Get Guardian on GoogleThe governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State, Engineer Sulaimon Bolakale Kawu, yesterday, unveiled his campaign manifestoes with concentrated priorities for security, economy and infrastructure.
He also promised 13th month salary for civil servants in the state as well as to introduce four billion naira for the payment of a special hardship monthly allowance for teachers in underserved, rural and hard-to-reach communities.
Addressing the party’s several faithful at the Arca Santa Event Centre in Ilorin, Kwara State capital, SBK promised to hit the ground running as soon as gets into the Ahmadu Bello Government House in 2927.
Launching his: “my covenant with Kwara” SBKCompact, Kawu assured that he would not stay away from the peoples’ plight, regretting the present situation of Kwarans in the northern and southern senatorial areas of the state over insecurity which he said had rendered them devastated.
He said he never nursed the governorship ambition when he used his position as the Director Rural Electrification Agency (REA) when he was lighting the entire state.
According to him, “my recent visits to rural communities in the state geared me to more actions because at Kaiama, i saw despeir written all over Kwarans. These are the people who lost their loved ones to insecurity.”
He hinted that the manifesto marked his commitment to providing strong and purposeful leadership, “a leadership that is responsible, transparent and demonstrates competence, empathy and quality at all times.
“This manifesto is about what government must do, how it must do it and most importantly who must benefit from it. It demonstrates that as Governor I will hit the ground running from day one.
“The manifesto demonstrates my readiness to be an effective and efficient governor from the first day. I assure you that I do not seek to enter government with an empty head or mind as we have seen in recent times.
“I know governance requires careful, strategic and deliberate planning. That reality comes from my experience as a retired top civil servant who worked for many years on project conception, design, implementation, execution and monitoring.
“It is a sign that my administration will not symbolise a repeat of the mistakes of the recent past when people assumed office without a plan of what they would do for the people,” he stressed.
Kawu said that every sector, every area and every individual who is from Kwara or lives and works in any part of Kwara State are extensively considered and taken care of by the manifesto.
“The manifesto is a product of my belief that Kwara can do a lot better and that the challenges confronting our people can be addressed through thoughtful leadership, competent administration and purposeful government,” he said.
He listed his vision for the state as which said rest on three interconnected pillars representing the foundation on which he hopes to build a better State.
According to him, “security is the foundation of development. The first responsibility of government is to protect the lives, property and livelihoods of the governed. This aspect of the contract is for the people who have lost somebody dear to them.
As governor, he promised not to rest when the life of any Kwaran is under threat, disclosing that his government would establish a N100 billion Security Trust Fund to fund intelligence-led operations, stronger community partnerships, well-equipped and coordinated security services and a government-wide system that identifies threats, responds quickly and holds agencies accountable for risks.
On economy, Kawu stated infrastructure, education, healthcare, skills, financing and opportunities to work, create wealth and contribute meaningfully to society.
He said: “Productivity must become the driving force of our development, that is why we have a plan in which ₦9.6 billion will be set aside for a statewide market traders’ revolving loan scheme.
“Another ₦9.6 billion revolving single-digit loan scheme will be set aside for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs),” he assured.
On infrastructure which he described as essential to economic growth and productivity, he promised to invest in infrastructure that supports businesses, encourages investments, creates employment and improves the livelihoods of Kwarans.
In the award and execution of government contracts, he promised to give consideration to qualified and competent indigenous contractors where they meet the required standards.
“This policy will help retain government investments within Kwara, strengthen local businesses, create jobs, develop local capacity and ensure that our people directly benefit from the economic activities generated by government projects,” he said, among many other promises.
On education he noted that every child deserves access to quality education irrespective of where they are born or the economic circumstances of their parents.
“We will improve learning environments, rebuild run-down schools, provide essential teaching and learning materials and strengthen the capacity and welfare of teachers.
“We will give special attention to rural schools and communities where children face additional barriers to education,” he said.
