… let’s take the rescue mission to the grassroots – Hakeem Lawal urges
… Talba remains my father, says Hakeem Lawal
The Social Democratic Party (SDP) Ilorin West Local Government Talba Caucus has declared their unalloyed loyalty to the Kwara governorship candidate of the party, Hakeem Lawal.
While on a solidarity visit to the governorship candidate at his Admiralty Villa, GRA, in Ilorin, they described Hakeem as a young and promising politician who they believe will reform and return the lost glory of the state.
Speaking on behalf of the group, Ilorin West SDP Local Government Legal Adviser, Mr Abdulwaheed Owonwami said, “It is high time we avoid politics of bitterness and support the youthful candidate that has a stock of promises for our darling state. We see a better future in Hakeem Lawal’s candidature and we are ready to work with him to win in the forthcoming 2023 general elections.
“Henceforth, we have accepted him as our leader. We would remain undaunted and focus on reclaiming the mandate and treasury from the hands of incompetent leaders.”
Responding to the group, the Kwara SDP gubernatorial candidate said he was thrilled by the peaceful resolution of the party men and women who are ready to support his candidature.
Lawal said, “I am thrilled by the resolve of the party men and women in your readiness to rally support for my candidature as the party flagbearer. We’ve contested the primaries and the winner has emerged. I therefore appeal to you all to call on anyone presumed to be aggrieved by the outcome of the primaries across all levels.
“I have instructed that Nobody should remove anyone from the party structure. We’re one big family. I insisted that everyone must be compensated. Let’s all take the Rescue Mission Agenda to the grassroots. The 2023 general elections must be a Rescue Mission for us all.”
Recall that Hakeem Lawal after the party governorship primaries held on May 30, won by 606 votes to beat Professor Shuaib Oba Abdulraheem, his only opponent, who polled 177 votes while Eight votes were voided.
The SDP governorship primary, had four delegates each from 193 wards in the state, making a total of 772 delegates alongside some members of the state exco of the party.
Following the outcome of the SDP, Prof. Abdulraheem officially resigned from the party to join the NNPP to contest as the governorship candidate in the state.
Speaking further, the SDP Governorship Candidate maintained that Professor Oba Abdulraheem remains his father and leader, saying that he is ready to resolve any presumed differences between them.
“Leadership is by choice, You’ve declared me as your leader and I accept it as the will of Allah. Who am I to say I don’t want to be your leader.
“I maintain that Prof. Oba remains my father and leader. No one should cause rancour between us. Never rule out any available option to reach out to our father to shoulder the responsibility of his son. I am ready to resolve any presumed differences between us. We must all succeed together. You can not say the father would not support his son.
“I’ve always reiterated it that everyone devoid of party affiliation must be embraced. We’re one big family before our leaning. You can always count on me for any support needed,” he added.
Lawal, however, hinted the group to take the rescue mission to the grassroots, stressing that they need to canvass and sensitize the people at the ward level in order to gather more support for their party, SDP to emerge victorious come 2023.
Those in the group are: Ibrahim Magaji (Ojuekun Zarumi ward); Mr Adebayo Abdulsalam, Magaji Ngeri ward chairman; Kolawole Charge, Badari ward chairman; Mustapha Kongbari (Member).
Others are: Agboola Fakayode youth speaker Wara ward; Abdulwasiu Owowami, Assistant Legal Adviser (Ilorin West); Alhaji Abdulrahman, wara/ osin/egbejila ward Elder; Mrs Comfort Oyedepo, woman speaker Okoerin ward; Alao Abdulrauf, Secretary Wara/Osin/Egbejila ward; Emmanuel Olobe secretary Badari ward among others.