A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje has said it would be difficult to stop agitations for 2019 governorship race in the state by loyalists of politicians even as he noted that such development will only assist the system to make the right choice.
Reports have listed the former National Secretary and Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) as one of the strong contenders for the coveted seat come 2019.
The APC stalwart who made these observations in a chat with newsmen at the graduation of the 2107 set of students from his Baraje Centre for Arabic and Islamic Studies in Ilorin on Saturday, said the situation will make the system more “coordinative and take reliable decisions.
“(Agitation) is part of the system. Those who are calling for me to contest, there is nothing wrong for them to express their desire and it will help the system to be more coordinative and take very reliable decisions.
“Then when my name was suggested, I said it was too early that the system with Dr Bukola Saraki as a capable leader will do what is right. The media can do their mental and physical analyses, when the time comes, the system will take charge and we know how the system operates.
“Yes, I can no longer hide, I was hiding and driving people away and telling them to keep quiet that when the time comes, the system will determine the right person.
“But I can’t stop them. Daily the demand is getting higher and you will discover it’s been a long time since we have discussed together. This is part of the thing why I have been running from my base, my home.
“When the time comes, the system is a very sensitive system to the wishes of the people and clamouring and desires of the society. That is why i say whatever people are saying is good and desirable for the system”, he submitted.
On restructuring, Baraje called on the federal government to study the various reports on constitutional amendment in the country in order to arrive at a suitable solution to the growing call for restructuring and power devolution.
He also expressed delight over the safe return of President Muhammad Buhari to Nigeria from London where he had gone on medical vacation.
According to him, “Even before I joined politics, I have always believed in the devolution of power but you see the way some of our colleagues in politics have been using it to confuse the people to suit their purpose and that is disturbing.
That is why we must commend the National Assembly who kept telling us that they need to get clarification and support from their various constituencies on the matter. I spoke with at least nine different senators when the matter came up and individually they told me they needed to talk with their people.”
On the forthcoming local government election in Kwara state, Baraje asked members of the APC to cooperate with the political structure in the state to repeat its winning formula.
On the recent wave of crime, particularly ritual related activities in the state capital, Baraje who lamented the development as a strange occurrence, called on notable leaders and Islamic clerics in the ancient city to rise to the occasion as their progenitors has done in time past to bring the ugly development to an end and avoid the negative verdict of posterity.
Earlier, the chairman, Management Board of the school, Justice Soliu Mohammed (rtd), had expressed delight over the progress being recorded at the school which has no only secured accreditation from the National Board for Arabic and Islamic Studies but has also become an examination centre for the board. Eight students who had completed their Thanawiy (SS3) were presented at the occasion which attracted several dignitaries from across the state.
