Railway Honour: Kwara PDP chairmen write Buhari for naming station after Saraki
By Mumini Abdulkareem
The sixteen Local Government party chairmen of the Kwara State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for honouring the late strongman of Kwara Politics, Dr Olusola Saraki.
The development which had been widely applauded by many Kwarans is seen as a befitting recognition for late Saraki and further underscored his contribution and far reaching impact to the development of not only the state but the country at large.
Buhari last month approved the naming of some railway stations along the Lagos-Ibadan and Itakpe/Ajaokuta/Aladja/Warri corridors after late Saraki and some other prominent Nigerian leaders including immediate past President Goodluck Jonathan.
Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, disclosed this through a statement by his ministry’s Director of Press, Eric Ojiekwe who noted that those honoured with the gesture have contributed to the progress and development of their respective communities and the nation at large.
While the Federal Government named (Ajaokuta station) after late Saraki, the Itakpe station was named after former Governor of Kwara State, late Adamu Attah.
According to the PDP forum in a statement signed by its chairman and secretary, Hon Aminullahi Akota and Hon Musa Ibrahim Gomina respectively, Saraki is one of the great men of Kwara and Nigeria’s democratic history who orchestrated a dynasty that promoted the dividends of democracy and uncommon selflessness to the service of the people especially the down trodden across the nooks and crannies of the country.
“This letter is in appreciation of your remembrance and naming of the railway station after one of our great men of Kwara and Nigeria democratic history, a former Senate leader, a great philanthropist and the progenitor of a dynasty with a human face that promoted dividends of democracy in all facets of life in Kwara, North Central, South, Nigeria and the entire world as a whole.
“We, the good people of Kwara and of PDP appreciate your support and we thank you sincerely”, the statement added.
Others beneficiaries of the federal government gestures for the Lagos-Ibadan with extension to the Lagos Port Complex at Apapa railway station, the beneficiaries are: Bola Tinubu (Apapa station), Mobolaji Johnson (Ebute Metta Station), Babatunde Fashola (Agege station), Lateef Jakande (Agbado station) and Yemi Osinbajo (Kajola station).
The list also includes Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti (Papalanto station), Wole Soyinka (Abeokuta station), Segun Osoba (Olodo station), Ladoke Akintola (Omio-Adio station), Obafemi Awolowo (Ibadan station) and Alex Ekwueme (Operation Control Centre).
Apart from Saraki and Attah for the Itakpe-Ajaokuta/Aladja-Warri Railway, Augustus Aikhomu (Itogbo station), George Innih (Agenebode station), Anthony Enahoro (Uromi station), Tom Ikimi (Ekehen station) and Samuel Ogbemudia (rtd) (Igbanke station) also benefited from the honour.
While Agbor Station Complex was named after former president Goodluck Jonathan, David Ejoor (Abraka station), Micheal Ibru (Opara station), Alfred Rewane (Ujevwu station) and Mike Akhigbe (Railway Village, Agbor) also made the list of the honourees.
