Five reasons Kwara Will Reject PDP at LG polls

By Ibraheem Abdullateef

Kwarans fear broke PDP may divert LG fund to personal, political uses

There is no single truth to the insinuations that the chairmanship candidates of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) would manage LG funds better. In contrast, the candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) appear more trustworthy and bankable. It is quite telling, considering that there hasn’t been any evidence of missing LG funds in Kwara over the last five years. The party with a history of untrustworthiness is the one engaging in such activities.

In 2019, the KWHA suspended 16 elected LG chairmen from the PDP for alleged financial misappropriation and diversion of public funds. Furthermore, the state government on the watch of one of PDP’s leaders also diverted UBEC funds, which had a negative impact on the basic education sector that Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has had to rebuild. The people of Kwara need to be cautious of these individuals who view LG funds as a means to revive their failing party.

PDP attempted to block LG allocations, hold Kwara to ransom

A lot has been said about the disgraceful action of the PDP to block the conduct of local council polls on the 21st. However, this terrible attempt to frustrate and subvert the will of the people with malicious court suits is far from over. In the years to come, our children will learn about it as part of the folklore of our democracy. It will be recorded that the PDP sought to undermine an election out of fear of losing, and with the motivation to get the federal government to block the allocation of the local councils, thereby denying the staff their salaries.

The positive aspect is that it won’t be said they got away with it. Kwara State Government, led by Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has defended and saved our democracy. The elections will be held accordingly, and the people will punish them at the polls for attempting to hold the state to ransom.

Arrogant party not campaigning, taking Kwarans for a ride

The campaign is typically considered a platform for interaction between political party candidates and the public. The PDP has been notably absent in engaging with the people of Kwara. Unlike the APC candidates who have been actively visiting different communities to discuss their plans, gather feedback, and seek support, the PDP has been quiet and distant. Most of them have done little to share their plans or appear in public. This behaviour can be seen as arrogance and a lack of respect towards the voters who expect their local government chairmen to be well-informed and ready to make the most of local government autonomy.

PDP have nothing to campaign with, they ran LGAs aground

Once they wake up from their slumber, PDP’s campaign will remain uninspiring and lacking in acceptance. The party has nothing substantial to campaign with. The people of Kwara know that the party mismanaged the local government areas by overloading the wage bill from 2003 to 2019, resulting in years of unpaid salaries and pensions.

Additionally, the party turned primary healthcare centres into locations for political meetings, a stark reminder of its legacy on health. Ditto on Agriculture: Governor AbdulRazaq inherited no functional tractor. The party also left basic education in shambles. There was no distinct role of local councils that was excellently met under its watch, especially between 2015 to 2019.

While the party may try to justify this by citing revenue shortfalls, many analysts argue that these troubles were mainly due to a culture of extravagance and financial irresponsibility within the PDP. Sadly, if the choice of some party candidates is any indication, nothing has changed.

PDP’s candidates are weak and incapable, lack ideas of LG administration

Rare public appearances by some of the candidates of the PDP have been terribly embarrassing. A particular example was one recently done by the chairmanship candidate for Ilorin West LGA, Comrade Musbau Esinrogunjo.

With all the things we have been talking about the dire financial situation of Ilorin West local government council, Esinrogunjo still went on the radio over the week to boast about how he wants to be throwing money around. He was asked about his programmes and development plans, but he simply could not talk about any. Quite characteristically, he sought to find solace in insulting and calling the Governor names. It clearly shows that he does not only lack awareness but also decorum. He could not have found a more magnanimous person than this leader who not only forgave his childish threat of killing him but gave him an appointment to serve the state. If he would never be grateful, he should at least be decent.

Like Esinrogunjo, like Lukman Salaudeen. Quite by far the most visible, he could easily be seen to be the most clownish. I’m confident the highly exposed people of Offa won’t settle for the cluelessness he betrays every now and then. It beggars belief how he goes about asking where imaginary 9.2bn allocations supposedly belonging to Offa local council are kept. He wanted to see the values on the roads and bridges. You now wonder if he ever checked the books of the council he seeks to run, the overhead and recurrent expenditure and percentage left for capital projects over the years. You imagine if he ever wondered how the LGA didn’t default in salary payment and was meeting other basic obligations. If they didn’t know such little things, how can they do anything tangible in office with such a mindset? Now, this is why I am surprised another showman is working the crowd with slogans.

However, platitude is not the same as a plan. Nothing can equal competence. Not even this pseudo-activism can mask their stark lack of preparation for the office. And we cannot take the risk of putting those who are more interested in political fireworks and playing childish opposition with the state government than proffering solutions and serving the people in a position of authority at this crucial period. This will just defeat the purpose of autonomy.

Our illustrious local government would rather be manned by proven managers of resources, and professional and trustworthy fellows. This is why Mr. AbdulRahman Ladan, Alh. Sulyman Omituntun, Hon. Femi Yusuf, Hon. Azeez Yakubu, Hon. Abdumlmajeed Podo and their fellow compatriots come to mind. The difference is clear.

•Abdullateef is the Senior Special Assistant to Kwara Governor on Communications