2027 Elections: Kwara North seeking options to double political tragedy

2027 Elections: Kwara North seeking options to double political tragedy

 

As the 2027 General Elections draws near, politicians have started showing the glimpse of, as usual, what to expect before, during and after yet another ritual in the history of the nation's democratic history. 

Alignments and re-alignments have started gradually, and some candidates have started showing open interests in some Elective positions both at the state and national levels.

Kwara Governor- AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.

As usual, such considerations as ethnics power balancing, rotation of power and of course, serious power play will be deployed by the so called godfathers and godfathers-to-be, to do and undo each other in the races at different levels.

In Kwara state, much attention and focus will be paid, and is being paid to a balancing act. The question, since the second term success of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has always been, who succeeds him. 

As the storms have started to gather momentum, especially with some Kwara Central candidates already coming out openly to express their interests, agitations have also began to rise against having another Governor from the Central.

Kwara North is facing a double tragedy of always missing out when political calculations as to who to govern the state is being determined, and are also being marginalised totally in terms of actual development, undermining their cntributions and potentials. 

They were deliberatelly being sidelined not because they are not educated or possesses the leadership qualities, but because the Central will always want to dominate, irrespective of the situations on ground. Again, developments in terms of infrastructure like roads and other social amenities is, year-in-year-out, eluding them despite their contributions in both agricultural produce and natural resources, as well as consumate man-power.     

Its absolute injustice in the political power play in Kwara State, which has seen the Central, with just four Local Government Areas dominate all aspects of governance and management of the state’s resources, thereby shortchanging both the Southern and Northern part of the state.

In the circle of every election year, the stakes are always high, with breaming hopes for the North. But as the election proper approaches, the body language of the candidates and power broakers from the Central changes. That attitude of "we are better and should continue to dominate" will resonate, with even those who lack the qualities to govern a Local Government Area showing serious and  deliberate interest in governing the state. They see it as their birthright. 

Kwara North is a region that has not produced the Governor in 26 years. By 2027 when the incumbent Governor, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq leaves office, Ilorin Central would have been in power for 20 years, while Kwara South held power for 8 years. In the spirit of equity, fairness, and justice, the next Governor should come from Kwara North. Not having it so will deepen distrust. Since the return to democracy in 1999, Kwara Central and Kwara South have produced four Governors while Kwara North is yet to produce any.

Kwara Central has had late Alhaji Mohammed Alabi Lawal (1999 to 2003), Senator Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki (2003 to 2011), and the incumbent Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq (from 2019). Kwara South has also produced a Governor, Alhaji abdulFatah Ahmed (2011 to 2019).

The calls by stakeholders for the governorship seat to be zoned to Kwara North in 2027 should be seen as a "healthy democratic discussion" for the all political parties, to encourage fairness. No political party should opposed to the growing clamour for a power shift to Kwara North ahead of the next election cycle.

Kwara South Equity Advocates (K-SEA), Kwara North Development Progressive Union (KNDPU) and other socio cultural organisations have, at various untervals analysed the neccessity of giving Kwara North that honour, to encourage equity.

Records has shown the lack of administrative foresight by candidates from the Central, which has brought about ideological distance from collective efforts to move the state forward, fuelled public disaffection, intolerance, discrimination, and diminished societal trust.

Alhaji Yaman Abdullahi 

In terms of development too, Ilorin is being adopted as Ilorin State, rather than Kwara State. They scrape good roads and relay it, tar roads even in various compounds, and even do interlocking where it shouldn't be, while all link and metro roads in all Kwara North are in deplorable conditions. 

What is central to Kwara Central in quest for power is to gain control of resources and development. The percentage of development in Kwara Central in much higher than that of Kwara South and Kwara North put together.

Again, the concern by the North deserves total support from the South, as the planned contineous stay in power by the Central is equally undermining the potentials of the South too.

And maybe that was the mentality behind the advocacy by a  socio-political organisation, Kwara South Equity Advocates (K-SEA), which is also canvassing support for a Governor from the Kwara North district come 2027.

With the Political Summit of the group in Ajase-Ipo town in the Irepodun Local Government Area of the state early this year, the Chairman, Alhaji Ibrahim Lawal, highlighted the seeming injustice and inequity associated with power sharing and governance in the state since 1999.

Speaking on the theme “A New Dawn in Kwara: Quest for Equity, Fairness, and Justice; Kwara South for Kwara North,” Lawal said the group is poised to contribute to advancing democratic governance and equitable development in Kwara State.

The Forum averred that since the commencement of the nascent democracy in 1999, with three regions in Kwara State: North, South, and Kwara Central, there has not been equitable distribution of power and inclusiveness, agreeing that it has adversely affected ‘our democracy’.

Kwara North Development Progressive Union (KNDPU) have backed the call for a 2027 governorship slot for the zone.

In a statement signed by the National Coordinator of the group, Alhaji Mohammad Mariam Al-Hassan, the organisation appealed to people in the other two senatorial districts of the state to support Kwara North to produce the next Governor under the ‘Kwara North project 2027’.

Alhaji Al-Hassan, who described the call as well-timed and on the right path, said that Kwara North had supported Kwara Central and Kwara South senatorial districts respectively, to emerge as Executive Governors of the state since the advent of the Fourth Republic.

Before now, hopes have been raised and dashed for Kwara North on several ocassions. Some candidates from the region have been considered, and at the end of it all, betrayed. The only time the Peoples' Democratic Party (PDP) showed what was later considered as fake love was in 2023 Elections, when Yaman Abdullahi was chosen as the governorship candidate from the region. 

It was the height of deceit, because Kwara Central will never be so divided to allow their own candidate lose an election of such magnitude, irrespective of party and other points of affiliations. Even some PDP members, especially from the Central voted against him, because they consider him too inferior to a candidate from the Central. It's just a ruse for fake demonstration that after all, a candidate from that region was considered.

Kwara North has options of exploring various possibilities in actualizing their ambition. But they must first, unite, to collectively champion this cause.

Kwara South has had the opportunity of ruling the state for eight years through AbdulFatah Ahmed. Going forward, they may not have a  strong choice than to support Kwara North on this, because it will later be their turn in the nearest future, to increase their tally from eight further. 

Kwara South has seven Local Government Areas, while Kwara North has five, against four that Kwara Central has. The two regions have a great option to team up.

But, it's high time Kwara North fight this injustice, and that campaign must start from home. First, the traditional rulers must consider the importance of that move which will open them to multifarious possibilities. They would need to demonstrate, in all ramifications that Kwara Northerners are not third class citizens in their own state. 

They would need to demonstrate that they are not just a region for completing numbers. They need that courage to take their destiny in their own hands, especially now that it mattered most. And this should be the time. If not now, it would definitely be in another eight years, and letting it slip now will also affect their chances in future calculations. 

Even if Kwara South or Kwara Central will support, Kwara North must first show that responsiveness and willingness both in theory and practical. 

At any point in time, no matter the perceived enmity between or among candidates from Kwara Central in the race for governorship of the state, it cannot be considered too deep especially when it comes to competing against candidates from other regions. 

This scenario played out in the last election, when Yaman, a Peoples' Democratic Party candidate contested against Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq. The votes Yaman got from the Central was more or less a justification of face saving and flimsy support, rather than actual support for a candidate from the North.

Even the PDP that fielded him didn't support him wholeheartedly, especially at the Central. It's just a ruse to believe that after all, a candidate from that part of the state was given the nod, but he failed.

Kwara North must work towards a consensus candidate for easier access to the Government House in 2027. Politics is a game of numbers. They should also treat any Kwara Northerner who goes against their agenda as a betrayer, as well as a bastard.

And again, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq should make history by supporting and ensuring that that jinx in broken. He has the experience and wherewithal to achieve this. Kwara Northerners are not slaves or third class citizens. They deserve consideration, and it must be in 2027.

Kwara must come together to give Kwara North its dues. Doing this will help achieve such advantages as bridging the developmental gap in the state. It will equally foster unity and togetherness, unlock the great opportunity and potentials of the Notth, and restore confidence across board.