Hammed Shittu writes that stakeholders from Kwara North Senatorial District have openly expressed interest in the governorship slot come 2023
The race to Ahmadu Bello Government House, the seat of power in the State of Harmony called Kwara come 2023 has commenced in earnest. Various pressure groups from the three senatorial districts of the state have begun underground consultations and meetings to educate and enlighten the members of the public on which zone the power must shift to.
The people of like minds with different political backgrounds have set an agenda on how they will work together in order to achieve their goals, knowing fully that two of the three senatorial districts of the state have occupied the governorship position of the state at one time or the other more, creating a longing and agitation for the remaining senatorial district to have a short at the prime office.
It will be noted here that, though the incumbent occupant of the House, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq who is from the Kwara Central Senatorial District has not come out publicly to say he will contest again come 2023 but the past events in the state cum the activities of his foot soldiers political across the three senatorial districts of the state suggest that he will definitely seek a second term in office.
Apart from this, his recent perceived hijacking of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) from the major groups in the party was a move to show that, the Ilorin born politician may take another shot at Ahmadu Bello Government House in the 2023 polls.
Also, the supporters of the governor under the aegis of AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq Support Group have been campaigning for the governor across the three senatorial districts of the state and making use of his achievements in office under the current mid term assesment to canvass for his re election bid come 2023.
However, the major political contention around the state ahead of the 2023 polls is the issue of the power shift as it has remained a major issue within the political circle.
Prior to the 2019 general election, the people of the Kwara central senatorial district comprising Ilorin east, Ilorin west, Asa, Ilorin south and Moro local government councils of the state have occupied the plum governorship position of the state for 12 years under various political parties.
The former govenror , Late Muhammed Alabi Lawal held the position for four years on the platform of All Nigerian Peopes Party between 1999-2003 while the scion of the Saraki dynasty and former governor of the state, Senator Bukola Saraki occupied the office for eight years of two terms between 2003 and 2011.
It will be noted further that the current occupant of the position, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq hails from Kwara central senatorial district and he is on his first term of four years in office which he started from 2019 till date.
In the Kwara south senatorial, former governor Abdulfatah Ahmed ruled the state for another eight years and by that, the other zone which is Kwara north senatorial district of the state has been playing a second fiddle in the affairs of the state. The Kwara north senatorial district of the state has occupied the deputy governorship position of the state for eight years and the zone is yet to rule the state since the return to democracy in 1999.
Although, the people of Kwara south senatorial district have also occupied the deputy governorship position of the state for 12 years during different political periods. The Kwara south occupied the deputy governorship position during the administration of late former govenror Muhammed Lawal for four years and another eight years during.the Senator Saraki led administration.
However, the prevailing opinion among politicians and other stakeholders from Kwara north senatorial district is that, the zone must be given a chance to lead come 2023 based on fairness, justice and equality.
It is on this premise that the stakeholders in the Kwara north senatorial district have been mounting pressures and contacts with the other two senatorial districts on the need to allow the zone to produce the next governor of the state.
However, as part of the move and the bid to realise the goal, some politicians and stakeholders from the zone recently converged at Bode Saadu, the headquarters of the senatorial district in Moro local government council area of the state to organise a special prayers to appeal to Almighty Allah to prevail on the other two senatorial districts to them take the slot of the governorship position come 2023.
The group called for power shift to the zone in order to allow them produce the next governor of the state based on fairness, justice and equity.
The group said that, “enough is enough of playing a second fiddle in the political calculations of the state so as to bring much expected socio- economic benefits to the zone.”
Speaker after speaker added that the district had over the years, been marginalized politically, economically and socially.
The spokesperson of the group, the Ex Nigerian Ambassador to Japan and a member of Peoples Democratic Party? (PDP) Prof Mohammed Gana Yisa said “the key agenda is that power should shift from Kwara central to Kwara north come 2023.
“This is because Kwara south has had the governorship seat for eight years. As a matter of fact if the current government completes its tenure Kwara central would have occupied the position for 16 years.
“So in the spirit of fairness, justice and equity, we Kwara northerners are standing up that it is our turn to produce the next governor. So we are gathered today to pray to God Almighty to help us actualize this our wish in peace and harmony with other senatorial districts in the state.”
Former House of Representatives member, Hon Zakari Miohammed in his comment at the event claimed that the area is the least developed in the state.
Zakari who was a former chairman, House Committee on Media and Publicity said, “We have vast land and majorly agrarian by nature. It is an understatement to say we are the least developed because we have infrastructural deficit. What we are asking for now is all inclusive governance.
“We are saying that we are component part of the state. We should be allowed to produce the next governor.
“Since 1999 our.district has had a shot at the governorship seat. We are saying that
this is an opportunity and a call for the north to come together so that we can produce the next governor. By the expiration of the current Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq it will be 16 years for the central; the south has had eight years while the north has nil. We also can do it. It is a general call and that exactly what we are
saying.
“We should allow the spirit of fairness, justice and equity to prevail. This is a step towards realizing it. We do block voting in the north. The history of voting pattern in the state has shown that Kwara north is the game changer. We are co-owners in the Kwara project. We believe that it is long overdue for the long to have its own chance too.
“We will use every legal means to achieve this. We know we cannot do it alone, we need the cooperation of our brothers and sisters from
both the Kwara South and Central districts and they are cooperating.They are all here for the prayer session”.
Another former member of the House of Reps and ex-transport minister, Hon Bio Ibrahim submitted that the area has been eating the crumbs from the tables of other parts of the state.
Hon. Ibrahim who is also a cheiftain of APC said that, “All other senatorial districts have had a fair share of the leadership of the state save for Kwara north.
“Since 1999 when we started this political dispensation, the north has been marginalized politically, socially and economically.
“Power is not given ala carte. You don’t sleep and expect somebody to wake you up and say take power. We have come to realize that we have been the whipping boys of the state and the earlier we forget political affiliations, tribal and religious differences and come together to seek for what we believe to be fair, justice and
equitable.
“That is the governorship of the state in 2023.The central so far has had it for 16 years since 1999 from the late Governor Mohammed Lawal till date.
“The south had it for eight years. Then in 2019, both APC and PDP out of political convenience decided to field candidates from Kwara central. That incidentally gave birth to the current government in the state.
“Kwara belongs to all of us. If you want to live in peace, you must ensure equity, justice and fairness. Anyway there is sign of war, acrimony of disunity is when equity and justice is compromised. We pray that God will niot allow Kwara and leaders of the state to abandon equity and justice.
“For example both vulture and eagle are birds that are well known to us. They are common but very distinct. The eagle flies very high and sees very clearly. It sees its pry from up, ditto for the vulture. It flies very high and also sees the carcass of dead animals from afar. God has given it the patience to wait for the animal when it is dying.
“In Kwara we have been made the vulture that only waits for carcass to feed on. The other parts of the state are the eagle. They fly high, see their prey and go in for their prey and eat it fresh. This time around we want to fly like eagle and kill the prey as well.”
But, two emirs from the Kwara north senatorial district of the state have said that, the people of the zone would support the return bid of governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq come 2023 if he declares to seek reelection for second term bid in office.
The affected emirs are, emir of Yashikira, Alhaji Umar Sariki Usman and emir of Okuta, Alhaji Abubakar Idris Serobetete II.
The duo spoke at their different palaces while receiving govenror AbdulRazaq and his entourage during the 10th year anniversary of the Emir of Yashikira.
The two emirs said that, “We’re with you for next six years due to Governor AbdulRazaq’s humility, performance and respect for tradition’.
Emir of Yashikira stated that, “The outstanding performance, humility, and respect of Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for the traditional institutions and culture have earned him widespread acceptance among the people and a right of first refusal if he chooses to run for another term in 2023”.
The traditional ruler asserted that AbdulRazaq has in the last two years fully identified himself with the masses’ aspirations and executed several laudable projects across the state, including in Baruten local government.
The first class emir said they have resolved to have the Governor on the saddle for the next six years if he decides to run for another term in 2023, commending him for changing the face of governance in the state,
“We thank you for the rehabilitation of our schools. All our classrooms were almost gone down before you came in but you made sure that those classrooms have been rehabilitated,” the emir said.
“We are aware of what you have been doing to make sure that we have not only potable water but water for irrigation by making sure that the earth dam in our area is well constructed. We thank you also for ensuring the provision of alternative energy source with the installation of solar panels in different places pending the time the ongoing installation of electricity poles from Ilesha-baruba to Okuta to Boriya will get to Yashikra. It is what we can see. We thank you very much.
“I want to also thank you for the support you are giving to the traditional council of Kwara State by allowing us to function properly and without backing down orders or dividing us. I want to assure you that our people of Kaiama and Baruten are supporting your government. Whatever you decide we shall support you because we know that you are serving us. You will continue to serve us positively for the next six years, God willing.”
The emir’s assertion had earlier been corroborated by his counterpart in Okuta, Alhaji Abubakar Idris Serobetete II, who commended the Governor for an array of projects already executed in Baruten and across Kwara north, including a radio station which will be ready soon.
The Serobetete II, who commended the administration and the Speaker Hon. Yakubu Salihu Danladi-led 9th Assembly for their sterling performances, spoke when the Governor made a brief stop at his palace on his way to Yashikira on Saturday.
“I am highly impressed with the performance of the administration. You are an intelligent man who works so hard without boasting of your achievements. There are giant projects going on in our community,” the emir said.
“We need to appreciate you and the Speaker for bringing development to our community. I am not disappointed with what you have done so far. We will pay back at the appropriate time what you did for us. We really appreciate you for establishing a radio station in Okuta.”
The Governor, for his part, commended the traditional institutions in the state for their support for the administration especially in the area of security of lives and properties.
He specifically congratulated the Emir of Yashikira for what he has achieved since he assumed the throne of his forebears.
By and large, with the new move by the politicians and stakeholders from Kwara north senatorial district to seek power shift come 2023 and the support of their two Emirs for the incumbent, Governor AbdulRazaq, it will be interesting to see which camp will prevail.
