Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq on Tuesday said he has raised the bar of good and impactful governance in the state, citing unprecedented strides in infrastructural renewal, revenue reforms, education and basic healthcare delivery, and social security for the people.
Addressing a large crowd of dignitaries and party supporters at the state APC congress in Ilorin, the Governor said his administration has modernised infrastructure across sectors, especially road, school and hospitals, and that his yet-to-be-known successor will have the task of further raising the bar.
He said again that he is not interested in building any political dynasty, adding that his focus on leaving legacies of a better developed state has been achieved to the glory of God.
“Congratulations for our journey so far. Congratulations for being able to meet here peacefully and successfully today. I’ll give us a pass mark,” the Governor said.
“We are in the era of politics. If I may say so myself, I think we’ve done very well, exceedingly well. To the extent that I’ll say, over six years of our tenure have seen greater investments in infrastructure and across very important sectors than what we met. As you can see, opposition has collapsed nationally and especially in Kwara state. But we will not be complacent.
“We need to work harder and build on what we have achieved so far.”
The Governor said the party primaries are always a challenging time for political parties, urging all aspirants to be calm and peaceful.
He commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for achieving greatly across many sectors, and noted that the APC government has a roadmap for better Nigeria.
“Yes, there are challenges ahead and those challenges are about healthy competition because the party primaries will soon begin. I call for a healthy competition amongst us especially for those that will succeed. Those that succeed in picking party tickets, we wish them good luck and encourage them to carry along those that do not succeed. It should be one family,” he said.
“This party, being led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is a party for all. You can see at the national level, governors, structures from other parties are collapsing into APC, because they believe this is the future, this is where we’re going.
“APC is the party that has a roadmap, that has a vision for a better Nigeria. Nationally, you can see that inflation has dropped, exchange rate is stabilising, GDP is improving, growth is improving. So the President is doing well.”
AbdulRazaq noted that Kwara has been repositioned in all ramifications under his watch, and wondered which areas the opposition parties will pick their campaigns from.
“In terms of opposition, yes, they will make their politics, they will say all kinds of things to the people. But you have seen that since we came in, Kwara has taken a new turn, a turn for the better. So that’s why I don’t know what the opposition will campaign with,” the Governor said.
“Is it about infrastructure, or about healthcare, or education? We’ve done exceedingly well. So, we will continue to do better. Like I’ve always said, we’re not here to build a dynasty. We’re here to build a legacy. And I pray for the person who succeeds me to do better than I have done for the good of our people. I have raised the bar; as a team we have raised the bar.
“Our successors will raise it further each year and learn. So, I thank our party’s team from Abuja, who have come to coordinate this occasion. I also thank the observers from INEC.”
Party Chairman, Sunday Fagbemi, had earlier corroborated the Governor’s speech when he told party members that the APC government has built record 586kms of road, hired 8,912 teachers — both highest for any regime in the state since 1999 –, and achieved other milestones such as Nigeria’s lowest child mortality rate, among others.
The state congress saw the party leaders and members returning Prince Fagbemi and other members of the state executive committee to their positions, in what the party chief called a vote of confidence on their stewardship.
The event was attended by Deputy Governor Kayode Alabi; Speaker of the House of Assembly Salihu Yakubu Danladi; Senators Lola Ashiru (South), Suleiman Sadiq Umar (North), and Saliu Mustapha (Central); Representatives Raheem Olawuyi Ajulo-opin, Mukhtar Tolani Shagaya, Ahmed Shaba; House of Assembly members; cabinet members; chairmen and members of federal and state boards and parastatals; Senators Suleiman Makanjuola Ajadi and Ahmed Mohammed; former APC Chairman Bashir Bolarinwa; and other party leaders.
Chairman of the State Congress Committee, Dr. Alkali Alibe, said the affirmation of the new leadership of the party was in line with the Constitution of the party.
“Kwara State has been consolidating politically under your leadership. People are happy under your stewardship as the Executive Governor of the state and we can see evidences of this in every part of the state we have been to,” he said.
