You are a betrayer, Kwara North indigenes tell Saraki

The people of Kwara North have declared that they refuse to accept the status of a second class citizens in their own state.

In a statement signed by the coordinator of Kwara North Concerned Citizens, Mall A. Y. Nnafanwona, and made available to Patigi Voice, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, the political leader of PDP in Kwara State and the National leader of PDP is a betrayer of trust whose political dynasty has been using Kwara Northerners right from the days of his father and unjustly dumped the senatorial district at this critical time.

In his words, since return of democracy in 1999, Kwara North has not produced the number one citizen of Kwara State. Muhammadu Lawal and Bukola Saraki both of Kwara Central ruled from 1999 to 2003 and to 2011 respectively. That is a period of 12 whole years. Abdul-Fatai Ahmad of Kwara South took over from Bukola in 2011 and to leave the office in May 2019. That would be a period of 8 years. It is worthy of note that during all these elections, Kwara North voted massively to produce all these governments even though we have nothing much to show for it in terms of infrastructural development.

Ordinarily, common sense of Equity, Justice and Fairness should informed anyone of democratic principles that where we have three senatorial districts, it is a normal thing that they rule the state one after the other and only one who is undemocratic and agent of injustice and unfairness would converse for otherwise.

This is why we condemn in totality and entirety the decision of the Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki to fly Hon. Razak Atunwa as the Governorship flag bearer of People’s Democratic Party in the coming 2019 elections as against the interest of the Kwara North who are solely supposed to produce the next governor of Kwara State. Three Kwara Northerners have shown interest to contest for the Governorship position under the platform of PDP. These are Senator Shaaba Mohammed Lafiagi, Hon. Aliyu Ahman-Patigi and Hon. Zakari Mohammed. To our greatest dismay, report, reaching us now is that Dr. Bukola Saraki has ordered that they all drop their ambition for Hon. Razak Atunwa who is from Asa of Kwara Central while Senator shaaba should be his deputy. This is totally unacceptable to us in the Kwara North. We refused to be made second class citizens in a state supposedly belonging to all of us. This sinister motive was smelled yesterday during the purported camouflage primaries when the ballot papers were bearing the name of the anointed candidate. This was responsible for the chaos which disorganized the said primary election.

Why would the people of Kwara Central even think of contesting the governorship position with the Kwara Northerners? Where were they when Lawal and Bukola were doing their turns? Why would anyone who claimed to be democratic champion the course of injustice? Does democracy preach inequality or equality? Does Equity and Justice depend on the size of a Senatorial District? How would this promote unity of purpose and togetherness? These and many more questions are begging for answers.

If Kwara Central think their voting strength is higher than the other Senatorial Districts, Niger State is a good example where Zone A has the highest population and yet sharing the governorship position. Besides, it the same people from Kwara North and South that are contributing to the population of the Central.

*Our Demands*

1- All Kwara Central people participating in this contest be disqualified with immediate effect.
2- Only Kwara Northerners be allowed to participate in the Governorship contest.
3- Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki and the Leadership of Kwara PDP should chose between the three contestants from the Kwara North who is to fly the flag of the party.

4- That either through primaries or consensus, a candidate be chosen from among these three contestants from Kwara North and the process be transparent and fair.

At this point, it is important that we remind Dr. Bukola Saraki and the Leadership of PDP that a river cannot drink itself and a tree can not make a forest. It is also pertinent that Dr. Bukola Saraki and the PDP leadership know that their response to these our demands would determined our agenda in the Kwara North come 2019 because to whom much is given, much is expected.

Signed
A. Y. Nafanwona
Coordinator
Kwara North Concerned Citizens.