INFRASTRUCTURE: Kwara Gov Commends Offa Community

By Babatunde Opoola

Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq has commended the Offa indigenes of Kwara State for their efforts towards taking the lead role in becoming agents of change in their community.

"They said we are not sharing money, but eventually we're doing the right thing, rehabilitating schools and hospitals.

"When we assumed office, which hospital was up to standard? Just a few, the General Hospital Offa, I won't lie, wasn't done by the government, Offa indigenes are not lazy, it was rehabilitated by Offa indigenes, the improvements we did at Offa hospital is just an addition to what the community has done. So, I thank Offa Community for being responsible and maintaining government facilities.

The Kwara State Governor made the comments at the solidarity rally of the APC in Offa geared towards mobilizing members for the party registration exercise held on Sunday at Iyeru Primary school.

Abdulrazaq also said, “When we wanted to award the contract of Offa Grammar School, Offa insisted all the money should not be poured in there, the money that is to be spent on one school should be used for four schools, that is why we have four schools because of community engagement."

On the issue of water, Abdulrazaq described the water situation in Offa as embarrassing.

"It's quite embarrassing that a great town like Offa uses borehole as the source of water, not tap water. We would make sure the right thing is done."

Reacting to the request by the community for the rehabilitation of Offa/Ikotun/ Eiye-korin road, Abdulrazaq stated that the road had been put under a federal government plan - Presidential Order 7 - which is a private sector fund set aside to maintain roads.

Happily, he stated that an Offa indigene, Dr Sarah Alade is a member of the committee set up to administer the funds.

On the reason for the gathering, Abdulrazaq charged party faithfuls to go out en masse and register for the APC to shove up the membership strength far above the less than 100,000 members it currently has.

Abdulrazaq accused the intraparty opposition of mindless ambitions and taking the APC for a ride, saying that they had breached every convention of the party.

"There are some people out there that want to distrupt the registration process, let's not give room for them, they went to court in Abuja, they couldn't stop the registration process, it's still an ongoing process, that is why they went to distrupt the Stakeholders' meeting at banquet hall in Ilorin", Abdulrazaq added.

Various APC stakeholders gave their remarks on the margins of the rally held in support of Governor Abdulrazaq and APC Caretaker Chairman in the state.

Prominent on the list of attendance is the State's Deputy Governor, Kayode Alabi, Olofa of Offa, who was ably represented by High Chief, Asalofa of Offa, Alhaji Isiaka Adebayo Shittu; Kwara South Senator, Architect Lola Ashiru; Senator Makanjuola Ajadi, Barrister Kunle Suleiman, the publicity secretary of the APC, Alhaji Tajudeen Aro Folaranmi; Member representing Essa/Shawo/Igboidun constituency, Hon Abdulwaheed Gbenga Yussuf JK; former Commissioner for Enterprise, Alhaji Wahab Femi Agbaje Whyte; the Local Government Caretaker Chairman, Abdulateef Afolayan; Chief J.B.Shogo, Chief Kayode Adebiyi, Alhaji Manjeed Abdullahi, Hon Taiye Omotosho, Hon Kola Oyawoye and Hon Tade Shittu.

Also in attendance are the Offa LGA APC executives and ward counterparts;  Chief G.G. Jaiyeola and many party stalwarts across the state.

Ashiru while addressing the gathering called on Folaranmi, Whyte and Adebiyi to close ranks as leaders to bring about developmental politics that would benefit Offa as a community.

Ashiru revealed that he's presently embarking on the rehabilitation of six different township roads in Offa.

Earlier, Hon Yussuf Jk had pledged the unwavering support of Offa Community for Governor Abdulrazaq, adding that the ranting of negligible minority should not be a distraction for Governor Abdulrazaq.

Folaranmi in his remarks said things are getting better in Kwara referring to those shouting and wailing as retrogressive forces trying to take Kwara back to the sordid past.

Whyte on his part, commended all the stakeholders in Offa for the unity exhibited in rallying support for Gov Abdulrazaq, adding that with the love the Governor has for Offa through the various intervention in infrastructural upgrade, Offa is appreciative of the gesture and will continue to support the his administration.