• says PDP ran state aground, chased devt partners away
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara has called on the residents of the state to consider the statement of the opposition party Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the whining of a party ashamed about the growth and development under the current government in the state.
This was contained in a statement issued by the Publicity Secretary of the party, Alhaji Tajudeen Folaranmi Aro, on Sunday.
Aro explained that PDP was unhappy that Kwara has become the darling of the private sector and the development bodies barely five years after the previous government under their party scared many of them away with anti-business policies and ostentation for greed and wealth at the expense of the public.
“We have seen the wishy-washy statement written by the PDP over the foundation laying of the N2.5bn first-of-its-kind oncology and research centre facilitated by Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq on Friday. It does betray their sadness over the fulfilment of yet another promise to Kwarans and I offer our sympathy to them.
“PDP is grieving that Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has repositioned Kwara as an investment destination for investors and go-to state for global and development partners. From 2019, Kwara has had the good fortune to benefit massively from World Bank, UBEC, UNICEF due to the strategic alliances and trust the administration built with world leaders for the progress of the state.
“Also, several philanthropists, community-based associations and groups have offered to support the administration because they are buoyed by its honesty and passion for people and community. It is trite that no government anywhere in the world can provide all the needs of the people without the support of the well-meaning public. However, history shows that only the honest, loved administration enjoys such goodwill.
“The PDP must have thought it was wise and patriotic to close doors to good advice and intervention of interested well-meaning groups when it ran the state down 2003 – 2019. The PDP is now dismayed by the massive love and support the governor and the state enjoys from the development partners under the government of APC, but should think of public interest first before their political harakiri,” Aro said.
He added that Kwarans are the ultimate beneficiaries of all the interventions from local and development partners, calling the PDP to stop suggesting they do not deserve good governance and quality standard of living.
“One will become enemy of progress to begin to complain about the turnaround of that sad, debilitating public-private posturing in the state.
“Five years ago when AbdulRazaq came on board, he promised Kwarans to make the state a darling of investors and development bodies locally and internationally to drive the agenda of inclusive growth and development of the state. As of that time, the PDP had already put the state in the black book of UBEC, UNICEF, and BOI to mention a few.
“Similarly, household government and private entreprises like Okin Biscuits, St. Moritz, Bacita Sugar Company and Jebba Paper Mill disappeared overnight turning Kwara — one of the most industrialised states in the 70s — to a civil service state.
“This led to attrition and stunted growth across key sectors like education, health, and socioeconomic standard of living.
“We are as excited as over 3 million Kwarans who have now benefitted in part from the UBEC smart schools, UNICEF-Kwara newly formed partnership on health care, or Sight Savers eye care services among others under the strategic leadership of APC government in the state.
“We urge members of PDP to begin to take copious lessons on business of inclusive governance from the governor as this is a lifetime opportunity to unlearn the politics of me-and-my-family the party is run by for decades. Kwara is moving forward.”
Aro expressed gratitude to Abdul Samad Rabiu Initiative (ASR Africa) for the project, urging philanthropists and other well-meaning groups locally and nationally to continue to partner with Kwara Government in the interest of the state and development of the country.
Signed:
Alhaji Tajudeen Folaranmi Aro
APC Publicity Secretary
