Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq says the Peoples Democratic Party, the major opposition party in Kwara, is shameless for attempting to return and govern the state again after being in charge for years without meaningful development.

The PDP ruled the North-Central state for more than a decade before the party was defeated by the All Progressives Congress in 2019.

Addressing House of Assembly aspirants in Ilorin on Wednesday, Mr Abdulrazaq berated the opposition party for nurturing the idea of taking over the state again.

“If it was not that PDP are shameless, they think Kwarans are fools because I don’t even understand why they’re showing themselves and thinking to govern the state again,” the governor stated.

Mr Abdulrazaq further accused the PDP of owing teachers and abandoning critical infrastructure development, insisting the APC had transformed the state better than the PDP did in sixteen years.

He added, “When we came in, they’re not paying salaries. Teachers were being owed. Our schools were dilapidated. They abandoned education. These are the people that want to come back? 

“I am not even talking about healthcare or infrastructure. In seven years, we have built more road they did in their entire stay in power. We have transformed the state. Look at education: our students keep winning laurels across the world. That shows our investment in education.”

Noting the APC remains the only vibrant party for prospective leaders in the state, the governor accused the opposition of using hired thugs to intimidate aspirants seeking to obtain forms.

“Let me congratulate all of you. You’re all winners. This shows that our party is a very vibrant party. APC is the vehicle to come on board in the state given the way we have transformed everything in the state. 

“The numbers have shown. It is a democracy. Nobody is stopping you from collecting forms unlike the other party where armed thugs are intimidating members from collecting forms,” the governor stated.

Mr Abdulrazaq insisted its administration is capable of solving security and other challenges in the state, urging aspirants to join hands with the government in ensuring peace and development across the state.

Efforts to reach Kwara PDP spokesperson, Olusegun Adewara, for a comment on Mr Abdulrazaq’s statement proved abortive as calls and messages sent to his phone number were unanswered as of the time of filing this report.