•Nda Kpada emerges new chairman
•Stakeholders commend consensus arrangement
The Bashir Omolaja Bolarinwa led All Progressive Congress, APC, in Patigi Local Government Area on Saturday joined others across the state to conduct its congress.
Party chieftains and members turn out en mass to participate in the congress which was held at Sudan Interior Mission (SIM) Primary School in patigi and monitored by several independent observers from within and outside the state.
THE ELITES WATCH correspondent present at the event gathered that party officers in the Local Council emerged through consensus.
The former Commissioner for Water and Mineral Resources in Kwara State, Alhaji Aliu Mohammed Lade commended the party faithful for their peaceful conduct during the exercise.
He said, “Our gathering here is borne out of necessity. Necessity in the sense that We have what we called zoning in Patigi Local Government which we have been following as far back as 1999.
“In accordance with the guidelines from the national headquarters of our party, it clearly stated that whenever there’s agreeable consensus, it should be affirmed and whenever there’s no agreement among party members and stakeholders, the Congress should take place. And that’s why we’re here to follow our tradition which is zoning.
“You know the council chairman is supposed to go to Lade district now, while the party chairman is retained in Lade district. That’s what has been given us political stability in Patigi Local Government.”
Reacting to questions on the conduct of the congress, he said, “We’re not troublemakers. Everybody here comes from decent homes. They’re our children and have been conducting themselves peacefully from the beginning of the Congress till the end.”
Mr. Ezekiel James Nda Kpada was elected the party chairman in the local government through the consensus arrangement.
A woman stakeholder in the local government, Hon. Princess Felicia speaking to our correspondent said, “The Congress is free, fair, and just. Patigi local government is known for a tradition which is zoning and that’s what we’ve come to observe. We can’t do without our tradition because that’s what has been giving us peace and understanding. To me, that’s the best for us as we’re all brothers and sisters and we can’t do without each other.
“Let me add that, without zoning, there are many communities here that won’t even smell what politics is all about but with the system of zoning, it carries everyone along within the districts in the local government which any serious political system would not rule out in the Politics of Patigi local government.
Speaking on her view on women’s inclusion in politics, she said, “For now, I think I’m a bit impressed, even tho I’m still yet not satisfied because women inclusion these days especially in Patigi local government are very few.
“You can see when they were affirming the new local government excos, the numbers are very few compare to the numbers of men in the positions. So, I want to urge every woman to actively participate in the political affairs of their states.
“There’s an adage that says, A nation where there’s no woman, there’s no Nation. I believe when women are well equipped with the ingredients of Politics, they will be well informed about the gains of politics.”
Other presents at the exercise are Elder Statesman Musa Kpada, Mrs. Aremu (Woman Leader, Lade Ward II), Mrs. Joseph Tsado (State Caretaker Committee Welfare Secretary), Federal Character Commissioner, Hon. Jiya Kolo James (represented by his Aide, Hon. Abdullahi Madiu), Alhaji Bala Mahmoud, Alhaji Abdullahi Mu’azu, Alhaji Umar Dan Saraki, Alhaji Baiwa Kpata, Mallam Mu’azu Idris.