THERE IS NO FORCE THAT CAN STOP AN IDEA WHOSE TIME HAS COME. THE TIME FOR FREEDOM FOR THE GOOD PEOPLE OF KWARA STATE. THE PEOPLE ARE READY AND NO BODY CAN STAND BEFORE A MOVING TRAIN


Less than one week to the April poll, the gubernatorial candidate of the Democratic People’s Party, DPP, in Kwara State, Mr. Gbenga Olawepo continued his campaign last week with a visit to Lafiagi, Bacita and other communities in Edu Local Government Areas of the State. He also embarked on a tour of communities like Agbamu, Oro, Esie, Omu-Aran, Oko and Arandun, all in Irepodun Local Government Areas. Earlier, he had visited Jebba, Bode – Saadu, Shao and the university town of Malete, in Moro Local Government.
In all the places visited, the message was the same: Kwara shall rise and shine again. Olawepo explained that his government was genuinely committed to the revitalisation of the industrial life of the State which has been destroyed. “Jebba and Bacita used to be major industrial towns, employing thousands of our people directly and indirectly. Today the industries are dead, and our people wallow in poverty,” Olawepo said, promising to resuscitate these industries and build more in all parts of the State.
Olawepo added that his programme will also touch on education, health and poverty alleviation, urging the people to the vigilant and make their votes count this time around. “For everything there is a season, there is a time for everything under the sun; for Kwara, the season for change has come, a time to say no to slavery and poverty and say yes to freedom, progress and prosperity”, Olawepo charged the crowd of supporters.
He also used the trip to pay homage and sensitise community leaders, opinion leaders and traditional rulers on his ambition and on the need for the people to take an active interest in the forthcoming election. He decried the abject neglect of critical infrastructures and social services in many communities by the government and promise a quick redress if voted into power. “For eight years, they were in power, and roads in Jebba, Bacita are still like this, what do they want to tell you again. Yet, they still want you to vote for their stooge. We must say no with our vote,” he said.
On worker’s welfare, he promised to increase their salary and improved on their general welfare. “Kwara workers are the least paid in the country. There is money in Kwara to increase worker’s pay if we stop waste and stealing,” emphasising that Kwara has got about N400 billion from the Federation Account in eight years without anything to show for it.
He also assured them of his readiness to lessen the burden of the poor by making education more affordable, promising that his government will pay the NECO and WAEC fees of Kwara pupils, and reduce the current high tuition fee paid at the State University
All the traditional rulers visited gave their traditional blessings and prayed for the actualisation of his ambition. The enthusiastic crowd expressed their love for the candidate and his party’s programme. They also urged him to fulfil his God-given mandate to free Kwarans from bondage, by breaking the back of their oppressor in the forthcoming poll.
The DPP candidate continues his State-wide campaign tour with a visit to other Local Government Areas this week.
Meanwhile the Gbenga Olawepo Campaign Organisation has denied what it called a wicked lie being peddled around to the effect that its candidate, Hon. Gbenga Olawepo is ‘working for’ the candidate of a certain political party.
“For the avoidance of any doubt, we wish to state that our candidate, Hon. Gbenga Olawepo is not, and cannot work for any other candidate. Like they did in 2007, these rumours are being circulated by the losing candidates who have been intimidated by the rising popularity of our party and our candidate.
For the record, our candidate, Hon. Olawepo has been a consistent leader for change in Kwara whose history of struggle dated back to over 25 years. Under the current democratic dispensation, since 1999, Olawepo has fought consistently on the side of the people against the oppressors of the people. Whereas many of our opponents who were ‘in battle’ in 2007 had gone back to their paymaster, Olawepo remains the only candidate that did not decamp since the last election,” a statement by the organisation said.
The campaign organisation has also commended the Police authority in Ilorin for its pro-active action in declaring about 148 miscreants wanted in across the State. This is seen as a positive signal from the Police to remain neutral and maintain order during the poll.