Kwara SDP guber candidate promises fairness, justice, equity if elected
By Mosunmola Ayobami, Ilorin
The governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Kwara State, Hakeem Lawal, has promised to govern with the fear of God, stressing that he’ll ensure fairness, justice and equity to all, regardless of ethnic, religious or social status if elected governor.
Lawal stated this during an interactive parley with the church leaders and members of the Ministers Fellowship of Nigeria and Ilorin City Forum which held separately at the their Asa-Dam secretariat and 2nd ECWA Church, Amilegbe, Ilorin.
A chieftain of the SDP, Chief Iyiola Akogun, while introducing the party’s delegation and purpose of the visit said that as a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), he led similar delegation to the church in 2019.
He said: “The Church has gone beyond the divergence of opinion about participating actively in politics, now we’ve come to a stage of where we must get the best of us, that’ll represent the Church and faith religiously inside politics and government as a whole.
“I led the Otoge delegation to the meeting with the CAN leadership in 2019, we made pledges with our candidate, sadly he upon assumption of office reneged and that’s why we parted ways with him, because we have a name and integrity to protect.”
Lawal while addressing the gathering, appreciated them for supporting the Otoge struggle, even as he bemoaned the departure of those elected under the mantra in 2019, who unfortunately betrayed its essence by going against all that it stands for.
He said: “We were here during the 2019 electioneering seeking your support and prayer, which you did and we won.
“Sadly we forgot to request for a benevolent, God fearing and just leader. That’s the summary of the reason why we’re where we are today. Now, we’re back here, not only seeking your prayers and support, we also request that you support us all the way and May God make us the poster boy and answer to all the people’s yearnings.
“We are not an island of knowledge, that’s why we’re not imposing our plans on the people, we’re rather partnering all relevant stakeholders, religious leaders, traditional rulers and all and sundry in policy conceptualization, formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation. The people will be involved throughout, our policy thrust is bottom-top approach in all our actions and inactions.”
The SDP candidate maintained that he is a product of fairness, justice and equity, and that those values have always guided his activities.
“I understand perfectly the complaints and fears of the Christian community, I can assure you that we’ll govern under strictly guidance of fairness, justice and equity,” he pledged.
Responding on behalf of the church leaders Rev. Adebayo Johnson commended the SDP and its candidate for deeming it fit to visit them, stressing that the Christian faith in Kwara is dissatisfied with the status quo and present reality of things in the state, bemoaning the unfair treatment Christians are subjected to under the present government.
