L-R: Kwara State Chairman for APC, Prince Sunday Fagbemi; House of Reps candidate for Baruten/Kaiama Fed. Constituency, Hon. Ahmed Saidu Baba; House of Representatives Candidate for Ilorin East/South Fed. Constituency, Hon. Abdulquawiy Olododo; Emir of Ilorin, Dr Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari (CFR); Speaker Kwara House of Assembly and APC Gubernatorial candidate, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Salihu Danladi; Hon. Mukhtar Tolani Shagaya (Member/candidate, Ilorin West/East Fed. Constituency); and House of Reps Candidate for Ifelodun/Offa/Oyun Fed. Constituency, Dr Rafiu Ajakaye; during a familiarisation visit to the Emir’s Palace, in Ilorin on Monday.
…Says Gov has done very well, urges continuous support for him
…I’m certain other aspirants will back our candidature: Speaker Danladi
The Emir of Ilorin Dr. Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari CFR on Monday offered his official blessings for the candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC), hinging his backing on the good standing of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq who is the leader of the party in the state.
The Emir spoke at the palace as several thousands of leaders and members of the Kwara State All Progressives Congress (APC) converged on the palace to present the party’s candidates for royal blessings.
Led by the State APC Chairman Prince Sunday Fagbemi, the team comprised top chieftains of the party and all APC candidates, including the Speaker Kwara State House of Assembly and APC gubernatorial candidate, Rt. Hon Yakubu Salihu Danladi; the senatorial candidates; House of Representatives candidates; and House of Assembly flagbearers across the state.
In an address to the delegation led by APC Chairman Prince Sunday Fagbemi, the Emir said he was impressed with the large turnout of his guests and described the Governor as a man of virtues and achievements.
He commended the Governor for his transformative programmes and prayed for his continuous success in office and the party’s success at the polls next year.
“The forecourt of my palace has been filled up with your supporters since the morning. Is today the voting day or you only came for familiarisation? I pray to God that whatever steps taken by Sadauna Ngeri (Governor) shall be divinely blessed,” the Emir said.
“Whoever sees good things and chooses not to say it is insincere and mischievous. There is no hidden place for lies. Let’s call a spade a spade. What we are seeing on the ground is a reality. Whoever does good, let’s say it. The Governor has performed well.
“Starting from Governor AbdulRazaq to other candidates of the party, God will grant you all electoral success. May you not be put to shame.”
Speaking to newsmen shortly after the visit, Hon. Danladi said democracy is an aggregation of interests and assured that steps are already being taken to bring everyone on the same page.
“By the grace of God, all of us will be guided and we will jointly support Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to move Kwara and Nigeria forward,” he told reporters, when asked on some grievances by a few stakeholders.
“Where there is peace, there is development, let us come to the round table and by God’s grace, we will carry each and everyone of them along. APC is big and there are a lot of positive things happening in the party. The reconciliation committee has been set up and I know the committee will do justice to it, and peace, as we are witnessing, will continue to reign in APC and Kwara.
“By the grace of God, 35-0 is assured and APC will carry the day once again. We are seeing thousands of our members on the streets of Ilorin doing rallies for us; we are very happy and we thank Kwarans for coming out en masse to support this administration, to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and, by His grace, I know what Kwarans have shown yesterday and today, that is what they will show in 2027 by God’s grace.”
Prince Fagbemi, in earlier remarks, told the Emir the processes that led to the emergence of the party’s candidates, saying the primaries were conducted by the National Headquarters of the party in accordance with the party’s guidance.
He presented the candidates before the Emir and sought the support and blessings of the royal father to make them victorious in 2027.
