The Action Congress of Nigeria has warned of an imminent crackdown on its members in Kwara state in the aftermath of the massive defection of prominent members of the PDP and ACPN to its fold in recent times.
In a statement issued in Akure on Monday by its National Publicity Secretary Alhaji Lai Mohammed the party expressed concern over the sabre rattling and provocative statements that have been emanating from the PDP government controlled organs in the state before, during and after the defection of their former loyalists to the ACN
It has become fashionable for the PDP controlled government in Kwara State to find in the ACN a ready scape goat for its maladministration, incompetence profligacy and anti -people policies which have totally alienated the long suffering people of the State from their underperforming government, the party explained.
According to the party it is no longer a secret that Kwara state government is owing its workers several months of unpaid salaries. However in its usual penchant for looking for a scape goat for its shortcomings, the state government has perfected plans to arrest and detain ACN chieftains whenever the workers goes on strike as if the workers need to be instigated by anyone to demand their legitimate rights.
To keen watchers of Kwara State politics this will not come as a surprise as the ACN was also held responsible for the violent protest that greeted the ban of commercial motorcyclists in the state recently, and a strident call was made for the arrest of ACN chieftains when the representatives of the government were booed and pelted with missiles at the the muslim praying ground last August, the party added
The profligacy, scandalous massive deductions by the state government of funds meant for local government councils, incompetence, cronyism , and anti -people policies of the government has brought such untold hardship to the people and left the state under developed that the people are left with no choice than to leave the sinking PDP in droves and embrace ACN, the party explained.
For a government that has repeatedly proclaimed to the world that the opposition is dead in the state, the recent massive defection of its former loyalists was bound to jolt and send it to overdrive especially given the quality of the political giants that left to join the ACN such as:
Chief James Ayeni the first Executive Chairman of Irepodun Local Government of the state and a three time Commissioner in the state, the most recent tenure being under Governor Bukola Saraki himself.
Engineer Jide Usman, two term time Executive Chairman of Ifelodun Local Government Council in the state the biggest local government Council in the state
Barrister Abiodun Dada former Auditor of the PDP in Ekiti Local Government Area of the State
Hon Ayo Idowu a member the Kwara State House Of Assmbly 2007-2011
Chief J. S. Adedoyin a former state director of local government and chieftaincy affairs and a grass root politician
Barrister Akinmade Yahaya Abolarin the former state legal adviser of ACPN
Alhaji Issa Raji (alias Kingibe of Kwara State) a former member of Kwara state Independent Electoral Commission
Mr Teju Titiloye former member Governing Council College of Education, Kotongora
Barrister B. A. Atolagbe former supervisory councillor Irepodun local government council of the state and former member Kwara State Scholarship Board
Olanrewaju Shuaibu arguably the most redoubtable grass root politician in Irepodun Local Government Area of the state, the party concluded.
