‘Indisputably, in all fairness and regardless of the party, the next region to produce the next governor in the state ought to be Kwara North, however, it remains unclear whether the incumbent governor, as allegedly promised, will support the advocacy to zone its party’s ticket to the zone…’
Since the return to democracy in 1999, Kwara North has been politically unfortunate to produce a governor from the zone, while Kwara South has produced one governor(the immediate past governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed 2011-2019), and Kwara Central, leading in the production has produced three(3) governors in the state(Mohammed Lawal 1999-2003, Bukola Saraki 2003-2011), including the incumbent governor(Abdulrazaq Abdulrahman) who will be ending his eight years term come May 29th 2027. God willing!
As overtly known, politicians have no time to wait to devise, and as 2027 looks so far to the common man, to them, it’s like the next day. Hence, they are already designing and concocting the plans for the next electioneering season.
Indisputably, in all fairness and regardless of the party, the next region to produce the next governor in the state ought to be Kwara North, however, it remains unclear whether the incumbent governor, as allegedly promised, will support the advocacy to zone its party’s ticket to the zone, or the rumor that he has reneged on his pledge to the region and abandoned his purported political son(Engr Salihu Danladi) will manifest, narrating that he’s rooting for a more loyal ally.
Constitutionally, Kwara North cannot claim the monopoly of the next guber ticket as other zones(Kwara Central and South) or individuals have an absolute fundamental right to contest for the gubernatorial seat as the zoning is not recognized by the Nigerian constitution.
In the wake of this, according to the mass speculations, we have renowned politicians and non-politicians from the aforementioned zones who, by rumor, have a keen interest in running for the exalted seat come 2027.
Engr Salihu Yakubu: RT Hon. Speaker Yakubu Danladi, the number three(3) citizen in the state, 39yrs, has been rumored to have rapt interest in the tussle for the next gubernatorial office, an ambition he’s said to be nurturing since his first time as speaker of the Kwara State House Of Assembly.
The young speaker who has a reckoning charisma to constitutionally become the next governor of Kwara State is a celebrated politician, hailed from Gwanara, Baruten, a constituency he’s been representing since 2019-present under the platform of All Progressive Congress, APC, as a beneficiary of the O To Ge revolution.
However, the popularity of Danladi is diminishing in the state with time like a smoke that’s untraceable to its destination. For him, to get the ticket is not going to be on a platter of gold, even with the supposed support of Mr. Gov. He needs to rise on his toes and roll up his sleeves to secure the ticket as he has fierce contenders to face.
Saliu Mustapha: the distinguished senator Saliu Mustapha, a seasoned and exemplary politician with a vast track record of political resourcefulness is an APC senator representing Kwara Central, Kwara State from 2023 till date. Born in 1972, the Ilorin Emirate Traditional Title Holder, Turaki, is a current senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria who hails from Gambari, Ilorin. He’s rumored to be eyeing the exalted seat after the exit of the incumbent governor. According to speculations, Mustapha, who culturally should be jostling for a return ticket putatively has his plan redesigned as it’s a tradition for the Nigerian governors to make the Senate their retirement chamber, a threat to Senator Mustapha as both of Mr Governor and the distinguished senator hail from same Kwara central and with the incumbent power of the governor, even despite the formidable national influence of Mustapha, it’s next to impossible to secure a return ticket. Therefore, he’s gearing up, according to the political rumor, to contest for governorship.
Sadiq Sulaiman Umar: a 54-year-old Kaiama revered politician, representing Kwara North as an APC senator in the Red Chamber since 2019 till date is similarly speculated to be clearing the path for his next political level ahead of 2027. The distinguished senator who doubles as Dan Amar of Patigi and Kaiama was reelected under the platform of APC by his people, the support he enjoyed as a result of his unadulterated love and gesture to his constituency.
Arguably, Senator Sadiq Sulaiman Umar is a refined politician from Kwara North. A public health pharmacist turned politician has been in the scheme of Kwara politicking since the whirlwind of the O To Ge movement. Senator Umar, who unfoundedly claimed to be considering running for the number one(1) seat is equally an indispensable politician with huge achievements in his region, likewise putting him in front for the position as well. He stands a good chance to contest as he equally has a good fight to fight.
Engr Sulaiman Bolakale Kawu: the inspiring personality and respected Dan Iyan of Ilorin and an Incumbent Director Monitoring/Evaluation at the Rural Electrification Agency, REA, is an apolitical civil servant who widely enjoys massive admiration from the nooks and crannies of Ilorin Emirates. The great philanthropist has continued, without any political affiliation, to contribute to the development of Ilorin in particular, and Kwara at large; his ample kindness knows no bounds and attracts him more accolades from all and sundry.
Not at any time Engr Bolakale is inclined with any political party or expressed interest to run for any political office, as he continues to uphold the ethics of his public office. Though, recently, before and after the state’s local government elections, rumors had it that he romanced and supported the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, a claim he swiftly refuted through the family’s spokesperson.
However, undeniable is a call by his teeming admirers and beneficiaries, who are steadfast in their call-to-service to him, urging him to join the guber race come 2027, a call he may likely consent to amidst the pressure.
Abubakar O. Sulaiman: prof. The Director General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies(NILDS), born in 1965 was a former member of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, a party he resigned from after his appointment. The Ilorin-born former minister is said to be stealthily romancing with APC and working assiduously to secure the party’s ticket for the next gubernatorial race.
Amana, as he is popularly called, is presently not a card-carrying member of any political party, but suspicion was the move of his political supporter’s forum who collapsed and declared their loyalty to the governor, the action suspected to be idealized by Prof.
However, just like others, when it’s time, he has a fundamental right to aspire for any political position, provided that he’s divested of his public position. Amana indubitably equally has his deeply rooted political base in the anal of Ilorin, having fascinated many workshops and life-impacting seminars in the state. His national influence will definitely foster his chance in the build-up to 2027.
Having highlighted the probable aspirants, among other prominent but yet-to-be-unveiled for the state exalted seat, it’s important to pinpoint the fact that whoever enjoys the majority support of the Central is a potential winner, while the south and north equally have a significant role in deciding the winner.
Conclusively, as it’s crystal clear that Kwara central decides who clings to the guber seat, the two other regions significantly have unassailable influence in the decision.
Who become the next Kwara State Governor come 2027; North or Central?
Kwarans will decide!
As we sit with our legs crossed, striving to elect visionary officers, let’s hope and pray for the intervention of God to send us masses-based leaders while we equally eschew politics of meagerness and sentiment.
Mustapha Sulyman Oluwatofunmi writes from Gambari 1, Ilorin East.
M.sulyman98@gmail.com
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