Politics

Kwara 2019: Bolaji Abdullahi, ex-Minister Abubakar, Abdulkareem Adisa’s son, Yahaya Seriki’s billboards dominate Ilorin major streets

 

…loyalists take campaign to social media

By Mumini AbdulKareem

Few months to the 2019 gubernatorial election in Kwara State, billboards of interested politicians have surfaced in strategic locations around Ilorin, the state capital.
Last night, National Pilot findings revealed that the billboards of the National Publicity Secretary of All Progressives Congress (APC), Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, former Minister of National Planning, Prof Abubakar Suleiman, Ambassador Yahaya Seriki Gambari and that of the son of late General AbdulKareem Adisa, Ismail among others have been erected in conspicuous locations across the metropolis.
Although most of the billboards were without symbols of political parties, some of the inscriptions on them can be traced to politicians who have allegedly signified their interest for the top seat in the state across political divide.
This development is coming just as the Kwara State Chapter of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) last night, reiterated that political parties and interested aspirants in the race have 90 days to the commencement of the election to begin campaign.
At Unity Roundabout, almost adjacent the “A” Division police station, a giant billboard believed to be connected to the APC spokesman, Mallam Abdullahi has been erected without logo or symbol of any of the political parties.
The poster which has no photograph of the former Sports minister came with bold inscription of “Omoluabi 2019”, and has since been generating comments from the political circles since its erection. Abdullahi has been quite visible in the state recently and he uses the “Omoluabi” catchphrase to identify his political platform that has been involved in empowerment and grassroots outreach.
Although, he has not officially declared intention for the race, the former commissioner is reportedly one of those that is subtlety battling to get the endorsement of the leadership of the party for the race.
It was gathered that the race for the ticket within the ruling APC is undergoing what a source described as “serious consultations for now” adding that it is being kept “highly under wraps”.
It was however not clear last night whether Abdullahi authorised the signpost or if it was the handiwork of his aides and loyalists.
Highly noticeable at the secretariat of the Kwara State chapter of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is the billboard of former minister of National Planning. Though the party is yet to officially come up with a candidate but it is widely speculated that the PDP is yet to begin the process for the nomination of its candidate which is likely to come from Kwara Central.
Under the campaign slogan of “Amana”, (trust), inscription on the signpost reads: “Oh God! Grant my gubernatorial ambition as long as it would be beneficial and attract development to the entire people of Kwara State”.
Abubakar is expected to slug it out with other aspirants for the sole gubernatorial ticket of the party including the Sobi FM boss, Alhaji Lukman Mustapha whose banners are also placed in strategic areas of Ilorin such as the Post Office overhead bridge.
Similarly, Amb. Yahaya Seriki Gambari has been involved in commissioning of billboards across the state capital. Spots in Ode Alfa Nda, in Ajikobi, Niger road, Ibrahim Taiwo Road and Tanke areas of Ilorin are some of the areas where the billboards of Seriki have been erected.
Some of the inscription on the poster which has Seriki’s picture on both side read: Youth Ambassador 2019. Ambassador Abdulfatah Yahaya Seriki Gambari for Governor Kwara State under the auspices of Omoda Youth Ambassadors. The billboard at Niger junction reads; Tenumo 2019, Amb. Yahaya Seriki for Kwara State Governor, courtesy of Niger Youths Ambassadors.
For Ismail, son of late AbdulKareem Adisa, his billboards were erected around the family house in Oja-Iya and Taiwo junction in Ilorin.
The signpost has his picture and that of his late father with the inscription “Ismail Adisa for Kwara Governor, 2019, tested, trusted, confirmed and reliable… for the love of our people”
Meanwhile, aides and loyalists of the gubernatorial aspirants have already taken their campaigns to social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and WhatsApp among others in order to canvass support for their principals.
These days, there is hardly any function attended by the governorship hopefuls or empowerment programme done by them without their aides and supporters flaunting it on the aforesaid platforms.
Some of the supporters often attack one another on the achievements and weaknesses of their pay masters.
Even most of the activities and political move and schedule of those politicians is now being spread to their followers on social media platforms.
How far such ‘social media crusade’ can help the ambitions of those Kwara governorship aspirants remains to be seen.

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