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My dear people of Kwara State,
Today, I speak not merely as the governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), but as a concerned son of Kwara State who believes that our future can and must be better than our present. This is not an acceptance speech; it is a food for thought and a point of decision for every Kwaran who desires genuine progress, security, and prosperity.
I begin by expressing my profound gratitude to the leadership of our great party, the ADC, and to our members and supporters across the sixteen local government areas for the confidence they have reposed in me. I am humbled by this trust and fully aware of the enormous responsibility it carries.
But beyond politics lies a fundamental question: What kind of Kwara do we want to leave behind for our children and generations yet unborn?
Kwara State is uniquely blessed. By geography and history, we are the gateway between Northern and Southern Nigeria. This strategic location places us at the crossroads of commerce, agriculture, transportation, and investment. Yet, despite these natural advantages, our state has not fully harnessed its immense economic potential.
Under purposeful leadership, Kwara can become the logistics and commercial hub connecting the North and South. We can attract industries, agro-processing facilities, warehousing hubs, transport terminals, and investments that create jobs and wealth for our people. Our fertile lands can support large-scale agriculture and agro-industrial development, while our strategic location can position Kwara as one of Nigeria’s leading destinations for business and investment.
However, no economy can thrive where insecurity persists. Investors do not invest where there is fear. Farmers cannot cultivate their lands where they feel unsafe. Communities cannot prosper when criminal elements threaten lives and property.
Security, therefore, is not merely a government responsibility; it is the foundation upon which development rests.
As a scholar and practitioner in Defence and Security Studies, I possess a deep understanding of contemporary security challenges and the strategies required to address them. My academic background, combined with practical experience in public service, has equipped me with the knowledge necessary to formulate effective security policies for our state.
If entrusted with the mandate to serve, my administration will work closely with conventional security agencies, traditional institutions, community leaders, vigilante groups, hunters’ associations, and other community-based security outfits to establish a comprehensive security architecture that protects every corner of Kwara State.
We shall strengthen intelligence gathering at the grassroots, improve coordination among security stakeholders, support lawful community policing initiatives, deploy technology where necessary, and ensure rapid response mechanisms to emerging threats. Our goal will be clear: to restore Kwara’s reputation as one of the safest and most peaceful states in Nigeria.
Kwara was once widely known for its tranquillity, harmony, and peaceful coexistence. We must not allow criminality, banditry, kidnapping, or external threats to define our future. Together with our security agencies and local communities, we shall reclaim every space threatened by insecurity and restore confidence among our people.
The ADC remains distinct because it is built on the principles of accountability, transparency, inclusion, and people-oriented governance. We believe leadership should be measured by results and service, not by propaganda and political patronage.
My candidacy represents competence, experience, independence, and a genuine commitment to the welfare of our people. I come without the burden of political Baggage, My commitment is to the people of Kwara State and to the vision of building a state where every citizen has an opportunity to succeed.
The election before us is therefore not merely a political contest. It is a defining choice between complacency and progress, between managing challenges and solving them, between unrealized potential and shared prosperity.
I firmly believe that Kwara can become a model state in Nigeria a state where security guarantees prosperity, where agriculture drives economic growth, where industries create employment, where education empowers our youth, and where government remains accountable to the people.
This vision is achievable, but it requires courage, unity, and a collective decision to embrace a new direction.
I therefore call on all Kwarans regardless of ethnicity, religion, political affiliation, or social status to reflect deeply on the future of our state. Let us rise above division and focus on competence, character, and capacity.
Let us choose leadership that understands our challenges and possesses the vision to transform them into opportunities.
Let us choose a future where Kwara’s strategic location becomes a source of wealth, where our communities are secure, where our youths are gainfully employed, and where prosperity is shared by all.
The time has come to move Kwara from potential to performance, from uncertainty to confidence, from insecurity to peace, and from promises to prosperity.
The choice is ours.
The future is ours.
The moment is now.

Hon. Zakari Mohammed
ADC Governorship Candidate, Kwara State.

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Barlastone brought the Matero Local Court, Zambia gallery to laughter after he revealed that he married a Lusaka seller who charged him K50 per round during their matrimonial games.

Aubrey told the court that the behaviour of his wife, Stella Tembo, a 25-year-old Easterner was undiplomatic due to her unacceptable demands and conditions every time he wanted to be intimate with her.

According to Zambia Observer, he said the two got married in 2009 and that his wife had continually made his life miserable for the past 17 years that he got to a point that he resorted to never have s3x her again.

He lamented that when he finally gave up on paying for what rightfully and lawfully belonged to him, Stella started covering her entire body with clothes while in bed.

“I have never had peace. Despite paying lobola, I was still paying to have sex with her.

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“I also found out that she was using charms on me, such that I could not say no to her even though I was paying,” he said.

In her defense, Stella swore that she had been a good wife to Aubrey and that he was free to express his desires on her in whatever style he wished.

She said she only started charging him after he married another woman elsewhere and rented a house for her.

“He even moved out of our home, saying he had gone to the mountain to pray.

“For five months, my husband was nowhere to be found.

“I later discovered that he had married elsewhere and was renting another house,” she said.

The wife also accused her husband of using charms on her, which left her like the woman with the issue of blood in the Bible, who was isolated from the society for 12 years.

“He cut a piece from my green chitenge and took it to a witchdoctor, and I have never stopped bleeding since then,” she alleged.

The magistrate, Harriet Mulenga granted the couple divorce and ordered the husband to pay the wife K17,000 for adultery.

Mulenga also ordered Aubrey to pay K1,000 monthly child maintenance, while household goods were to be shared equally between the two parties.

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By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Ex-Minister of Information, Prof. Jerry Gana, on Saturday collected the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Certificate of Return on behalf of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan during the party’s National Convention in Abuja.

The certificate was handed over by the PDP Interim National Working Committee led by Kabiru Turaki, SAN. The presentation has renewed focus on the party’s preparations for the 2027 presidential election.

The event was held at the convention venue in Area 10, Garki, with party leaders, delegates, former ministers, state officials, and supporters in attendance.

Gana received the certificate on Jonathan’s behalf before the crowd. The moment quickly became a major talking point and put the former president back at the centre of political discussions as the PDP debates strategy and possible candidates for 2027.

Speaking to supporters and journalists after receiving it, Gana drew significant attention from attendees and political observers tracking developments in the opposition party.

The development comes as PDP continues internal discussions on leadership structure and future direction. Many members believe decisions in the coming months will shape the party’s chances in the 2027 presidential race.

Political watchers are closely following events in the PDP as it works to strengthen its position ahead of the next election cycle.

More details are expected as the convention proceeds.