By Adebayo Oladon, Mumini AbdulKareem, Ahmed Ajikobi, Kayode Adeoti
Kwara Central: All the 26 new Executive members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Alanamu ward of the Ilorin West Local Government Area of Kwara on Saturday emerged through consensus arrangement by the Party members. Our correspondent who monitored the conduct of the exercise reports that it took place under a peaceful atmosphere devoid of any rancour or acrimony from members under the eyes of operatives.
Speaking with this medium, the state woman leader of the APC, Hajia Ramat Oganija, said that the congress went smoothly without any problem adding that the people of Alanamu thought that there will be problem, because of some opponents who said they are going to obstruct the conduct of the congress at the area.
“To my surprise they didn’t show up. We allowed the people to do accreditation. Moshood Mustapha can’t stop the party with his members because they belong to nowhere. We belong to Saraki.
Also an APC stalwart who hails from the ward, Alhaji Mas’ud Adebimpe said the consensus arrangement was a demonstration of peace and unity existing among members of the party.
He reaffirmed the commitment of APC members in the state to remain united to improve the living standard of residents of the state.
In Ibagun ward in Ilorin East, the All Progressives Congress also returned the 26 excos. The chairman of the Local Government Service Commission, Hajia Sarat Adebayo described the event as historical across the state, adding that the contribution of the senate President Bukola Saraki to the development, which motivated massive turnout for the exercise.
Speaking with newsmen after visitation to Alanamu, Baboko and Gambari I, Senator Muhammed Salami Ohiare who led the APC national team that monitored the exercise in the state expressed satisfaction with the conduct of participants.
“Kwara is a very peaceful state; it is one big family and I’m proud of what we have seen today. The exercise has been very peaceful and if there was any instance where people expressed contrary views it has been very minimal” he said at the Balogun Alanamu ward.
Earlier while also speaking with newsmen state chairman of the party, Hon. Ishola Balogun-Fulani explained that reports from across the state indicated that party members came out enmasse early in the day to pick their leaders in a free and fair manner.
According to Balogun-Fulani there was no issue of imposition as members were asked to line up behind their preferred candidates in the open to choose.
In Baboko ward, the Special Assistant to the Senate President on Legislative Aide, Alhaji Abiodun Baraje applauded members of party for their commitment and dedication.
He said the conduct of the party’s wards congresses at the ward level is to pave way for the new executives that would direct the affairs of the party to the higher level.
Kwara South: Oro Ward II: Lai Mohammed suffered defeat at home: At Oro Ward II, the people turned out en mass at the premises of Muslim LGEA SchooI, Okeola Oro as early as 7:30 am on Saturday. The congress eventually kicked off 8am following the arrival of electoral officers.
On arrival, the officials read out names of those vying for various offices and asked the people to line behind their preferred candidate.
At the end of the exercise which lasted over one hour, the candidates of the Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, Alhaji Mohammed under the auspices of Kwara Unity Forum (KUF) lost out to those from the camp of the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki.
Bayo Kolawole was returned as Chairman with 402 votes while S. O. Oloyede, Yusuf Abdulrasaq, Alhaja Airat Adebayo, Abiodun Ayodele and Tajudeen Raji were elected as Vice Chairman, Secretary, Women Leader, Treasurer and the Public Relations Officer respectively.
Also elected are Abubakar Abdullahi, Mathew Adekeye and Kunle Abolaji as Legal Adviser, Organising Secretary and Youth Leader.
In his remarks, the party chairman, Kolawole described the process that led to his return as a new dawn even as he urged all progressive party loyalists outside the Saraki’s camp to make a detour.
Speaking after the congress, Hon Samsudeen Bada, APC Youth Leader of Irepodun Local Government appreciated the people for turning out en masse.
“The whole exercise went on peacefully and you can see that our people came out massively to show their support to our leader, Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki who has been patronising them consistently,” Bada said.
“Alhaji Lai Mohammed remains our father but unfortunately his loyalists know close to nothing about politics. The KUF which is loyal to Alhaji Lai had only 38 delegates while on our side, we had about 500 people which is about 2 to 98 per cent.
In his reaction, an elder of the APC and former chairman of Irepodun Local Government, Alhaji Tajudeen Bada described the turnout as massive.
He however urged Kwara Unity Forum (KUF) to join hands with the leadership of the party in the state ahead of the forthcoming general elections
Omupo adopts consensus : At Omupo ward, the congress held at the party secretariat kicked off 10:40 am with the former commissioner for Economic Planning and Development, Alhaji Wasiu Odewale reading out the guidelines for the exercise and the directive from the leadership of the party.
Odewale appreciated the outgoing executives for their giant strides even as he informed them that the leader of the APC in the state, Dr Bukola Saraki has promised to pay gratuity to long serving party officials who are not likely to continue in office.
“Today’s congress will be conducted in line with the dictates and directives of our leader, Dr Bukola Saraki. To avoid rancour, the leader has directed that we follow our usual tradition in various wards. He also directed that 70 to 90 per cent of the executives at ward level should be made up of youths.
Speaking further, the former commissioner assured that the party will be fair to all as he said there will be equitable distribution of elective positions and appointment across the Omupo ward.
In his remarks, the outgoing chairman, Alhaji Bello Rahman in his address thanked members of his team for the cooperation and the leaders of the party for the success recorded by his administration.
Rahman however urged the subsequent administration to be committed both to the party and their communities even as he charged them on transparency.
Also, an elder of the party, Alhaji Abdulfatah El-Imam urged the people to continue to support the party adding that every loyal member will get their reward in no distant time.
Mr Rafiu Zubair charged the incoming executives to always, seek advice from elders of the party and to be committed to the welfare of the people.
Announcing the names of the new executives, Odewale said the party leadership in Omupo which include Alh. Khaleel Bolaji, Alhaji B.D Lawal and Alhaji Abdulfatah El-Imam made wide consultation before drawing up the all inclusive list.
A grassroots mobiliser in the ward, Alhaji Saadu Akanbi emerged the Chairman while Mr Salami Alabi and Mr Jimoh Sanusi were pronounced the Secretary and the Treasurer. Mrs Afusat Yekini better known as Iya Mosa, Toheeb Olutope and Bashiru Olalere were also anonymously pronounced the Women Leader, Youth Leader and Vice Chairman even as Alhaji Yahaya Olokooba was named the PRO of the 26-man executives.
In his acceptance speech, the new chairman, Akanbi promised to take the party to greater heights even as he urged the people to be patient with the APC leadership in the state.
Present at the congress was Woman Leader of the party in Ifelodun Local Government Area, Mrs Nike Ayilara.
Ekiti LG settles for consensus: : The ward Congress of the All Progressives Party (APC) in Ekiti Local Government, Kwara State has come and gone but its positive impacts on the polity of the council across its 10 wards will remain ineradicable.
Our correspondent who was at the council by 9:45am observed that the congress commenced in all the centres at about 11:am.
In Obbo-Ile, over 600 party members participated in the exercise.
Speaking after the exercise, at Obbo-Ile ward, a Legislative Aide to the Senate President, Chief Bode Ogunleye stressed that people turned out en mass for the congress because they wanted a change in the democratic system of the council.
He added that the community members were tired those leading them before hence, the desire change.
“Before the leader in the ward will just sit in the comfort of his room and write out names of faces he loves, his own people, and that’s the end. But today is a new beginning, new dispensation in the history of Obbo Ile ward.
With those of us who spare headed the congress exercise, the level of transparency is 100 percent, even the three communities that have never benefited before were considered now, that’s why people returned home joyful.
Responding to the alleged division in the party, Ogunleye said the issue has been resolved saying reconciliation will be constituted to reconcile the aggrieved members.
