Atiku, Kwankwaso, Sowore to speak at south-west stakeholders’ presidential parley

Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria Peoples Party and Atiku Abubakar of Peoples Democratic Party are some of the presidential aspirants billed to speak at a parley organised by the Southwest Development Stakeholders Forum (SWDSF). 

Other invited aspirants are Omoyele Sowore of the African Action Congress (AAC), Kola Abiola of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), and Adewole Adebayo of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

According to a statement on Friday by Olalekan Ajia, the spokesperson of the forum, the presidential parley is slated to hold from January 17 to January 23 at Jogor Centre, Ibadan, Oyo state. 

Ajia said each candidate is expected to speak on each day of the event. 

He added that the invited candidates will address economic, political, and ethnic issues concerning the south-west zone.

Candidates are expected to address issues such as “integrated railway system, power infrastructure, security, and development of mineral resources for maximum realisation of the potential of the abundant human and natural resources of the region”.

“Those who have given nod to the interface are; Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday, 19th January; Kola Abiola of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP); Mr. Omoyele Sowore of the African Action Congress (AAC) on Tuesday, 17th January 2023; Prince Adewole Adebayo of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) on Thursday, 19th January 2023; Alhaji Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) is on Monday, 23rd January 2023,” the statement reads.

The forum said it is making efforts to confirm the availability of Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP).

Alao Adedayo, the chairperson of the forum, said the parley is part of efforts to “know from the candidates exactly how they intend to incorporate the zone in their agenda for a united, peaceful and prosperous Nigeria”.

The SWDSF includes the Yoruba World Centre, Yoruba Ko’ya Leadership & Training Foundation, Majeobaje, Professional Women’s Group, ODUACCIMA, Egbe Omo Yoruba in North America, and Association of Yorubas in Diaspora South Africa.

Other groups in the forum are Oranmiyan Hunters Association, Farmers Groups, Town Development Unions and other Diaspora Associations as well as the academia, market women associations, and the chambers of commerce.