Political Network, PN, a coalition of over 70 civil society organizations, CSOs, has reiterated its support for three major candidates of the All Progressives Congress, APC, contesting for various political offices in the coming 2023 general election.
The Convener and National Leader of the PN, Razaq Kolade Olokoba, disclosed that the three APC candidates the coalition is rooting for are the APC senatorial candidate for Kwara Central district, Mallam Saliu Mustapha, the incumbent governor of Kwara State, Alhaji AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, and the APC presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Olokoba said that arrangements to storm Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, to kick start the statewide campaign have been completed, assuring that members of each organization making up the coalition are already itching to go for the grandmother of all rallies the state would witness very shortly.
The human rights activist disclosed that the coalition is out to support the candidates because of the belief that they have something better off their sleeves to offer the country, saying that all Nigerians of goodwill must rally round candidates with good intentions to better the lot of the country, through robust contributions that would build on the foundation being laid either by the outgoing Federal Government or allow for consolidation of the first term achievements of the sitting governors, like AbdulRazaq, through a second term in office.
Olokoba said, “Besides the fact that the principle of power shift to the South is in favour of Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the APC, with his pedigree, antecedents and record of performance in various offices in the past, he is no doubt capable of building well on the legacy the outgoing President Muhammadu Buhari will bequeath to him on his departure on May 29, 2023.”
He asserted that “voting him in to succeed Buhari is not likely to be a mistake for the good people of Nigeria.”
On the incumbent governor of Kwara State, the Coalition Convener gave him a pass mark for his first term that is running to an end; and expressed the confidence that “the way he is going, he will end well in May next year.”
He further pointed out that “his body language in office and the way he keeps his eyes on the ball is a clear indication that he has better mission and vision for the state for his second term in office.”
While supporting a second term for AbdulRazaq, Olokoba said that experience has shown the importance of continuity of performers in office beyond a single term, citing several instances across the country and across the globe to buttress his assertion, with appeal to the Kwara State electorate to discard political consideration and ethnic affinity to vote en masse for AbdulRazaq for the benefit of the generality of the people of the state.
The youthful activist and vocal public commentator also urged the people of the state to ensure that they vote other contestants who would augment the governor’s effort positively into other legislative offices, either at the state or federal level, mentioning the APC senatorial candidate for Kwara Central district, Mallam Saliu Mustapha, as an example.
Olokoba enthused, “Mustapha, a technoctrat of repute and philanthropist of note, who has been serving humanity indiscriminately with his personal resources without being in any political office, would do more when in political office, through judicious utilization of funds meant for the people’s welfare.”
He expressed the need for a landslide victory for Mustapha, for the benefit of and in the interest of all and sundry.
Concluding, the leader of the coalition, who also doubles as the National President of the Campaign for Dignity in Governance, CDG, said that all the above and more would be encapsulated in the several rallies that would be organised across the state and beyond.
