Some prominent politicians and former All Progressives Congress chieftains, including Senator Makanjuola Ajadi and Hajia Aisha Ahman-Patigi, are now leading campaigns for the second term re-election of Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq as the governor of Kwara state.
Ajadi, who contested as the Kwara South Senatorial candidate of the African Democratic Congress during the February 25, 2023 general election, had earlier served as the Chairman of the Kwara State Assets Recovery Committee put in place by governor Abdulrazaq while Hajia Ahman-Patigi resigned from the state cabinet following irreconcilable difference between her and governor AbdulRazaq.
While Ajadi decamped to ADC, Ahman-Patigi decamped to the Peoples Democratic Party where she contested the Kwara North Senatorial primary election of the party.
However, in a statement that he personally signed on Tuesday, Ajadi announced that “he will be working with other progressives in the state to re-elect Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrahman who he said remains the best option for Kwara State for the next four years.”
The senator also said he and his team have decided to return to the APC as he is not given to politics of zero-sum and perpetual bitterness.
“My supporters and I have put the National Election behind us. We cannot be accused of not exercising our democratic rights. However, it is time to move on as democrats.
“Consequently, I am hereby directing my supporters to work conscientiously for the re-election of Governor Abdulrazaq who, in all fairness and in the estimation of the overwhelming majority of our people, has done his best within the circumstances of our state to rebuild Kwara State to an enviable height. He is therefore the best man on the ballot for the office of Governor,and I am directing my supporters and the people of our state to support him.
“I also have the mandate of the majority of our candidates, especially those from Kwara South, to announce our return and collapse of our structures into the APC.
“Whatever the misgivings anyone may have, I have come to the conclusion that any vote against the governor at this time would amount to setting our state back several decades. I do not want to be on the wrong side of history, hence my decision to make this public declaration of support for the re-election of Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq,” the statement said.
In another statement titled; “Kwara 2023- Aisha Ahman Pategi endorses Gov. Abdulrazaq for 2nd term”, the former Commissioner of Local government and Chieftaincy Affairs between 2019 and 2020 said that she was now working for the re-election of Abdulrazaq.
Aisha said that she had joined forces with the progressives calling for the re-election of Abdulrazaq in the March 11 Governorship and State House of Assembly polls.
She said, “Absolutely, I worked for the progressive in the past election. I will do the same come Saturday inshaAllah #AAP for #GAA 4+4.”
She reiterated that as a progressive, her decision was borne out of respect for the President-elect, Bola Tinubu.
“No other side dear… It’s all about The people of Kwara, especially Kwara North and Patigi. Ashiwaju has been a long-time mentor and father to me,” she said.
