Kwara LG Election: My Stolen Mandate Must Be Returned – Musbaudeen Esinrogunjo

Good morning fellow compatriots, members of the Press, distinguished ladies and gentlemen. I welcome you all to this historic press conference geared towards registering our dismay over our hard-earned mandate stolen by those who claim to be “progressives”.

Ladies and gentlemen, it will be recalled that Kwara State Independent Electoral Commission(KWASIEC) conducted local government election on the 18/11/17 across all the electoral wards in the State. Though the election was marred by so many irregularities due to the inability of the electoral umpire to provide voting materials in some wards perceived to be the stronghold of the opposition, yet the ruling party was shamelessly defeated in all the wards and local governments were election took place.

It is on the backdrop of this defeat suffered by the APC in most of the LGCs that prompted the State Government under the watch of His Excellency, Alh Abdulfatah Ahmed and the Senate President to extend invitation to all the security agencies namely the mobile police,Nigeria Army etc to freely engage in all sorts of brutality, harassment, intimidation and unwarranted attacks against the PDP fellows in Ilorin West LGC in particular and other LGCs too numerous to mention.

It is pertinent to note that this unfortunate, callous, condemnable and unconstitutional atrocious acts perpetrated by the APC-led administration of Maigida which culminated to the purported and hurriedly-cooked election results as announced by the powers that be and the subsequent kangaroo swearing-in carried out by the same powers that be. This is not only an abuse to democracy but the highest stage of dictatorship thereby leading to anarchy.

Gentleman and ladies of the Press, in Ilorin West LGC where I was the PDP Candidate in the last election, it is on record that I defeated the APC Candidate in all the wards that election was held. Authentic results collated and announced in all the units and wards gave me huge margin ahead of their candidate. To my greatest dismay, utmost shock and astonishment, different results was announced on radio without prior signatures of Party agents to meet up with national and international best practices.

After that, military men were mobilized to take over my area Adewole, kuntu and pakata as if there’s State of Emergency in the State. Our supporters who were singing and dancing in jubilant mood were maliciously tortured and sent back home.

Worst still, the Mobile police and Nigeria Army were sent after me to silence me. That I was constituting a security threat not only in Ilorin West LGC but Kwara State as a whole.

After the purported swearing-in, the APC Candidate who was roundly defeated and now parading herself as the Chairman is now cruising around with four(4) hilux vans loaded with military men as if they are heading to Sambissa forest.

OUR PRAYERS

It is on record that I,Comr Alh. Musbaudeen Esinrogunjo is a complete gentleman, a democrat to the core, an advocate of social justice, an agent of peace and harmonious coexistence and above all an advocate and firm believer in the Rule of Law. I have served this country meritoriously and selflessly in various capacities and categories. I was the former Director of Travels and Exchange, Two(2) terms Vice President, National Association of Nigerian Students(NANS), currently the National Deputy Majority Leader, Youth Assembly of Nigeria(YAN) as well as the President, Arewa Ambassadors Congress of Nigeria(AACN). In this struggle, I have never been found wanting character wise. While this impunity is going on, I refused to be intimidated and I always caution my people to remain calm, humane, firm, resolute and decisive while we explore all avenues to ensure that our stolen mandate is rightfully given back to us. But our calm and peaceful conduct should not be mistaken for fear. We should not be pushed to the wall.

From the totality of the foregoing, our appeal is as thus:

1)That the authentic and genuine results as announced in various units and wards as duly signed by party agents be upheld.

2)That the kangaroo swearing-in conducted be reversed forthwith.

3)That the APC Candidate who contested and lost election in Ilorin West LGC should stop parading herself as the Chairman of the Council.

4)That the Inspector General of Police and the Chief of Army Staff should kindly call their men to order as a matter of urgency stop harassing, intimidating, molesting and brutalising our people who are not only harmless but bona-fide sons and daughters of Ilorin Emirate, hence should be allowed to enjoy their rights as citizens of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

5)That President Muhammadu Buhari and well meaning Nigerians should prevail on the State Government to give to Ceazer what belongs to Ceazer

Finally, I want to passionately appeal to all Kwarans, Civil Society organizations, Activists, mostly especially our NANS Comrades, YAN and AACN Ambassadors across all the States, Critical Stakeholders in the entire country to intervene and not allow “these” people to take away what rightfully belongs to us. If toady, it is Comrade Esinrogunjo, tomorrow nobody knows who will be the next victim. Injustice to one is injustice to all.

Thank you for listening. God bless you all.
COMR ALH. MUSBAUDEEN ESINROGUNJO, Pdp chairmanship candidate , ILORIN WEST LGC,