Kwara: Saraki Directs Supporters To Take Back State From APC

By James Orji

Former Senate President, Bukola Saraki has assured that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP will win Kwara state in the next election.

Saraki, a two-time governor of the state disclosed this after the successful completion of the PDP state’s congresses, where new leaders were elected to run the affairs of the party in the state.

The former governor’s promise also came amidst deep seated animosity in the ruling APC, which Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq heads. Two parallel congresses were held by the party, last Saturday, which has further polarized the two factions headed by the governor and Lai Mohammed, the Minister of Information.

Speaking after the election, Saraki charged the newly elected executives of the PDP in the state Kwara state to ensure that the state falls under the control of the PDP in 2023.

According to him “the struggle for Kwara begins now, let commitment be your watchword.

“Let the campaign begin with your election today at wards, local governments and state levels as you begin your tenure in office. The task ahead is a serious one,” he stated.

He said the peaceful conduct of the congress is a pointer that the PDP has realized its mistake and was prepared to do everything possible to take back the state from APC.

“The peaceful conduct of this congress has confirmed to me that we are indeed ready to take back power in Kwara.

“I charge all the new state officers of our party to begin work in earnest to return PDP to power in 2023 and reposition Kwara state again,” the former Senate President said.

Meanwhile, Sunday Fagbemi has emerged as the state APC chairman for the faction loyal to Governor AbdulRazaq, while a former caretaker chairman of the party in the state, Bashir Bolarinwa, was returned by the faction led by Mohammed.

Fagbemi, who was chosen by consensus by loyalists of the governor at their congress held at the state secretariat of the party in Ilorin, pledged that his team has pledge to reconcile the warring factions with the aim of strengthening the party.

In his acceptance speak after the election Fagbemi said “I thank His Excellency, our party leaders, elders and delegates for the confidence reposed in me. I also want to thank my predecessor, Alhaji Abdullahi Samari, for holding forth so well for the party.

“We will soon reel out our plans and we will start with genuine reconciliation of our brothers and sisters of the same family,” he said in his acceptance speech.”

Analysts, however, insist that true reconciliation is still far from the party as the struggle for the control of the soul of APC  by the state governor and the minister continues.