Kwara North set to take power 2023, MoU signed

Leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State, led by the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, have signed a pact with traditional and political leaders from the Kwara North senatorial district of the state, agreeing to a shift of power to the Kwara North by 2023.

Speaking with journalists after signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Ilorin on Sunday night, the party’s state chairman, Alhaji Kola Shittu and Director General of the Mandate Campaign, Professor Sulyman Abubakar, said that the implication of the agreement is that the party’s 2019 governorship candidate, Razaq Atunwa, would spend only one term if the party wins the forthcoming election on March 4, 2019.

Professor Abubakar, who read the communique issued at the end of the meeting, indicated that traditional rulers from the zone as well as the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Gambari witnessed and endorsed the MoU.

Text of the communique reads: “About an hour ago, the PDP Kwara State Leadership just completed a meeting with Leaders of Thought from the Kwara North Senatorial District. The meeting was also attended by leaders of the party across the state.”

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“The sole purpose of the meeting was for us to have an understanding on specific terms on issues bordering on power shift, cohesion, giving sense of belonging and inclusiveness to our people across all the three Senatorial Districts.”

“The conclusion of the meeting is that there will be power shift to Kwara North in 2023. Also, the positions of Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly and Secretary to Kwara State Government have been zoned to Kwara North in the post- May 2019 government.

“The understanding has been committed to writing and signed by all key stakeholders present.

“The stakeholders present at the meeting include National Leader of PDP, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, Governor Abdulfatai Ahmed, gubernatorial candidate of the party, Rt. Hon. Rasak Atunwa, Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Dr. Alli Ahmad, Director General of the Mandate 2019, Prof. Abubakar Sulaimon, Chairman of the Party, Eng. Kola Shittu and other leaders of the party in the three Senatorial districts.

“Traditional rulers from Kwara North Senatorial District and Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu Gambari were consulted on the understanding and they gave their royal blessing to the terms and contents.”

“In their speeches at the meeting, the traditional rulers expressed support for any move that will ensure equity, justice and unity among all the various zones in the state. They also noted that their decision to serve as witnesses is based on the need to ensure that political leaders honour and respect the contents of the understanding and work for peace and progress of the state before, during and after the general elections.”

“Also, in return, the people of Kwara North have agreed to deliver the bloc vote from the zone to the Peoples Democractic Party (PDP) in the general elections.

“We believe this understanding aimed at re-enforcing the unity, harmony and even development of our dear state is definitely necessary for the continued progress of Kwara State now and in the future.”