Politics

Kwara 2019: I remain most experienced guber aspirant – Bolaji Abdullahi

 

By Matthew Denis

The Former Minister for Youths and Sport Development, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi has disclosed that he remained the most experienced among the aspirants gunning for the gubernatorial seat in 2019 in Kwara state.
He expressed this position during an exclusive interview with Pilot Politics at the Ilorin International Airport on Tuesday.
According to the former minister who said his formally declaration for the race will come later, noted that a lot of conversation and discussion are still ongoing to ensure that due process is followed in line with decision of the party.
Abdullahi who lauded the national leader of the party and Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki for his decision to support the peoples candidate said there are many competent and qualified aspirants across the parties in the state.
“What our leader Dr Bukola Saraki has told us is that he has no preferred candidate as everybody should go out and convince the people that they are the best and he will only support a candidate of the people.
“I think that’s a very good idea and that is the Saraki that I know. Having said that, there are so many competent and qualified aspirants both in our party and other parties in the state gunning for the governorship seat, but my argument has been that you don’t handover a brand new Mercedes’ to a learner. So, I’m the only one among all those competent aspirants who has had the right executive level experience.
“There is no other person and I didn’t decide or choose that but God took me through these experiences. I served the state executive arm for eight years. I was Special Assistant, then Special Adviser and Commissioner.
“As Special Assistant I was the only person among my other colleagues sitting in the state Executive Cabinet meeting. As Special Adviser I was made chairman of state Budget Implementation Committee which means that no contract got paid without my recommendations to the Executive Governor haven been satisfied that the work has been properly executed. I became Commissioner and had 193 secondary schools at that time and I’m proud to say that I visited almost every one.
“I therefore know this state very well and worked across the state perhaps more than any other aspirant in engaging people. This assignment I have met with farmers, parents, teachers, pupils/students, labour unions, civil servants, traditional rulers and religious leaders in the state.
“So I think I’m well prepared for this assignment. There’s no aspect of governance in the state that I would like to start learning. For me that’s what establish the foundation to provide a kind of leadership that will be beneficial to the entire people”, he submitted.
He said the most important thing will be to remain focus in providing the public with infrastructural development in the state for economy boom.
On the major campaign plank of the other parties, the former minister said it is regrettable that their only campaign slogan has been anti-Saraki message adding that the narrative should suppose to be what they are bringing onto the table to change the fortunes of the state.
He said “I have listened to the people on the other party, all what they have been using to mobilize people is anti-Saraki message and believed that power should be handle to them on that basis. All of us cannot be on the same page because we love Saraki and he is our leader. So we cannot hand over power to someone based on how much he hates Saraki but we should handover power based on what one can do to solve the problems for the people of Kwara state.
Ahead of 2019 general elections, he assured the people that the PDP is better positioned now to win the poll at all tiers of government.
“The political landmark has changed and people especially the youths are more involved and concerned with the electoral process. We in PDP have the potentials to give the public what they really want in terms of infrastructural development.

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