Hottestgistnaija.com
By Rt. Hon. Razak Atunwa
I am delighted that our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party, under the leadership of Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki has brokered a pact with the political and traditional leaders of the Kwara North Senatorial District whereby power will shift to Kwara North come 2023.
As the PDP gubernatorial candidate for the forthcoming 2019 General Election, I reaffirm my full and unconditional support for this pact. I was actively involved in the events leading to it. I am glad that I also had the privilege of being a signatory to this historic moment.
Equity and fairness can not be ambiguous. That is precisely what our leaders, and our fathers have jointly expressed by this pact. This is a conscious and positive way of saying loudly to the average Kwara northerner that they are equal partners in the affairs and governance of Kwara.
Kwara North occupies a pride of place in the socio-political firmament of Kwara State. Kwara North, inarguably is Kwara’s Food Basket. With a rich and fertile landmass spanning several thousands of squaremetre, the Kwara North has contributed immeasurably to the development of Kwara state as a whole.
From the North, Kwara has produced brilliant and sound human resources for Nigeria, and for the world. We recall to mind the likes of Prof. Abubakar Halidu, the cerebral Emeritus Professor of Public Finance; Dr. Amina Ndalolo, the Former Minister of State for Health; Prof. Farooq Adamu Kperogi is a Nigerian academic, media scholar, public speaker and newspaper columnist. He is a Professor of Journalism and Citizen Media at Kennesaw State University, Georgia, USA. There are numerous industrious and erudite sons and daughters of Kwara North who are making us proud around the globe. This is how much Kwara North, like its other counterparts from the Central and the South, have contributed to the development of Nigeria.
But beyond powershift, what else do the PDP promise Kwara North? We promise accelerated development of the length and breadth of the North. From Moro to Patigi, Edu to Kaiama, down to Baruten, Kwara North will enjoy a different level of attention and presence of government like never before.
We shall focus particularly on the four cardinal areas of;
Agriculture;
Education;
Human Capital Development, and
Basic infrastructure.
We have mapped out the specifics in consultation with select stakeholders of Kwara North. We will continue to do more of such consultations in the days ahead, so as to tap from the depth of knowledge of others who are willing to share their insights and ideas on how to permanently lift Kwara North off the baseline.
We will explore specific comparative advantage of each of the Local Government Areas and aggressively drive these to fruition. For example, Kaiama and Baruten are blessed with expansive arable lands that annually churn out tons of tubers, grains and beans. They also have mineral resources in abundance. The role of the government will be to help harness these potentials to the maximum benefit of the locals and the state at large.
Patigi and Edu have a large body of water that produce aquatic resources of different grades. Our Administration will help to better harness these potentials through technology driven initiatives and expertise that will make the aquaculture far more lucrative, far more easy and far more attractive.
But more importantly is the development of Kwara North’s huge human resources through sound education and skill acquisition. The young men and women from Kwara North will be better equipped with sound and qualitative education. This is non-negotiable because that’s the future of Kwara North, and we must never toy with it!
We will also tap into the depth of resources in the creative industries and culture and tourism opportunities available throughout Kwara North.
These are not mere political promises. These are specific development agenda that have been researched and developed with actionable timelines.
Let us all continue to work together in unison in an all inclusive administration which only the PDP can provide in order to achieve sustainable development.
Above all, we will be driven by one thing, and one thing alone: Putting You First…Putting Kwara First
*Razak Atunwa is the PDP Gubernatorial candidate for Kwara 2019!*
