The Secretary of the Action Congress of Nigeria in Kwara State, Alhaji Ismail Agboola, also a former chairman, Ilorin South Local Government Council and an ex-board member of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, tells EMMANUEL ADEH his party’s preparedness for the forthcoming elections
What is the current situation of the Action Congress of Nigeria in Kwara State?
I can confirm to you that we are solidly on the ground and we are glad that other political parties have come to join us and we are waxing stronger by the day.
Can you confirm that the ACN is taking part in the next local government elections in the state, given the controversies surrounding the voter register?
We all know that the last elections were adjudged to be the worst the country ever had and even foreign observers attested to this. The late President Umaru Yar‘Adua admitted that the elections were fraudulent. Coming to Kwara, you had the pictures of chairs, televisions, tables and people like Mike Tyson, Michael Jackson, the late Gani Fawehinmi and Joseph Wayas in the voter register. The cry is that there should be a free and fair election. In fact, you remember that former President Olusegun Obasanjo said that it was going to be a do-or-die affair, but we never knew it was going to be that dirty. There is no way the local government elections won‘t be fraudulent without a new voter register in the state.
What do you think are your chances in the next general elections?
If you go round, you will notice that Kwara people are fed up with the Peoples Democratic Party in the state. Now, the party is confused. Already, they have over eight aspirants and somebody has already come out to endorse somebody. So, there is a serious division within the PDP (even at the national level) and the ACN will capitalise on that. I strongly believe the ACN has passed through the tunnel and right now, we are seeing the light.
But there are some people who believe that the PDP is still better than the ACN.
They know that we have very glaring examples of the difference we are making in the states where ACN is in charge. They should go to Lagos and Edo states. We have the fear of God and that is why the ACN is doing a serious transformation in Lagos and we will replicate this in any state we win in the next elections. Our candidates for the next government will empower the people as it is done overseas. Even when you don‘t have a job, the government takes care of some of your needs through the social security scheme. When I was a board member of JAMB, I didn‘t care whether you were Igbo, Hausa or Yoruba, I would help when it was within my power to do so. You do not just focus on your party alone.
Saraki recently endorsed his daughter as the next governor of Kwara State, and it would seem that when he makes a decision every other person looks helpless...
It is sad that some people have decided to take an advantage of what is happening. But I will speak as someone with the benefit of hindsight and based on a complete assessment of him. Some of us left the PDP because of the things we felt were wrong. Let him step aside and let people see that he has done his best for the state. No matter what happens, he remains a leader. But he should know that politics is always changing and very dynamic.
Political parties have been criticised for consistently flouting the principle of internal democracy. How will the ACN ensure that this does not take root in the party?
As the secretary of the ACN in Kwara, I am happy to say that we do not have any problem with that. We have two strong candidates. Dele Belgore and Lola Ashiru are fantastic, God-fearing and intelligent individuals. They will go through the primaries and whoever emerges at the end of the day will be the best for Kwara. We will try to convince any of them to see reasons why he should step down for the other because they are both strong in their own ways. But if they want to test their strength at the primaries, it will only be fair to allow them.
Is your party comfortable with the proposed shift in the timetable by the Independent National Electoral Commission?
We are very much in agreement with the shift as far as it does not tamper with the handing over date. Right now, the voter register is very messy and in a bad shape. A lot still needs to be done. We do not just want a voter register like the type Maurice Iwu gave us. We want a register that is credible and which everyone will have confidence in. So, we don‘t have any problem with the shift in date. We will fully support INEC and its leadership to conduct a credible election.
You are interested in contesting the senatorial seat in Kwara Central Senatorial District. What innovations are you bringing into lawmaking if you are elected?
I want to represent my people in the best way possible. I will make sure my constituency has a say in how the people are governed. My job will not just be to sit in Abuja and be collecting salaries every month. I will speak for my people and ensure that laws that will empower them are made. But I will advise them that this time, they should not allow anybody to steal their votes. They should defend their votes and make sure that their votes count.
Source: http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201010020522115
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