From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin
The immediate past Governor of Kwara State and Senator representing Kwara Central Senatorial district, Dr Bukola Saraki said the state got Independent Power Project(IPP)under late President Umar Musa Yar’Adua and nothing to show under President Goodluck Jonathan.
Saraki who is the Chairman, Senate Committee on Environment who said this while speaking with Jonathan at the weekend after his rally in Ilorin also noted that it was unfortunate that the President and the federal government executive came to Kwara for PDP rally without giving the state any concrete project.
“The message from the rally was freedom,freedom from what? Which freedom? Look at the number of jobs that had been provided for the youths. If you look at the empowerment of associations, the general hospitals rehabilitation that is going on among others, you will think that the President is coming here for commissioning of some of the projects”.
“I remember when I was the governor of this state; we spent up to N46 billion on Baruteenroad. It is not state road,but federal road. We decided to do it because it affected our people. Kiama road that Kwara state government is embarking upon now is a federal government road.
“Uptill now, their own is promises. So, it is we that are freeing ourselves from them. That is why you see this kind of Change. I keep on telling Nigerians and people of this state that this struggle is not personal. If it is about an individual satisfaction, I will still remain in ruling party today.
“But I can’t continue to see this kind of thing continue like that. We campaigned for that party and do so many things for the party and we can’t say that we benefited anything from that party. So, I will not allow this to continue because of my personal prospect and satisfaction. If my people are not benefiting, why should I stay? The last time we benefited from Federal government was when late Ya’ardua was the President with Power project to show for it.
“In fact, letKwarans judge those who are always there for them. It was we that have being there for them all the time. We don’t wait until election time.
“I predicted this that when we are approaching election,from Lagos, Abuja, they will come and tell you freedom, freedom from what? If they have being doing this, it will be different thing now not now that they need their votes. So, I think Kwarans are now more matured and more enlightened. They have seen the light and they are not going back.
“They just want them now that elections are ahead and when elections are gone, you won’t see them again. We were all here last year; theydid not do any rally or say freedom. Only now that they are saying people need freedom. So, gentlemen, it is clear to us that they did not love Kwarans”, he said.
