Kwara State liberated itself from the political slavery of the Saraki dynasty in 2019, and in 2023, the state is set to consolidate that liberation and chart a sustainable path for future growth and development.
In the build-up to 2023 election, some of the key actors of the 2019 struggle have parted ways with the leader of the 2019 success, thereby pursuing a separate ambition and agenda.
Some of them went back to the pre-2019 trenches, while others teamed up with their former enslavers, all in a quest to grab power from the incumbent.
Those who went back into the trenches include Alh Hakeem Lawal’s led Social Democratic Party (SDP), Alh Yakubu Gobir led Young Progressive Party (YPP), Prof Oba Abdulraheem led New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) and Sen Ajadi led Action Democratic Congress (ADC).
While, those who went to team up with their former enslavers were led by Alh Shuaib Yaman, who happens to be the main opposition.
As a big player in the 2019 struggle, I find it necessary to pen this opinion just for the records.
To those who went back to the trenches, there’s a Yoruba proverb that addresses their strategy and concerns.
The proverb says, “Ogbon odun yi, were emi ni”, which literally means that this year’s wisdom could be next year’s madness.
Nothing sums up the situation in Kwara’s political environment more than this profound wisdom in the Yoruba philosophy.
The Yoruba proverb didn’t say that “ogbon odun yi (this year’s wisdom), ago emi” (next year’s foolishness), that’s not what it says. The proverb actually said, “ogbon odun yi(this year’s wisdom), “were emi” (next year’s madness).
This simply points you to how wisdom could change beyond recognition, not even becoming foolishness, which is bad on its own but changing into madness, a 180% transformation.
If we understand the proverb very well, it means that the Yoruba forefathers, thousands of years ago, understands that wisdom could transform beyond recognition and become madness within a very limited time, but their modern-day offspring, who think they are more civilized and educated could not see the wisdom that their forefathers saw thousands of years ago.
For the other group, which went to team up with their former enslavers, the Yoruba forefathers didn’t keep silent on them either, they spoke eternal wisdom as usual.
In their proverbial philosophy, they said, “Oko nlo si oko(hoe is going to the farm), Oko oju si ile (but faces home), Oko nlo si Ile (But when hoe is going home), Oko oju si oko (it then faces the farm), ta ni ko mo, pe lodi lodi ni oko nse (who doesn’t know that hoe turns things on its head in a hotchpotch and hodgepodge manner?”
The literal interpretation of the above is that the trenches approach of 2019 could be the insanity of 2023 and you can not be seeking to go forward, then look back to your former enslavers for headway.
Both groups, I dare say, are on the wrong path. Not only because they are allowing the wisdom of 2019 become their madness in 2023, but also because they are going to farm, but facing home instead.
Who doesn’t know that, that’s a haphazard way of doing things?
In 2019, people voted for Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq because of only one reason, which is to secure freedom from their former enslavers.
If you ask anyone in 2019, why are they voting for Abdulrahman, they will simply tell you, “otoge”, enough is enough.
Nobody voted for him because they think they can turn Kwara to Dubai over the night with magic like Marlin, the magician. People didn’t support him because it has some magic to turn day into night within the blink of an eye like Zedicouszuzyranda in the legend of the seeker.
People simply voted for them because they are tired of the old ways of doing things and Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq is well positioned to lead the struggle for that political revolution.
Abdulrazaq Abdulrahman is not the first person to lead a political revolutionary struggle in Kwara State, but the difference between him and those before him is that he led the struggle to success, while those before him led the struggle that made it easy for him to succeed. Everyone contributed to his success.
After the success of otoge, Kwara has never remained the same and it is obvious that the state is changing for good. Nobody said that what is happening is perfect, but nobody can say efforts are not being made to purposefully impact the state for good and drag it to greater heights.
With all due respect, all those back in the tranches and others looking to their former enslavers for headway could have added value to the progress being made to consolidate the achievement, shape the direction and strengthen the new wave of consciousness being experienced in Kwara, but they allowed personal ego, interest, and ambition to becloud their sense of quality judgment, leading to unnecessary hostility, grandstanding and outright misdirection of their sphere of influence, but democracy makes choices diverse and we are experiencing just that in the most beautiful way.
However, unlike in 2019, when people voted for Abdulrahman just because they are seeking freedom from their former enslavers, many now have many more reasons to vote for him and his party to continue.
Most women of Kwara would likely vote for APC to continue because the party brought women into the center of governance and elevated their status beyond mediocrity, not only because it gave them more than 50% of cabinet positions, but because it prioritizes their protection and empowerment through various initiatives.
Youths would likely vote for APC to continue because it made youths leaders of today, rather than leaders of tomorrow. In this otoge government, more than 60% are youths, in the real sense of the word, “youth” and they actively positioned to inherit the new progressive Kwara.
Most elders would likely vote for APC to continue because unlike in the past, govt prioritizes elders’ welfare through Owo arugbo social investment scheme, free health insurance, and many others and they would want this to continue and expanded to cover more areas.
Most artisans would likely vote for APC to continue because it empowers them through Owo ishowo and the several schemes aimed at supporting artisans and less skilled people. The support they got during COVID-19 and endsars endered the current administration to many.
Most entrepreneurs would likely vote for APC to continue because it provided them enabling environment through grants and support such as the Kwaraprenuer and other support programs.
Most workers of Kwara State would vote for APC to continue not only because it implemented minimum wage, but because it is paying them their dues, long denied by previous governments.
Even the traditional rulers would likely vote for APC to continue because it didn’t only restore the dignity of their position, but also paid them years of unpaid entitlements.
This is a government, which completed all abandoned projects across the state and has no abandoned projects of its own. A government giving due attention to all parts of the states and with infrastructural projects in all 193 wards, not just in the 16 local government areas.
As the 2023 election faces us, the people’s choice is clear.
To continue on the path of growth and development, which is certain to continue with Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, or risk going back to our old ways of a one-man battalion.
▪ Abdulrazaq Hamzat writes from Ilorin, Kwara State
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