By Mumini Abdulkareem
The gubernatorial bid of former Minister of Sports, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi received a boost this week when stakeholders across Kwara Central and North troupe out to receive him.
The visit to the local governments was in continuation of Bolaji Abdullahi’s tour to councils across the state as part of his campaign activities for the forthcoming gubernatorial election in Kwara state.
Abdullahi had earlier visited Kwara South last week were his ambition received several endorsements.
Speaking in Moro on Tuesday were he met with party stakeholder’s, youth and women, Abdullahi said his relationship with Moro has been a long history and has nothing to do with the present political situation in the state.
According to him, his great grand father’s grave still lies in Moro with his family house situated at Olowo Mama Compound in Alore.
He said the occasion was to formally informed Moro stakeholders and solicit their support to emerge as the next governor of the state under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the leadership of Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki.
He promised that his administration if elected will accord the council its rightful place in the scheme of things as well as other local governments in the state.
‘Although I am playing my politics in Ilorin West, I want to assure you that my governorship will be that of Moro as well as other councils in the state.
‘It was during my time as a commissioner that we brought Malete Youth Farms and the Kwara state university Malete. I am assuring you that if I become the governor of the state, by God’s grace, there will not be difference between Ilorin West and Moro including other parts of the state’, he added.
In his remarks, Kwara North senatorial chairman, Alhaji Isiaka Oniwa said this will be the first time he will attend the declaration of any aspirant that has visited Moro adding that such action was instructive of his endorsement for Abdullahi.
Oniwa said Abdullahi is a loyal party member who has demonstrated his unflinching loyalty twice to Saraki at the highest level as a minister and party’s national spokesman while in APC. He called the part members to support him.
“Other leaders at the event were Deputy Speaker, Kwara State House of Assembly, Dr Matthew Okedare,
Meanwhile, Bolaji Abdullahi on Tuesday met with some stakeholders from Asa to solicit for their support over his gubernatorial ambition.
The meeting which was held at the office of the Kwara Central Senatorial chairman, Alhaji Jimoh Adesina, saw the people waiting for Abdullahi for over five hours.
In his remark, the gubernatorial hopeful said the action of the stakeholders was a demonstration of their belief in the project.
He said contrary to the insinuation that he’s not a party man, critics of that narrative has been silenced with his appointment as the national spokesman of the APC where he served for three years with huge impact on the fortunes of the party.
He said if with all his experience, his administration if elected could still have problem with the party, then all his experience over the years has been wasted.
Responding, a leading stakeholder in Asa, Alhaji Wahab Bolakale said Asa has high electoral value and second to none in terms of good governance and ability to massively impact the state.
While in Ilorin East, Abdullahi who was received by Chairman, Local Government Service Commission, Hajia Sarat Adebayo, immediate past Special Assistant Political, Alhaji Bibire Ajape and Elder’s Council Chairman, Alhaji AbdulRaheem Olesin among others, thanked the people for their support and cooperation and promised not to let them down.
Earlier, Ajape had complained that the government despite their support for governorship candidate has not always have it rosy at the end of the day adding that political patronage as regards the local government had been grossly inadequate. He said Abdullahi should change the narrative this time around if he gets the ticket.
At the Council Secretariat in Ilorin South while meeting with stakeholders and party executives, Abdullahi assured them that he has been tested and trusted and will not only be loyal to the people of Kwara state, but the Saraki dynasty.
