ILORIN: The battle to govern Kwara State in 2011 has begun. And some of the aspirants are showing the stuff they are made of. One of such politicians is Lola Ashiru, an architect, who is aspiring to be governor of the state on the platform of Action Congress, AC.
• Ashiru.
A couple of weeks ago, Across Nigeria met Ashiru at a political forum and he affirmed the determination of the people of Kwara to have a clean break in 2011. Ashiru was a foundation member of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, but had to switch over to AC when he––along with hundreds of others––were denied re-registration by the party because of their opposition to the Saraki family’s overbearing influence on the party.
Asked about this, Ashiru said: “Yes, we in the PDP offered Dr Saraki and his group refuge when they were being buffeted in All Nigeria Peoples Party… But they bit our benevolent fingers and eventually usurped leadership of the party.”
In response to another question, on his reaction to what has turned out to be a well grounded speculation that Baba Oloye, as Dr. Olusola Saraki is called, is planning to sponsor his daughter, Gbemi, a senator, to fill the governorship seat her brother will vacate next year, the architect said: “There is no law that says this is illegal but Kwara is bigger than one family. And the vision for the state should transcend what a single family has for it. Kwara is one of the first generation states and has numerous successful sons and daughters who have acquitted themselves creditably in both private and public sectors over the years. It is therefore a disservice to the ability and capability of this honourable group to impose a leader on the state. And I am sure that indigenes of Kwara are now wiser to the antics of the old man…”
Ashiru’s gracious coup de grace was: “We thank Baba Oloye for the services he has rendered to the state. But it is time for him to retire. We are wishing him a happy life in retirement and are prepared to carry the torch that will illuminate the path of Kwara to greater heights.”
– Reported by Stephen Oni.
