Some leaders of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State have pledged their loyalty to Governor Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq, describing his leadership style, humility and attachment to the poor as a breath of fresh air.
The PDP leaders, comprising of six out of 16 suspended council chairmen, women and youth leaders, spoke late Tuesday when they visited the governor in Government House, Ilorin.
However, speaking on the development, the state public relations officer of the PDP, Tunde Ashaolu, said that the party had not decamped to the APC in the state, adding that members of the party who paid the courtesy call on the governor are on their own.
“Those people had been meeting with the APC in the state from time. They may say they want to decamp, it’s not a big deal to us. And it doesn’t mean that we’ve disowned them. They’ve made a personal and voluntary choice. It’s their personal decision.
For us, it’s nothing to worry about. It’s only showed that they had been having underhand dealings with the ruling party before now. For us, the party is not shaken and remains indissoluble. The PDP did not suspend them. Some of the people were those council chairmen suspended by the governor. So, it’s a way to coerce them into the ruling party,” he said.
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One of the PDP chieftains, Obalola Suleiman, from Ifelodun local government area, said at the meeting that, “We can see a difference and people can feel that they have a government. The situation has changed in the area of road construction, water, health. You have also brought unmatched humility to governance.
“You have started very well and our people are happy. We urge you to continue along that path. We are willing to work with you for the overall interest of our state.”
Ben Duntoye, a former commissioner and PDP chieftain from Irepodun local government area of the state, corroborated Obalola, saying that, “You are a silent achiever. We can see things for ourselves and we want to be a part of this success story. We can see that you are doing more work than talk. This is evident in our various communities”.
Also speaking, Yahaya Yinusa, a prominent PDP chieftain from Kwara North popularly called ‘Bulldozer,’ also commended Abdulrazaq’s leadership and said the next few months would record influx of thousands of opposition figures into the ruling APC on account of the governor’s effort to reposition Kwara.
“I am not surprised at the positive turn of things in Kwara. We were in CPC together and I can tell the great roles you played in assisting many of us who were contesting at the time. Your work is really speaking for you,” Yinusa said.
Garba Labaka, suspended chairman of Ifelodun local government area, commended the governor for his “unrivaled tolerance and political maturity”, saying the governor has neither stopped their salary nor subjected them to harassment as was the case in some other states.
“This clearly sets you apart as a great leader. We are very grateful to you for your tolerance and large-heartedness,” he said, adding that he has the mandate of all his colleagues to thank the governor as well as appeal to him to return them to office.
Bilikisu Sanni, a retired permanent secretary, and PDP chieftain said the governor has made history as the most gender-friendly leader in the history of the state.
“We will continue to be grateful to you for this singular honour you’ve done to us as women. You have also changed the face of governance. It’s an entirely new pleasant experience for the people of Kwara a State,” she said.
Abdulrazaq, for his part, commended the opposition leaders for the visit and said he sees everyone as critical stakeholders for a greater Kwara state.
“The situation we have found ourselves in Kwara is such that all hands must be on deck to move the state forward. We need everybody on board in this task. That is why I treat everyone as fellow Kwaran. From the civil service to other sectors, my concern has been how to stabilise our state for posterity,” he said.
Abdulrazaq explained his various interventions in the health and education sectors, water, road, as well as his upcoming efforts to tackle poverty and grow the economy through social investment programmes and health insurance schemes, drawing applause from members of the opposition.
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