Don’t disturb our peace in Kwara with your crisis, SDP tells APC

With Mumini Abdulkareem

The Kwara State chapter of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has warned the All Progressives Congress (APC) not to disturb the peaceful atmosphere in the state with the party’s leadership crisis even as it noted that it should put it house in order.
Chairman of the SDP, Hon Lekan Alabi gave this warning during a telephone chat with Pilot Politics adding that innocent citizens of the state might fall victim of the situation.
Alabi who called on the party to amicably settle whatever the problem was feared that the state might snowball into the era of insecurity that characterised it in the past over political contest if the needful was not done.
He said, “We want to condemn the attack on the APC state chairman, Hon Bolarinwa that happened along Malete/Ilorin Axis. We want to recall that during the era of late Governor Mohammad Lawal’s regime and late Baba Saraki, the was how it started with intra party problem and later spread to other places in the state. We all know the problem it gave to us in Kwara State then. We don’t want this type of situation in Kwara State and we condemned in the very strong terms the attack on the APC state chairman.
“The APC should put a stop to it and solve whatever problem they have amicably and not to disturb the peace we enjoy in Kwara with the issue. During the last attack, passersby and people who don’t know anything about it might have fallen victims. We don’t want their party problem to spread and affect the public. We are just appealing to the leadership to please take caution.
“For those who may say that I am not a member of the party, but I am the chairman of the SDP in the state and what affect one party, affect the other because by the time they are fighting and shooting for instance, stray bullet can hit anybody or passersby which disturbing the peace of other people.
“Freedom is freedom when it does not infringe on other peoples freedom. We want to caution them and they should give peace a chance”, he added.
On the bye-election in Patigi scheduled for later this month, Alabi said INEC unfortunately gave his party very little chance “in the sense that the invitation was sent out on 10th of February and the party got it on the 11th. INEC held that the party’s primaries must hold between 10th and 15th of, which was too short a period to organise a meaningful primary for us.
“By the time we organised a primary which we normally do by weekend and submit to INEC, they may tell you it is late. It has happened to us before and so we didn’t get enough time to be able to conduct out primary and that is why we are not taking part”, he added.

 …as lawmaker calls for truce, promises positive change

One of the lawmakers representing Moro constituency at the Kwara State House of Assembly, John Olanrewaju Bello has called for truce in the raging leadership crisis rocking the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Bello who represents Malete/Ipaye/Olooru constituency at the House while reacting to the crisis in his office noted that the party cannot afford such chaotic situation in this period of its existence adding that there should be mechanism for settlement for any intra party agitation and complaints.
He however advised that when there is any report of insecurity in any place to be visited, it is better to stay away from such places to avoid repeat of what led to the attack of the party chair man.
He said, “This is intra party issue and conflict and we need to understand ourselves rather than resolve to fighting. But what brought about this in the first place? My advice is that once we are told that a place we intend to visit is not secured or safe, we don’t have to go there for the sake of another time. We have to find a way to attain absolute peace within ourselves so that things will move on well to avoid any rancour.
“We should seek peace among ourselves as a party and in Moro local government because are not happy with what happened including me. But it has happened and I enjoined the people of Moro to seek peace with one another for the constituency and state to move forward. It’s absolute party affairs and we should make sure that.
On his representation so far, he said he has been able to do the little from his salaries to serve his people adding a lot of things have been put in the budget for the development of the people in his constituency for them to feel the impact of the present government led by Mallam Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq. In about three months from now, the people will enjoy this government and things will continue to change for the better with works and projects springing up everywhere. What we have put in the budget is very is very significant and with the Governor who has shown to be a good manager of resources, the party will able to performed more.