Hon Comr. Salahudeen Lukman, popular as Eluku Omo Adugbo, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Candidate for Ojomu Balogun Constituency in the 2023 general election, lamented the delay in local government elections in Kwara State.

Under the headline "PROMISE MADE, PROMISE FAILED AS USUAL: IT'S MARCH FIRST AGAIN; PITY KWARANS," Hon. Eluku Omo Adugbo criticized Governor Abdulrasak AbdulRahman for not fulfilling promises made regarding the commencement of local government electoral processes.

Highlighting the dire situation facing indigenes and residents of Kwara state, Hon. Eluku-Omo Adugbo emphasized the urgent need for succor amidst a hunger crisis exacerbated by a high inflation rate and the post-subsidy era.

The statement underscored the critical role of functional local government systems in addressing development challenges and ensuring proper monitoring and coordination of government programs and policies. However, Hon. Eluku-Omo Adugbo criticized the lack of progress in this regard since Governor AbdulRahman took office.

The PDP candidate expressed disappointment over the failure to commence local government elections, despite assurances from the Kwara State Independent Electoral Commission (KWSIEC) chairman. He called for an end to the reign of unelected Transition Implementation Committees (TICs) and the restoration of democratically elected local council leaders.

Warning of escalating frustration among Kwarans, Hon. Eluku-Omo Adugbo urged Governor AbdulRahman to avoid pushing citizens to the breaking point, where they may take matters into their own hands.

In conclusion, the statement reiterated the call for immediate action from the governor, stressing the need for a government that is closer to the people and responsive to their needs.

As the hunger crisis deepens and frustration mounts, all eyes remain on Governor Abdulrasak AbdulRahman to address the pressing concerns raised by Hon. Comr. Salahudeen Lukman Eluku Omo Adugbo and other stakeholders in Kwara State.

THE FULL STATEMENT IS REPRODUCED BELOW

"PROMISE MADE, PROMISE FAILED AS USUAL: IT'S MARCH FIRST AGAIN; PITY KWARANS.

It's extremely important that we call on His Excellency, The Executive Governor of our dear state, Mallam Abdulrasak AbdulRahman, to pity indigenes and residents of Kwara state across the 16 local government areas of the state at this material time.

It is incumbent on every responsible government to provide succor for the citizens as Nigeria runs into a hunger crisis occasioned by a high inflation rate amidst the naira float and post-subsidy era.

Every political expert has identified the lack of a functional Local Government system in Kwara state since the inception of Gov Abdulrasak AbdulRahman as a key factor responsible for underdevelopment, improper monitoring and coordination of state government programs and policies, deterioration, and uneven spread of human capacity and infrastructure development, among others.

Kwarans had expected the promise made by Kwara State Independent Electoral Commission (KWSIEC) chairman shortly after the passage into law by the state assembly of the amendments Bill of KWSIEC in January 2024, that Local Government electoral process would commence by February 2024, to be a true, factual statement and not deception, lies, and audio promises as usual. It is very bad to continue to deny people the opportunity to elect who will lead them at the grassroots by will.

At the moment, with improved FAAC allocation to all tiers of Government, democratically elected local councils will function properly, which shall relieve pressure on the state government. But in the usual way of the present administration, today marks 1st March 2024. No update of such as if Mr. Governor is not tired of the sole admiration style of leading Kwara despite the obvious unencouraging outcome so far.

The Government must understand that there's a limit to every frustration; testing citizens' patience this far is unfair. Upon elastic limit exceedance, breaking is inevitable; therefore, Gov Abdulrasak must avoid the point of break, where Kwarans will have to eject the illegal TIC from office by themselves, declare officially the shutdown of local government secretariats across the state.

However, before this stage, pity Kwarans, give us democratically elected local Government council leaders, enough of illegal TICs with no impact in our domain.

The hunger is biting harder; people need a government that is closer to them to solve their issues.

Until the needful is done, I shall keep calling on Your Excellency because it's your responsibility to govern us, our dear Governor.

Hon. Comr. Salahudeen Lukman Eluku-Omo Adugbo
1st March, 2024