumai, hailed AbdulRazaq’s commitment to gender inclusion, saying the administration continues to empower and give women and youth the opportunity to participate in decision making.

She said: “The major party we have in Kwara is APC. Others are minority and we are majority. We can beat our chest and tell the whole world that APC is 100% in Kwara State, and we guarantee that we will be the winner of the upcoming elections, Insha Allah.

“We just gathered members of APC who are here to display support and promote the candidates. We are here to canvas for them, to let them know the purpose of women, and to let them know the women are behind them.

“We are innovative and we appreciate the Governor for motivating us. We have women, who are commissioners, senior special assistants (SSAs) and special assistants (SAs), among others and they are performing creditably well.”

Hajia Falilat Saka (aka Iya Eleja) said the rally was to show solidarity for the candidacy of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Hon Salihu Yakubu Danladi and all other APC candidates.

“Today’s rally shows that women in Kwara Central and across the state are solidly behind Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Hon Salihu Yakubu Danladi and other APC candidates, and they would all have the day in the 2027 general elections,” she said.

Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ilorin West Local Government Area of Kwara State has held a mega rally across major communities in the local government area, with a massive and enthusiastic crowd turning out to demonstrate support for the party and its candidates ahead of the 2027 elections.

The rally, convened by the PDP Chairman in Ilorin West Local Government Area, Mallam Abdulkadir Issa, and his executive committee, was organised as part of the party’s voter sensitisation, mobilisation and awareness campaign, as well as to appreciate the people for their continued support.

The rally commenced at Omoda Roundabout and moved through Odeadana, Alore, Oloje, Itamerin, Pakata, Idigba, Gaa Aremu and Adeta, before proceeding through Agbo-Oba, Surulere, Adabata and Agaka communities.

The rally finally ended at Oja Oba, at the palace of the Emir of Ilorin, after covering a significant part of Ilorin West Local Government Area.

The crowd continued to grow as the rally moved from one community to another, with residents joining the procession along the route. Despite the long distance covered, the people remained energetic and enthusiastic, with the rally maintaining its momentum until its final destination.

The exercise witnessed the participation of PDP members from the 12 political wards in Ilorin West, alongside community leaders, marketers, transporters, youths, women and other residents who came out to identify with the party.

The rally was also used to canvass support for the PDP candidates, including its governorship candidate, Engr. Sulaiman Bolakale Kawu; Kwara Central Senatorial candidate, Senator Saliu Mustapha; House of Representatives candidate for Asa/Ilorin West Federal Constituency, Prof. Abdulfatai Aremu; and the party’s candidates for the two State Assembly constituencies in Ilorin West, Barr. Abdulhammed Tunji and Mallam Alfanla.

Speaking at the rally, Barr. Abdulhammed Tunji thanked PDP members and residents for the massive turnout and show of support.

He specifically appreciated community members, marketers, transporters and other stakeholders who joined the rally, assuring them that a PDP government would bring fresh hands, new ideas and purposeful leadership aimed at improving the lives of the people.

The convener of the rally, Mallam Abdulkadir Issa, appreciated PDP members across the 12 political wards of Ilorin West for their commitment and mobilisation.

He also commended residents across the communities for the warm reception given to the rally train, noting that the enthusiastic response in areas including Pakata, Idigba and Adeta demonstrated what he described as the growing popularity of the PDP in the local government.

He said the reception was particularly significant because the rally passed through communities with strong political relevance, adding that the turnout reflected the party’s expanding grassroots support.

Also speaking, the PDP Kwara Central Senatorial District Chairman, Alhaji Isiaka Babatunde Owolabi, appreciated the leadership of the party for providing the people with what he described as an alternative platform to the APC administration.

Owolabi attributed the growing support for the PDP to what he described as dissatisfaction with the performance of the APC government in the state.

He alleged that the administration had lost focus and track of the needs of the people, describing it as divisive and disconnected from the challenges confronting ordinary residents.

He assured the people that a PDP government would work to restore Kwara’s reputation as a peaceful and secure state while prioritising inclusive governance and development.

Owolabi also commended the leadership of Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki for the choice of PDP candidates, describing them as individuals with proven integrity, experience and records of selfless service to humanity.

The PDP House of Assembly candidate for Ilorin Central, Mallam Alfanla, also appreciated the people for the impressive turnout and called on residents to support all PDP candidates at the state and National Assembly levels.

The rally comes amid growing political realignments and defections across Kwara State, with the PDP increasingly positioning itself as a formidable alternative to the ruling APC.

The party said the massive turnout, the continuous growth of the crowd along the route and the enthusiastic reception across communities were indications of what it described as the changing political mood in the state ahead of the 2027 elections.