Kwara 2019: Igbominas Seek Political Inclusion In APC

Stakeholders and indigenes of Igbomina communities of Kwara South are currently appealing to the leaderships of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at both State and the national level, as well as the gubernatorial candidate of the party in the state, Alhaji Abdulraham Abdulrasaq, to consider one of them as the party’s deputy governorship candidate in the 2019 governorship election. While speaking with The men of the press on Friday, leaders and stakeholders of the Igbomina ethnic group stated that it would be great injustice if their communities are excluded from political consideration by the APC.

“In Kwara South senatorial district, the senatorial candidate and Federal House of Representatives candidates are from Offa and Oyun local government areas respectively. Offa and Oyun local government areas are the Ibolo-speaking bloc while Ifelodun, the third leg of the tripod in that federal constituency, is yet to get anything. Ifelodun local government area is the largest with a voting strength second to none in the senatorial district.

“It happens to be a different ethnic group from the duo mentioned above. Other Igbomina-speaking LGAs in the district are Irepodun and Isin. The tripod is complete in this senatorial district with Ekiti and Oke-Ero local government areas making the Ibolo bloc. However, while Ibolo and Ekiti blocs appeared to have been settled by the APC in the current calculus, the Igbomina stock is anxiously awaiting what it will take home.

“It is also important for APC to consider the fact that Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, the sitting governor of Kwara State and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senatorial candidate in the forthcoming election, is from Ifelodun. The party must court the people with a stake in the current arrangement. The best way to block the area for APC is to give them the running mate to the gubernatorial candidate,” Alhaji Ahmed Salau, a party leader in the district, said.

Similarly, some young elements in APC in the local government, led by Saliu Olaitan, a foremost community youth leader and chieftain of the party, submitted that the way to attract the votes of the youths of Ifelodun is to give one of them the deputy governorship slot. 

According to Olaitan, doing that will make the work of wining the area for the APC in 2019 much easier.

In a related submission, Secretary of Christian Youths in Politics, Steve Adeola, said the group is capable of mobilising Christian youths in the nooks and crannies of the state, leveraging on the tentacles of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the state. While adding his voice to the quest of the people of Ifelodun for the deputy governorship slot.

Adeola said APC must also consider a Christian for the position for equity and fairness.