By Mumini AbdulKareem
Former Special Adviser on Environment and Forestry to Kwara State Government, Alhaji Abdulmalik Kawu Dogo Manzuma has said the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state is already campaigning for the opposition in the forthcoming local government election.
Manzuma in a telephone interview with Pilot Politics recently noted that the APC has The APC has existed more on propaganda than fulfilment of any campaign promises as it has boasted to the people.
He added that the mass movement from PDP to vote APC in the recent elections was reflective of the ruling party’s dwindling fortunes in the state and called on the electorate to see beyond the gimmicks of the ruling party which has been plagued by consistent crisis.
He said, “The APC is already campaigning for the opposition, it has existed more on propaganda than fulfilment of campaign promises. The mass movement from PDP to vote APC in the recent elections has many undertones and factors.
“In comparative terms after the election, nothing is on ground for APC except party crisis, lack of sense of belonging and disillusionment of members. We thought we in Kwara North would be better off but it is now worse and that is why everybody is leaving the APC.
“The people have made comparism and found the PDP era to be better off. Though no election has been held here in Edu but in Patigi during the last by-election, the PDP garnered over four thousand votes without receiving any mobilisation compared to just over one thousand in the prior election and yet the governor spent almost three days there.
“So things are diminishing for APC in Kwara North. And mind you, the decampees were as a result of the failed promises…
Speaking on his recent defection, Manzuma noted that “I have nursed ambition of council chairmanship since 2002 when it was zoned to Lafiagi emirate. I was among those that former Governor Mohamed Lawal threw out from the Teaching Service Commission (TSC)… but Dr Bukola Saraki during his tenure later reinstated all of us. Now that the opportunity is here again due to zoning, I am on the field. I am not the only one from the Legacy Group that is contesting among the decampees, we have others including women”, he added.
