UMAR BAYO ABDULWAHAB examines the political equation in Kwara state after the recent “freedom rally” organised by the PDP and attended by President Goodluck Jonathan
Ilorin, the Kwara state capital was recently agog with the visit of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and the National Working Committee (NWC) members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who were in the state for a rally to receive defectors into the party. Tagged, “freedom/unity rally”, the event witnessed an unexpected large number of PDP supporters and admirers.
Checks at the Ilorin International Airport, showed that no fewer than 12 aircrafts conveying dignitaries to the rally landed at the airport.
It was the second highest number of flights recorded in a day at the airport after the 8th day fidau for the late Second Republic Senate leader and strong man of Kwara politics, Dr. Abubakar Olusola Saraki.
The Ilorin metropolitan square, venue of the rally was filled to capacity, to the surprise and excitement of Mr. President who, on arrival at the venue, walked round waving and acknowledging cheers from the mammoth crowd.
The president’s mood was understandable. The PDP had been declared dead in Kwara following the defection of its arrowhead, Senator Bukola Saraki and the incumbent governor of the state, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed to the All Progressives Congress (APC), who carried along with them other major stakeholders..
But what transpired at the rally certainly beats the imagination of the APC and even PDP members who had expected least of the crowd at the event as it turned out to be a big success for the party.
PDP alive in Kwara
Before now, PDP electoral fortunes were dwindling as a result of the division among party stakeholders. The unity rally, according to pundits, has, on the surface, at least shown that stakeholders are prepared to sheathe their swords in order to wrest power from the Bukola Saraki power bloc.
This much was captured by Senator Gbemisola Saraki, younger sister of Bukola who spoke on behalf of other defectors.
“I am sure you came with lots of questions. One of the questions is, is PDP dead in Kwara state? You can see for yourself that PDP is very much alive. It is clear that the reason for defection by a loud few is because of their personal and selfish interest. It is not about Kwarans, majority of who remain committed,” she said.
And in a veiled reference to the rally, Governor Ahmed told the audience at the distribution of Tokunbo taxi cabs to transporters by his administration that the party stakeholders should rather face the ‘‘reality of defection’’ of the G-5 governors to the APC.
He said those who still held the notion “that our defection does not enjoy the support of the good people of Kwara state” have not realised that “the power of this leadership (Kwara) is in the hands of the people of this state.”
Fallout
Consequently, the outcome of the unity rally has led to the removal of the Chairman of the National Sports Commission and Minister of Sports, Alhaji Bolaji Abdullahi, who at the PDP rally was greeted with various placards with inscriptions such as ‘‘Bolaji must go’’.
At his maiden press briefing, state caretaker committee chairman of the party, Solomon Edoja had challenged the former minister to tell the world where he stood. This followed allegation that he was a mole in Jonathan’s government.
Abdullahi was the special Assistant to former governor Bukola Saraki on Communications and Strategy in 2007 and later appointed as the commissioner for education, a position he held until the end of the 8 years tenure of Saraki before he was appointed minister about two years ago.
Expectedly, his removal by the president has elicited reactions among stakeholders within the state, including the Ilorin emirate. Amongst the first to react was the APC which in a statement by its interim publicity secretary, Alhaji Sulyman Buhari, described the minister’s sack as “triumph of merit over politics,” declaring that Abdullahi was not a member of APC but a good ambassador of the state.
Also, the Alanguas/Magajis Forum in the Ilorin Emirate under the chairmanship of Magajin Nda of Ilorin, Mohammed Saliu Woru, described the minister’s sack as ‘‘unfortunate, very irrational, and very unreasonable.”
Dilemma
After the president’s visit, there has not been any news of fresh defectors neither to the PDP nor to the APC even though both parties are scheming to get additional members ahead of the 2015 poll. Promises of federal jobs from the PDP government, political appointments from the APC government in Kwara and contracts from both APC and PDP leaders, have been keeping members in a dilemma over which party to follow.
‘‘We are weighing which of the two options will pay us. In fact, we have registered political associations under both parties and we will only go with the one that pays us’’, said a member of a youth association in Ilorin who pleaded anonymity.
Test of Popularity
Visiting the state for the first time after the PDP rally, probably to test his popularity, Senator Bukola Saraki, was treated to a heroic welcome by APC members who trooped out in their number. It was indeed a carnival like reception for Saraki who arrived 2.00pm, and received by his teeming supporters, including the royalty, led by the Magaji Nda.
The crowd of supporters, who thronged the vicinity of Ilorin International Airport from very early in the morning, obstructed free flow of traffic for hours on both ends of the Ilorin-Ogbomoso road, singing and dancing with their brooms, the APC symbol. The crowd intermittently allowed Saraki in and out of his car from the Garin-Alimi roundabout up to the Emir’s palace. What was supposed to be a 20-minute drive lasted two hours. The procession, also stormed a stakeholders meeting of the Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union (IEDPU), where the emirate articulated its position on issues for the forthcoming national conference. Saraki whose clothes and cap were drenched in sweat, expressed surprise and pleasure at the reception accorded him.
He said:”I think it was a reaction to the PDP rally and the kind of insinuations that were being made after. People just wanted to show and let Nigerians know that whatever they saw before is nothing; that this is where the structure is.
‘‘It was not a challenge but a message, to say this is where the people of Kwara are, these are the people we associate with. It was really a clear message.”
Continuing, Saraki said: “importantly, I’m very glad to have walked the roads together on our feet from the airport down to the Emir’s palace, this is the best way I can pass the weekend with my people; truly we are united, because you all turned out voluntarily from your various homes.”
Talk of the town
Although, the rally had come and gone, the memory of the event lingers on. For about three weeks now, the rally and the Saraki’ s procession have become the gist of the town amongst supporters of both the APC and PDP over which of the parties look set to carry the day come 2015 . The two events, observers believe, are a test of political might and strength, noting however that the crowd may not necessarily be a determining factor in the outcome of elections. But one thing is sure; the two parties are solidly on ground ahead of 2015 poll.
