Agbelere’s Public Confession Vindicates Us – Kwara PDP
…..Says Imposed Chairman Outstripping His Constitutional Limits by Stopping FG's Projects
The Kwara State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says it has been vindicated by the public confession of the imposed Chairman of Ilorin East Local Government Council, Mallam Lukman Agbelere that he was "installed" by Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, and that his loyalty lies solely with him.
Mr. Agbelere openly admitted that he was “installed” into office by Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and described the governor as his “destiny helper”, vowing never to support any initiative that comes from individuals who are politically at odds with the governor, no matter how beneficial such initiative may be to the people.
The Kwara PDP notes that this open confession has not only embarrassed the office the Chairman occupies but has also confirmed what the party and many discerning Kwarans have always maintained; that the September 2024 local government election was a sham.
"The Ilorin East chairman's statement confirms our long-held position that the so-called election was a sham and fraudulent process designed to legitimise the imposition of handpicked loyalists of Governor Abdulrahman and reward loyalty over competence and the interests of the people.
"The process lacked transparency, fairness, and credibility, and its outcomes did not reflect the democratic will of the people of Kwara State," the party said in a statement issued on Wednesday by its Publicity Secretary, Olushola Olusegun Adewara.
The Kwara PDP said it was alarmed by Agbelere’s confession that he deliberately withheld approval for a N200 million hospital project facilitated by a federal lawmaker purely because of political disagreements between the senator and the governor, whom he described as his political leader and benefactor.
Agbelere had declared during a peogramme that “an enemy to my Oga (Governor) is my enemy,” and “I won’t approve anything from anyone who disagrees with my benefactor”
"This declaration is reckless, irresponsible, and fundamentally unfortunate, coming from a whole council chairman. We find it utterly shameful that a council chairman could go on record to proudly admit that his actions and decisions are driven not by the needs of his people but by the political preferences of the Governor.
"This level of sycophancy is not only dangerous to democracy but detrimental to development at the grassroots. As a party, we believe that a chairman who was truly elected by the people would never block a developmental project meant to serve them, let alone make such disgraceful and self-indicting statements on a public platform.
"What the Ilorin East chairman has done is a betrayal of public trust, a criminal abuse of office, and a shocking example of how partisan loyalty is being prioritised over public interests under the Abdulrahman-led administration.
"When a local government chairman can obstruct a federal government project initiated by a serving senator, simply to serve his political godfather, it becomes clear that our local councils have been captured and turned into extensions of the governor’s private estate. This is a clear violation of Chairman's constitutional boundaries, and we call on security agencies and federal institutions to immediately investigate and summon Mr. Agbelere for questioning.
"Let it be known that Mr. Agbelere is not an isolated case. He is one of many pawns in a grand design by Governor AbdulRazaq to dominate and exploit the local government system for personal and political gains, while the people suffer. The local government system in Kwara has been hijacked, and what currently exists is not governance by the people, for the people, but an extension of one man’s political structure. This is unacceptable," the PDP said.
Signed:
Olusegun Olusola Adewara,
State Publicity Secretary,
Kwara PDP.
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