From the three senatorial chairmen of the Kwara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) came a passionate plea yesterday in Ilorin demanding the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki to lead them out of the ruling party.
The chairmen who spoke during a joint press conference held at Adangba at the secretariat of the Kwara North senatorial chairman, Alhaji Isiaka Oniwa with his Kwara central counterpart, Alhaji Jimoh Adesina and Kwara South chairman, Alhaji Jimoh Balogun in attendance said their position represented the wish and aspiration of their followers.
They further added that the decision was taken after wide consultations from their people over the matter many pf whom were present at the event.
According to Alhaji Balogun who read the address and later fielded questions from newsmen, even if the Senate President asked them to stay, they might not obliged him if the APC failed to redeem the promises made to the people of the state.
He however clarified that they are still members of the APC for now and the decision on which party to go will be taken in due cause.
He said the latest development, as regard the way Saraki has been treated in the party was very painful after committing enormous wealth, time and resources to ensure APC won the 2015 election.
He said the party could never have won any election without the contribution of Bukola Saraki and called on the national leadership to within the timeframe left before the next election to redeem and correct the complaints they have raised.
According to him, it is not too late for the party and (presidency) to look into the issue especially in the light of the fact that Kwara have suffered a lot and have not benefited from many of the promises from the party.
The Kwara South senatorial chairman noted that Kwarans are not happy with the trend of event in the party as it concerns the state adding that even if Bukola Saraki โwants us to remain in APC, we will reject it and go and vote for another party that will hear the plight of the people of Kwara State.
He said because of the love for Saraki, the people always go wherever he wants them to go as the issue is always about the dynasty and not politics per se. He said this is a green light for Saraki to talk to party and if the APC no longer want them, โanother party will come for us and we will vote and deliver 100 percent for it as we used to do.
Part of the statement read in part:
โDr Bukola Saraki led other governors, senators and Honourable members into the ruling APC with the aim of ensuring an egalitarian society for the people of the grassroots.
โTowards this end, the expectations of the people were very high on him to better their aspirations. However, things have not change for the better since the tenure of President Muhammadu Buhari.
โThe APC has failed the entire people of not only Kwara, but beyond as promises of job creation, better living conditions and a host of other promises have not manifested in the lives of the common Nigerians.
โWe seriously appreciate the singular effort of Saraki in meeting the yearnings and aspirations of the downtrodden coupled with the magnanimity of Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed…the perpetual persecution, humiliation and wanton destruction of the personality of Saraki has been on the increase which made him to almost lose focus of his good intention for the entire citizens.
โ…He was recently accused of sponsoring a gang of robbers that operated in Offa in a calculated attempt to dump his name in the mud and the attempt to disrupt the peace at NASS was to destroy his personality. This unwarranted persecution is uncalled for despite delivering the entire party structure from the 193 councillors, 16 council chairmen, 24 House of Assembly members, all representatives and senators from the state to the APC.
โWe plead with Saraki who took us to APC in 2014 now that another election is coming and the ruling party has refused to redeem its campaign promises, to take us to a formidable party that would address the plight of the people of Kwara Stateโ.
