BY TAIWO FAROTIMI
The new governor in Kwara State, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq said in all that he would do he will put the people first. He told the audience at the stadium in Ilorin where he was sworn in that “In all our policies, programmes and actions the people of Kwara shall always come first”. While inviting pledging an inclusive government, the new governor said, “I invite constructive criticism and urge you all to utilise our open door policy to communicate ideas and suggestions to us.”
He promised to empower people “Make society better. Strengthen family values . Improve efficiency and service delivery in … public service.”
Abdulrasaq who hinted that his administration would probe the outgone government said it may not be for witch hunt. Hear him: “We… shall make Kwara great again through the prudent deployment of resources, involving the people in policy making, interrogating the past decisions only to the extent that they enable us to move forward.”
While commending the people for the efforts to vote him into office he cautioned that the administration conscious of the enormous task ahead has to hit the ground running. And so the slogan that got it into office has to be modified to reflect the task before it. He said, “If Otoge (the slogan meaning ‘enough is enough’) got is through the struggle to the point of victory, and given the enormous task of reformation and reconstruction ahead, it is now time for Iseya ‘duty beckons’.”
Though the former governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed was not at the stadium for the swearing in ceremony, he was represented by Mrs. Susan Oluwole, head of service who read his address. In it Ahmed who congratulated his successor and urged to always take direction from God said he left N5 billion, being receipts from federal government and $750 million World Bank grant in the coffers for certain designated development projects.
