The originator of' Otoge' struggle which swept away Saraki dynasty in Kwara politics, Alhaji L.A.K.Jimoh, says he has no regret for being the exponent of the struggle despite the current protracted battle for the soul of the party in the state.
In an exclusive chat with Midland Post newspaper in his Ilorin home, the elder statesman declared that "I have no regret for being part of 'Otoge' struggle which started in 2003, in spite of what is happening now.
"The victory of 'Otoge' is a lesson to all sides and a blessing to all sides. One, to those of us who championed the cause, it is a lesson to us that nothing is impossible, if, the will is there and the wherewithal is also there, you can achieve anything."
Alhaji Jimoh asserted "They thought it was impossible to uproot Saraki dynasty in Kwara, which we did. It is a lesson to Saraki people and other leaders that nothing is impossible. Besides, that no condition is permanent."
He warned those in power presently not to commit the blunders of the previous leadership as the same fate awaits them through the ballot box because "ultimate power resides with the people and not in the money we spend or in us."
Ultimate power, he explained is in the people. “It is much in how they perceive us. The essence of governance is to provide welfare and security. That is the essence of what political scientists call the social contract with the people” He said.
The one time NPP gubernatorial aspirant in the state blamed the national leadership of the party, Professor Yemi Osinbajo and national leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu for the failure to save the state chapter of the APC from the protracted crisis which has tore the party apart.
He described the crisis as unnecessary distraction to governance and avoidable.
The elder statesman traced efforts to find lasting solutions to the crisis to 2018 when a team was raised to visit Asiwaju Bola Tinubu in Lagos and Professor Osinbajo in Abuja, saying they all proved abortive.
Asked why he had been silent since the crisis blossomed, Alhaji Jimoh said he decided to offer advice and suggestions from behind the scene as an elder statesman in the midst of young politicians in the political space.
Alhaji Jimoh , said he is a fulfilled Kwaran because the people through the Otoge' mantra, are now conscious that no one can take Kwara for a ride anymore, adding " We have sensitised them to the extent that if, you take them for granted, you will regret it."
"That is enough, even if that is the only thing we have achieved. You can no longer put a rope round the neck of Kwarans and begin to drag them and they will follow you, we have passed that stage.
He condemned in strong terms the deceit behind the fake number of registered and revalidated members of APC in the state put at 500,000, arguing that even the total votes cast of APC and PDP in the last gubernatorial election in the state was less than 500,000.
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