The socio-political group based in Kwara State in a statement issued on Monday by Hajia Adeola Bashiru, the Head of its Democratic Mobilisation and Monitoring Desk, implored the Governor to desist from playing politics with every issue, particularly those that have to do with the development of the state and with benefits for the people.
The group noted that it was compelled to issue the advice to the governor after reading the puerile and hurriedly prepared press statement which he forced the Kwara State Health Insurance Agency to issue on Sunday following the successful on-boarding of 1000 beneficiaries into the health Insurance scheme by The Abubakar Bukola Saraki Foundation (ABSF) as part of events marking the 59th birthday of former Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki.
KAI stated that the motive of stating to make a false claim about some association also sponsoring the on-boarding of beneficiaries into the health insurance scheme a few hours after the ABSF presented the health insurance cards to beneficiaries in Ilorin yesterday was not a noble one.
“While we welcome the idea of individuals, organisations, and associations deploying their good resources to further populate the health insurance scheme as a way of spreading the gospel of universal healthcare across the state, we abhor cheap politics, pettiness, and falsehood by those in a position of trust and authority.
“It is an unimpeachable fact that the ABSF has paid the sum of N6 million into the coffers of the Kwara State Health Insurance Agency as the premium for its 1000 beneficiaries and we have the record of the transaction. The ABSF from our investigations planned to ultimately get 5000 people onto the insurance scheme in the next coming years. It only announced the 1000 beneficiaries whose premium had been paid. We have also found out that the associations, particularly KSANG, mentioned in the press release which the insurance agency released have not paid any dime into its coffer. We hereby challenge the government to show the receipt and other documents showing that the associations it mentioned have paid the required sum.
“Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq should stop this his obsession with anything Saraki. This petty craving that makes him get incensed whenever he hears anything that has to do with Saraki has continued to create a big distraction to him and his administration. It has prevented him from looking at the picture and seeking to fulfill his promises to the people.
“Saraki is not the only wealthy person from Kwara State. There are others including the Governor’s siblings and other family members. Abdulrazaq should seek out such wealthy Kwarans and persuade them to also help in various areas of development. More of them should be encouraged to sponsor the on-boarding of less privileged people onto the health insurance scheme.
“Mr. Governor, stop playing politics with development. We came out to issue this advice to you because we found out that in the selection of the 1000 beneficiaries by the ABSF nobody was asked if they were members of APC, PDP, SDP, YPP, or any other party. They were simply selected as Kwarans and that is why IEYDA, a non-political group found it convenient to partner with the Foundation on the scheme. Mr. Governor, you still have a good 17 months to retrace your steps and move away from the shadow of petty jealousy and ego-tripping”, KAI noted.
Hajia Adeola Bashiru
Head, Democratic Mobilisation and Monitoring Desk
Kwara Advancement Initiative (KAI)
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