The gubernatorial candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Kwara State, Alhaji Hakeem Oladimeji Lawal on Thursday continued his state-wide consultative meeting with stakeholders and groups In Ilorin East Local Government, when the train stopped at his family house at the Idi Ape area of Ilorin, the State capital.
Receiving the team at his palace, the Magaji Aare of Ilorin, Alhaji Shuaib Aremu Suberu praised the team for the visit and commended the gubernatorial candidate for remembering his roots as he aspires to rule the state.
He disclosed that the SDP is not new to him, as he was part of the old SDP which rule the state in the short-lived third republic, adding he was delighted to see the party springing up to rule Kwara State again.
“SDP, as a party is not new to me. I was once a member, and I am very happy to see it coming to Kwara aspiring to produce the governor, “he said.
The Royal father also maintained that politics is a worthy venture and it only becomes a a dirty game to those who don’t know how to play the game. He there-after prayed for success of the gubernatorial candidate and the party in the 2023 election.
“I remember when your father, the Late former Governor Lawal came to me for prayer about his gubernatorial ambition in the State. I told him don’t worry, you have won, and it was so. You too will succeed and you will win,”he said.
The team later left for the Palace of Baba Isale of Ilorin, Alhaji Abdullahi Sodiq who also prayed for the success of the candidate and the party in the forth-coming polls. The Royal father recalled the struggle of the O to ge revolution in 2019 and said he never imagine that the struggle will extend till date. He charged the candidate and the party to consolidate the struggle if they come to power.
The team equally visited and received royal blessing from Balogun Gambari before departing for Oke Oyi as part of the consultative tour after which they returned to Ilorin for the Town Hall meeting with various groups and stake holder in Flower Garden area of the town.
At the meeting with the groups, comprising market women, artisans, farmers, drivers, etc, the SDP gubernatorial candidate restated his commitment to transform the state and return Kwara to the path of progress and prosperity.
He added that his transformation agenda will be anchored on Education, Agriculture, Economic empowerment and Local Government reforms. According to him, “my focus is to change the policy on Education, with emphasis on Science and Technology to drive our youths to become global citizens.
The gubernatorial candidate told the gathering that the “State is blessed with many Agriculture Belts, adding that “for instance, we had Rice and Sugar Belts in Patigi, Cotton Belt in Baruten and Cocoa Belt in Irepodun Ekiti, Oke Ero in Kwara South.”
He equally promised the sector will be modernized to maximize the full potentials of the sector for greater returns to the farmer in order to make farming attractive to both the old and the young. “We will encourage the farmers to form co-operatives and form enterprises to work on large farms. Government he said, will also form marketing Company like in the days of Late Sadauna in Northern Nigeria, to maximize profit to our farmers.”
“Our discussion today is a covenant between us. The two parties must do their part. When you vote for us, it becomes a debt for us to do our part too. I can assure you that we will deploy Kwara resources for Kwarans and strive to restore the glory of the State,” he said.