Kwara PDP ex-lawmakers support Saraki’s presidential bid

By Hanifat Ismail

*** express dissatisfaction over Hon. Agboola suspension

The Forum of Peoples Democratic Party Ex- Lawmakers of the Kwara State House of Assembly declared support for the Presidential ambition of the former President of the 8th Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, on Tuesday at the party secretariat in Ilorin

Addressing journalists, the chairman of Forum, who is the House Leader for the 7th State’s Assembly, Honourable Abraham Ashaolu expressed gratitude that Kwara State in the North Central geo-political zone has received endorsements from several states across the federation.

Hon. Ashaolu maintained that from time immemorial since the country launched the presidential system of government in the second republic, North Central has always played a significant role in whoever had won the presidency.

“In 1979, that produced President Shehu Shagari, the NPN won in Benue, Niger, Kwara and our votes was crucial to get him into office both in his first term and the re-election before the military struck. In the aborted third republic, the SDP controlled Kwara, Plateau, Benue state governments. In 1999-2003, the votes that President Olusegun Obasanjo received from our zone were critical to his victory. It was the same with President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, of blessed memory, President Goodluck Jonathan and the incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari”.

He said, it is time to put our best leg forward and take the rightful place in the political firmament of the nation, saying this zone, which by providence is multi-cultural has been the balancing factor in national affairs for peace and security.

They expressed optimism that Saraki is the most appropriate person that Nigeria needs at this moment of national despair to galvanize the growth and development of the country.

“He is a specimen of a detribalized Nigerian that is competent, conscientious, and someone that cannot be distracted. All of us on this side have worked under him at one point or another. His work rate is very high and he has a deep-rooted perspective on issues. He is a leader indeed”

Speaking further, Hon. Ashaolu, posited that Saraki’s leadership in the 8th Senate has continued to define the epitome of the principle of separation of powers, where the three arms of government stand upright to uphold the tenets of the Constitution.

He added that his efforts at engendering an independent lawmaking body devoid of harassment or intimidation cannot be overemphasized as he drove the autonomy of the State Assemblies with passion.

Meanwhile, the forum had expressed their dissatisfaction over the suspension of the lone PDP member at Kwara House of Assembly who is representing Ilorin South, Honourable Jimoh Raheem Agboola.

Hon. Ashaolu alleged that the 9th State Assembly has turned themselves to pun chess in the hands of the state’s executive arm.

“No wonder, the Court of Appeal called their actions on Hon. Agboola, the lone opposition Member, as ‘Legislative Rascality’, he said.

It is quite unfortunate and a dent on our democracy to follow the shameful trend in the Kwara State House of Assembly, where the only opposition figure in the assembly, Hon Raheem Agboola, representing Ilorin South state constituency, has been subjected to ridicule by other members from the ruling APC under Mallam Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq.”

“The decision to ask him to stay away from the hallowed chamber for speaking out in the interest of his Constituency is unlawful. Doing so without any tangible investigation as claimed, harassing him on the floor of the house, blocking him from gaining access to the hallowed chamber, and again having the foolhardiness to reprimand him afterward amounts to ‘super legislative rascality’, abuse of the constitution, and general rules of the house.”

He charged the 9th Kwara Assembly to cover their faces in shame for being the Governor’s stooge and allow Hon. Raheem Jimoh Agboola performs the duties he was elected for.

“The action and inaction of the present administration is a topic for another day. Today is about a man who can help to rescue the nation. We, therefore, urge our geopolitical zones to double their efforts and the entire country to rally around him so that our country can occupy our rightful place as the giant of Africa and fulfill our destiny to the black race.”

However, Hon. Ashaolu urged other geopolitical zones to double their efforts and the entire country to rally round Saraki so that Nigeria can occupy her rightful place as the giant of Africa and fulfill the destiny of the black race.