A chieftain of the ruling party, All Progressive Congress, APC in Kwara State, Alhaji Saadu Salahu has expressed confidence in the overwhelming victory of the party at the 2023 elections in Nigeria.
He said the track record and achievements of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and feedback from stakeholders on kwara project emboldened his conviction and optimism that APC will secure landslide victory over other political parties in the forthcoming general election.
” I want to assure you that I have no doubt in my mind, I am quite optimistic, encouraged and emboldened by the achievements’ track record of Governor AbdulRazaq, as well as the feedback that I got from major stakeholders in the state, ” he said.
According to him ” the feedback available to me from the majority of traditional rulers, religious leaders, the youth, women, elites and virtually everybody who were committed to Kwara project, gives me the confidence that kwara State governor, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq will win re – election for him to continue the good work that he had started so well .
” The governor will win, along with all candidates of APC. Is it about Mallam Saliu Mustafa, the man who enjoys huge popularity and readily acceptable by the people just like Governor AbdulRazaq.
” The same thing with other candidates, namely Muktar Tolani Shagaya, Fatimah Arinola Lawal and Yinka Aluko, popularly called ‘ Esho ‘, among others, I mean that all our candidates will win in the political contest. They are all people that are popular in their various constituencies.
” For the fact that Governor AbdulRazaq has performed credibly, with alot of achievements, the people believed in him and his capacity to further transform the state.
” The governor’s hard – work, popularity and influence was fast providing a smooth runway for APC candidates to succeed along with him in the forthcoming elections.”
While speaking in an interview with The Herald On Sunday, weekend in Ilorin, Alhaji Salahu who is the Special Adviser on Strategy to Governor AbdulRazaq, expressed assurance that APC will not only win in kwara, but shall secure swift victory right from Presidential, National Assembly, Governorship and Houses of Assembly elections respectively.
The governor’s aide specifically said the antecedents and track records of the presidential candidate of APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has placed him ahead of other presidential contenders in the forthcoming general election.
He said , Tinubu’s transformation strides and unprecedented achievements as Lagos State governor remain unbeatable across countries in Africa and such has made him darling of the majority of Nigerians for the 2023 presidential election.
” And because our party, APC had performed well, both at federal and States levels. For instance, here in Kwara State, under the leadership of Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, the Job of winning has become easier for our candidates, as they have been accepted by the majority of the electorates, as a result of the antecedents of the governor ” he said.
Salahu who is also a Fellow of Nigeria Institute of Public Relations ( FNIPR ), said the governor’s performance in the last less than four years in office had endeared him to Kwarans, especially the masses.
Salahu who recall that kwara State was at the precipice of collapse before 2019, said luckily for the state, Governor AbdulRazaq came to rescue the ugly situation to the extent that worthy development projects have been completed while others are ongoing by his government.
He said the governor has began to transform the state from mere civil service state to an industrial state through various initiatives and innovations drive of the administration.
He disclosed, ” that is the reason the government is building the likes of information hub which is intended to open unlimited opportunities for the youth, interns of digital economy. The governor was committed to the project as he understands that the world today runs on digital economy for greater benefit of the society.
” The ongoing construction of International Conference Centre and the establishment of industrial park that the state government has recently approved, which seeks to generate about 500 MW of electricity on completion, respectively will no doubt add more value to the economy of the state and give credit to the AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq administration.
” Other development projects of the administration, such as the new lifeline for Bacita Sugar Company; Shear – nut industry at Kaiama and the garment industry among others, will ensure progressive economic development of the state as envisioned by the governor.
” These new innovations have brought about projects that were borne out of the uncommon vision and patriotism of His Excellency, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, which intends to transform the state from mere civil servants state to an industrial one.
” There is no doubt in the fact that the governor want kwara to be able to stand on its toes and not relying on the monthly allocation from the federal government. I think that has been the major objectives of floating these projects which are very close to completion by the administration.
‘ Unlike the previous administrations in the state, AbdulRazaq’s government was building a roadmap for the expansive transformation of the state to properly assume its place of pride with the likes of Lagos State that were jointly created in 1967.
” So, in the light of Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s goodwill for the state, majority of Kwarans have accepted his leadership and settled to vote for APC in the forthcoming general election.
” Recent survey and feedback has already indicated that majority of the electorates who are spread across all the 193 wards in kwara State have settled for APC, while our presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been accepted as the most popular candidate to win the 2023 presidential election in Nigeria.
” For me, I have no doubt in my mind that our party will win all elections. Just like its recorded landslide victory in 2019, I believed that all APC candidates will secure unprecedented victory in 2023 elections by the special grace of God. “
While also expressing confidence in the conduct of the forthcoming general election, the Special Adviser said the elections will be peaceful, free, fair and credible, following the high level of preparation by critical and major stakeholders ahead of the elections.
He said credible indicators has disclosed the good efforts of President Muhammadu Buhari and critical stakeholders to ensure free, fair, credible and peaceful elections in the country.
He noted, ” the president has assured Nigerians, he has also assured the international community that the elections will be peaceful, free and fair. So, President Muhammadu Buhari had been cleared by that declaration and same with all the governors.”
Salahu observed that the president has also recorded appreciative success in the fight against insecurity as insurgency in North – East, North – Central and other parts of the country was drastically reducing.
” The president as the leader of the nation and as leader of APC has fulfilled his promise to continue to be on top of the security architecture to secure Nigeria and to guarantee safety of lives and properties of Nigerians and residents in the country,” he said.
Similarly, the governor’s aide also disclosed that Governor AbdulRazaq was not leaving stone unturned as regards enabling peaceful and credible elections in Kwara State.
He said the governor has zero tolerance for political thuggery and chaotic atmosphere, as he rather believes in politics without bitterness.
According to him, ” the governor doesn’t encourage thuggery and violence because he is a peacemaker. His lifestyle speaks volume of his belief in peaceful coexistence. He guarantees’ peace and always work for stability and crime free society.
” For instance, it was in the light of the governor’s efforts that the Inspector General of Police and other leading stakeholders have continued to sing the same song, which confirmed that Kwara State remained the most peaceful and secured state in Nigeria, when they visited the state.
” No doubt, the governor has been able to set the pace for a peaceful state, while traditional rulers and religious leaders are following the footsteps of Mallam AbdulRazaq in securing the state and making the dream of the governor to be realized.
” So, our prayers and commitment is to ensure the fulfilment of the aspiration of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, our leader and role model who was committing much effort to stability and progress of kwara State.
” Since the governor has been leading peaceful campaign, especially at ensuring peaceful and crime free electioneering period in the state, we all need to queue behind him towards enabling a peaceful atmosphere before, during and after the elections.
” Therefore, I want to appeal to all the youth, all key actors in the political space and all the critical stakeholders, namely politicians, the electoral umpair, traditional rulers, religious leaders, as well as security agencies respectively, to continue to do their best as they have always done, which eventually earned Kwara State, a most secured and peaceful state in Nigeria.
” I wish to also join the governor in commending all the critical stakeholders at ensuring that the state remain peaceful, despite the various challenges bedeviling the country. “