Yusuf Bakare
The shape of 2027 politics is gradually taking shape in Kwara state as different groups come up to signify speak out to their areas of interests. There is underground alignment and realignments going on side by side the meetings and group discussions. There are Five LGAs in Kwara North where it is believed will produce the next governor of the state, under the ruling APC. A stake holder from Kwara North, Moro LGA axis bares his mind out on the views of his people. Meet Dr Abolaji Afolabi who spoke with our reporter on the position of Moro Local Government with the on the aspiration of Kwara North to present a Governorship candidate for APC in the state. Excerpts:
Can we meet you sir?
My name is Bolaji Afolabi, a Doctor of veterinary medicine(DVM) by training with a postgraduate certificate in public health. I’m currently the president/ CEO, BOLANIKS CONSULT NIG LTD, a food Security/ safety and Public health consultancy outfit here in Ilorin, a professional in politics.
Professional in politics, how do you mean sir?
I am a professional in my field ( FIELD), I am in politics only to contribute my quota to national development as a patriot, also to my state and by extension, my people at the local government level.
I have done well for myself in my line of duty and professionalism, now I want to pay back to my community.
What informed of your choice of party to belong?
I am not new in politics, I have always been a technocrat in politics, a professional doing it along my work. I am presently a member of All Progressives Congress Party, APC. I joined APC because I see the progressives as the party to be in government. If you are a Politician, you will understand that we do permutation and visualize where the pendulum swings. The then ruling party lost face, especially the PDP government in Kwara. Do remember the Oto gee movement? I was an active part of the movement that brought about the victory we are enjoying in Kwara today.
You are eminently educated, why are you not in the system?
I am in the system, fully and I …….(Cuts in )
Why are you not holding a political office?
Holding political office is not the only way to be an active member of a government. My party the APC is in government both in Kwara state and at the Federal level. As a major Stakeholder of APC in Kwara state, there are always channels by with people like me can have access to contribute to the effective running of government either at the state or federal level.
Ok, let see it this way, don’t you think If you are a part of the executives in power, you can make better impact?
You are right, but mind you ,all of us can not be in executive position. For me, I like taking things step after the other. I can still be called upon anytime as long as our party reminds relevant and in power. As a matter of fact, I may soon take that step to contest a higher elective position but for now beefing up for 2027 on how an elective position will come to my zone in Kwara North.
Speculatively, Kwara north is settled about having the Governorship ticket come 2027. It is also on record that the deputy chairman of the APC in Kwara said that the issue of Governorship coming to Kwara North has been settled by you people. (Cuts in)
That is where the problem lies, in APC there is no zoning, thus the site is open to all the zones, so will all need to sit down in Kwara North an talk to issues on ground. Kwara North is made up five local government and four major tribes. We have Baruteen, Kaiama, Patigi, Edu and Moro local government areas. Baruteen and Kaiama are Bartonu and bokobaru speaking people, Patigi and Edu are Nupe while Moro is Yoruba speaking. Incidentally, Moro despite being highly populated, we are marginalized.
Marginalized by who?
By the rest of us in Kwara North. If not, this issue of positions coming up ought to be discussed between us all but only the rest two tribes sat to discuss as alleged, else, there was never a platform or space where a meeting was held and we concluded on which post goes to which area. We have Governorship slot, we have a Senatorial seat and a House of Representative seat, how these seats are shared among all the three tribes is a factor that will either make us have the governorship or lose it.
Is that a threat to the other tribes in the Kwara North?
It’s not about a threat but a reality. You don’t shave someone’s head in his absence, how will someone say, we all in Kwara North agreed to a thing when nobody agreed over anything. How does it sound?
But politics is about numbers, will such an arrangement as described by you be seen as democracy?
This is part of political consultation, we need to marry interest, place all options and opportunities on the table and be equitable about it. This is to make us to be on same page as a zone on the issue and allow us to move together to lobby other two zones for seat because all of us are entitled to it.
So how do you want the positions shared in the interest of peace and success of the party?
When we get to the bridge, we shall cross it and that bridge is a meeting of all representatives of the four tribes and interests that are in the Zone. It will be progressively just and fair if Yourbas, Nupe Bartonu and Bokopeople get adequately represented in the scheme of things. It will be most unfair if Major tribes in Kwara marginalize Kwara North and within our enclave we are marginalizing ourselves, It will be most unfair thing to do to our people but only a roundtable discussion would guaranteed a success. From 1999 to date, all the other four local government areas have each produce a senator and house of representative except moro, a Yoruba speaking that as NEVER been allowed . Presently, Kaiama LGA has the Senatorial seat, Baruteen, Edu/Patigi also has a House of Representatives and we don’t have anything from Moro LGA. This is not acceptable to us.
Ok, this arrangement is within your party, APC, do you know what other parties, Opposition are planning, how prepared are you?
Definitely, every other serious minded politicians and political parties must be strategizing and permutating on where their flag bearer would come from. Some will work to counter our own plans, some will be out rightly against our plans. What matters most is that as we are getting closer to 2027, all hands from Kwara North must be on deck to ensure we get the Governorship ticket and ensure the party win and Kwara North also wins.
Rounding up what’s your message to your people?
It’s a simple, for now, Kwara north as it stands is most disunited, as we are not yet united on issue of Governorship for Kwara North but we can still be united. Let us seat at a roundtable to fashion out how the various available seats would be shared within us. That’s the only way, we could unite over the Governorship seat coming to Kwara North.
Thank you.