Ilorin West Concerned Members on Wednesday called on stakeholders to consider ceding the Kwara Central Senatorial ticket to Ilorin East/South, ahead of the 2023 National Assembly elections.
The leader of the group, Mallam Abdul-Hammed Oladipupo Ali (Mr. Nigeria) stated this during a press conference on the Kwara Central Senatorial District in the coming 2023 election, held in Ilorin, the state capital.
According to Mr. Nigeria, in the past couple of weeks, there has been a major outcry by some residents, leaders of thoughts and stakeholders in the Kwara Central Senatorial District spotlighting the marginalisation of other local government areas by the memberof the political class in Ilorin West local government area.
“Our ears are filled with the yearnings of the people on the streets, social media and the traditional media and it will not only be pretentious but an act of hypocrisy to turn deaf ears to the agitations of various aggrieved groups, hence, the need to address the press.
“lt is important to state that Kwara Central rests on four cardinal pillars, namely Ilorin West, Ilorin East, Ilorin South and Asa local government areas. Beyond the district arrangement, there exists a fraternal bond between these four brothers. It appears that the brotherly love is gradually eroding and would be severed if this salient issue is not given proper attention.
“For the record, since Nigeria’s last transition into democracy, the Kwara Central Senatorial seat has been occupied by political Gladiators from Ilorin West from Dr. Abubakar Olusola Saraki to Senator Adebayo Ishaq to Senator Gbemisola Saraki, Senator Bukola Saraki up to the incumbent Senator Dr. Ibrahim Yahaya Oloriegbe.
“It is no gainsaying that these figures have contributed their quota to the development of the district but we believe it is the time that we gave room for the good people of the other constituency in the same senatorial district for the equity of justice and fairness, and so that our brotherhood as Ilorin can continue to Wax stronger.
“Ordinarily there ought to be a system that controls equitable and fair access public offices but in the absence of any, we demand that the seat should be immediately zoned to either of Ilorin East and South and rotated among other local government areas subsequently.
“As indigenes of Ilorin West Local Government, we feel ashamed that our brother who we share the same fraternity with, are marginalized. This does not represent the ideals of our progenitors who believe so much in justice, equity and fairness.
“If we fail to take decisive action now, we might be sitting on a tinderbox of revolt and fanning the embers of hostilities that may arise from the marginalisation of other areas.
“It is on this premise that we call on the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, the President of the IEDPU, Alhaji Gotta Uthman and others who have a stake as far as Kwara state is concerned, to urgently attend to this burning agitation.
“This is a plea for and on behalf several hundred of indigenes of Ilorin West, some of whom out of blackmail or timidity, are unable to come out in the open but are silently praying and hoping that the needful would be done.
“In conclusion, today, we’ve lent our voice to the ragging controversy. Let it be known that when it mattered most, we’ve stood on the side of justice and fairness.Let it be known that our voices are not lost when it’s called upon to be heard in a matter that concerned our collective future”, he said.
