Ilorin- The Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, says the emergence of Sen. Simeon Ajibola as PDP’s governorship candidate in Kwara is a positive development for the state.
The monarch said this on Sunday in Ilorin when Ajibola paid him homage at his palace.
Gambari also commended the transparency of the PDP’s internal democratic process through which Ajibola emerged as the party’s flag bearer.
He said the emergence of Ajibola as PDP flag bearer would promote the principle of power rotation in the state.
The emir, who noted that Ajibola was elected by majority of delegates across the 193 wards and 16 local councils in Kwara, added that the state was gradually evolving into one harmonious family.
The monarch further lauded the choice of Alhaji Yinka Aluko from Kwara Central Senatorial District as Ajibola’s running mate.
Sulu-Gambari said the desire to unite Kwara as a harmonious state informed the change in name of Ilorin Descendants Progressives Union to Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressives Union.
The emir also said that he was “ a bona fide son of Igbomina/Ekiti and Ibolo communities ’’ in Kwara South Senatorial District.
“Ajibola cannot lay more claims to be an Ekiti or Igbomina man than my humble self because I spent my formative years in Kwara South for close to a decade.
“I started my primary school at Omu-Aran, headquarters of Irepodun Local Government, for four years and thereafter proceeded to Offa Grammar School, Offa, and spent another four years there.
“Being on this Ilorin throne, I have a street named after me in Offa as indication of my son-of –the-soil status in the community,’’ the emir said.
The emir, who is the Chairman of Kwara State Traditional Council, said the beauty of democracy was in the ability to accommodate different tendencies irrespective of creed, place of birth and political affiliation.
He commended PDP leaders for resolving the crisis that trailed the primaries by uniting co-contestants behind the winners as one family.
Sulu-Gambari said it was in the interest of peace, progress, socio-economic transformation and development to raise leaders from different communities.
“Rapid socio-economic transformation and development come to a place when many people come from different parts to contribute and invest their resources,’’ he said.
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Ajibola, who said he was at the palace for royal blessings from the emir, was accompanied on the visit by some of his co-contestants.
One of them, Prof. Oba Abdulraheem, said that they had accompanied the flag bearer to demonstrate that his emergence had united the PDP family in the state.
He said all other contestants were supporting Ajibola to rescue the state from socio-economic and political bondage.
Others on his entourage were Mr John Dara and Mr Kale Belgore. (NAN)