Ahead of the 2023 gubernatorial election in Kwara state, gubernatorial candidates of major political parties attended the debate held in Ilorin on Wednesday and apart from selling their manifestoes to electors in the state, they also had the opportunity to list what they would prioritize if elected as governor.
The Gubernatorial Debate was organized by ‘The Tabloid’ and it had four gubernatorial candidates in attendance. The Tabloid is the brainchild of Mr Tunde Bakare , a Barrister –at-law, who is an indigene of Offa, Kwara state.
PDP guber candidate, Alhaji Abdullahi Shuaibu Yahman, NNPP guber candidate, Prof Shuaib Oba Abdulraheem, YPP guber candidate, Waziri Yakubu Gobir and SDP guber candidate, Hakeem Lawal attended the public debate which was held at the Kwara Hotel, Ilorin.
Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq of the APC was conspicuous by his absence , he was said to have joined his colleague APC governors at the meeting the party’s presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu held with them and members of the National Working Committee in Abuja on Wednesday.
The public debate served as a platform for the candidates to expose their political opinions and public policy proposals and they listed sectors that needed urgent attention to include education , health and youth empowerment.
Alhaji Waziri Yakubu Gobir promised to handle issues that have to do with the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act expeditiously and ensure it gets domesticated in the state noting that transparency and accountability would result in good governance.
The YPP guber candidate , who lamented high rate of poverty in the country , said there was a need for an effective social investment programme in Kwara state noting that he had used his personal resources to touch people’s lives positively and would do more if given opportunity to become the Chief Executive of the state.
While submitting that he plans to create a platform for the young people in Kwara state of today and tomorrow, the YPP guber candidate, however urged Kwarans to lay emphasis on competence and capacity as they get set to take a decision on who should be the governor of the state next year.
Noting that an elective office should not be made a testing ground for inexperienced people, Professor Shuaib Oba Abdulraheem said having held several positions in the past , he has gotten the needed wealth of experience to be in charge of the state and get things done.
Oba added that he not only served as Vice –Chancellor of the University of Ilorin but launched transformational activities there , asserting that apart from building the Senate Building through Internally Generated Revenue , almost half of infrastructure projects at the institution were initiated on his watch while he later left to head the Federal Character Commission, FCC which has ensuring equity and justice as its mission statement.
Submitting that he will not be a Kwara Central, Kwara South or Kwara North governor, Oba said he would ensure equity and justice in the state as a Kwara governor.
He also promised that if elected as governor, he will make schools in the state truly teacher-friendly and student-friendly and also make colleges of education in the state real teacher training institutions noting that the quality of teachers would determine the quality of students .
Hakeem Lawal , who is the SDP guber candidate, promised to make his cabinet 30 per cent women and 30 per cent young people if elected as governor.
He also said the local governments will be given full autonomy and also re-introduce inter –school sports competitions.
PDP guber candidate, Alhaji Shuaib Yamah Abdulahi said his experience in the public and private sectors will be an advantage in managing the affairs of the state.
As a former staff of SCOA , who had also run his private company since 1988, served as acting Chairman of Nigerian Railway Corporation , Chairman, Kwara Investment Company and being one of those who spearheaded the emergence of National Sugar Council , he had gotten the needed experience to serve as governor of a state like Kwara.
He said his administration will create wealth , not incur debts and be a farmer- friendly government while also encouraging young people to engage in mechanized farming-Team@orientactualmags.com
Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08059100286, 09094171980. Thank you
