Senator Suleiman Makanjuola Ajadi has explained how he sold a property to raise N200 million for his senatorial ambition that irregularities at the All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries would have thwarted.
Ajadi in an interview session with journalists in Ilorin, averred that the May 30 APC primaries for Kwara South Senatorial District was marred with double standard, and racketeering, tailored towards ensuring that the incumbent Ashiru triumphed.
He asserted that he was betrayed by Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, whom he said encouraged him on more than three occasions, to vie for the coveted National Assembly seat.
The former lawmaker said he was, therefore, taken aback that the governor, who cited poor performance of the incumbent Senator, Lola Ashiru for the encouragements, would later worked tactically to thwart the ambition.
The Accurate News recalls that Ajadi, a political ally of Gov. AbdulRazaq swiftly defected to the African Democratic Party (ADC) to secure the party’s Kwara South Senatorial ticket, when the plan to return to the senate in 2023 on the platform of the ruling party was unrealizable.
The former Special Adviser on National Assembly Matters to erstwhile President Goodluck Jonathan lost to Ashiru at the APC Senatorial primaries held in Ajase-Ipo, Irepodun Local Government of Kwara State.
The interference of the governor in the process, he said was disappointing, having bought campaign vehicles; branded them, and reached out to the substantial members of the delegates with a hope that the primaries would be transparent, free and fair.
“That primary was a charade, manipulated to favour Senator Ashiru, when I expected a transparent exercise and wasted my money on the ambition,” he said.
With the development, Ajadi said he had no option than to leave the party to another, where he could realise his political ambition.
“I’m going to 70, the achievements I had while I was a senator years back are still there speaking for me, and my people want me to come and continue the good work. So who I’m I to say I won’t heed their call?” he queried rhetorically.
Ajadi was serving for a second term when the Court of Appeal in 2004 upturned his victory at the 2003 elections over electoral irregularities.
He, however, expressed confidence that he would realise his ambition in the ADC, mocking the APC members that dragged him to court for securing the ADC ticket, having participated in the APC primaries.
“As I am talking with you, I’m still laughing. The politician said that he has resigned from the APC from his ward in Babanloma and, therefore, has the right to join another political party. This is what the constitution of APC said.
“But when we get to court, we will address the issues.
“I will realise my ambition here, so let’s wait and see. If anyone is saying that it’s not realisable then the governor’s second term ambition is also not realisable,” said the ADC candidate.
Ajadi, who regretted he had lost his friends of over thirty years due to his association with Gov. AbdulRazaq, disparaged the performance of the Kwara State chief executive in the last three years.
He said the administration had failed to address the yearnings of the people as it promised the electorates under the “O To Ge” movement, which brought the government into power in 2019.
“Go to every part of the state, there is no tangible infrastructural development, but just propaganda.
“I tried as much as possible to visit various ministries and even spoke with the governor about the dilapidated infrastructures especially in the Kwara South Senatorial District and the need to address it but to no avail.
“I also wrote many letters to the governor and sent WhatsApp messages among others on the need to rise to the occasion but nothing was done.
“Many parts of the state have not benefited from anything. He only embarked on roads project in a single local government of the Kwara North Senatorial District as if that particular local government only voted for the APC during the 2019 general election in Kwara State,” said the erstwhile governor’s ally, but now turned political adversary.
