Ilorin is not the Problem of Kwara By Abdulrazaq O Hamzat

For a moment, take a glass of water. Not chilled water, but just an ordinary one. Breadth in and out and free your mind from every previous perception.

Then, let's talk about a controversial topic, which is circled around whether or not, Ilorin is the problem of Kwara.

For a very long time, we at Kwara Must Change has had the intention of talking about this topic that is often being used to divide the people of Kwara, particularly the youths, but for one reason or the other, we couldn't.

I therefore find it necessary to address the topic today, in an effort to encourage us all to relate with each other on the basis of equity and fairness,not pointing accusing fingers based on imaginary perception.

Few months ago, I had the privilege of attending a social gathering in Abuja with some respectable Kwarans and in the course of our discussion, the same accusation about Ilorin being the problem of Kwara was raised. While I attempted to correct the highly respectable elder, I had to to hold back, knowing that the claim has become more like a school of thought and to address such, you need more than argument in a social gathering.

Similarly, anyone who has been in the circle of student leadership in the state would have been familiar with the same subject. I know for a fact that many student leaders outside Ilorin also share in this perception that Ilorin is the problem of Kwara. We even have people in Ilorin, who also believe this fallacy to be true and this is not their fault. It is the only perspective they hear almost all the time and no one has been able to provide them with counter argument to engage their mind, hence the need for this piece.

I therefore solicit your kind attention, open mindedness and objective engagement to properly place the subject matter in the right perspective.

To start with, Is Ilorin truly the problem of Kwara? If you ask me, I will say no. Ilorin is not the problem of Kwara, but Ilorin is part of the problem of Kwara.

A member of Kwara Must Change, Mrs Rachael Bose Alabi had properly described Kwara problem in summary.

Hear her:

‘’ I will not make a general comment by saying that Ilorin is our problem! No city, town or village can be our problem in Kwara. Each city has produced good people that are not self centered but will look out for the community as well as self centered ones...so please! do not put your focus or energy on a particular city as our problem but those who have betrayed the trust we had in them, after electing them into offices where they got all that is needed to make positive changes, but instead transferred the wealth to their immediate family! They are our problems''. she said. I agree with Mrs Rachael, because these kind of people exist in every senatorial district, North, South and Central and it would be very incorrect to blame Ilorin for the collective failure of the state.

After Late Governor Alabi Lawal (May his soul rest in peace) was defeated in 2003, Saraki installed his son, Bukola. Late Governor Lawal decided to lead the struggle for Kwara emancipation from Saraki dynasty, he brought the opposition elements together. In 2006, Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) was formed and all major opposition members from across the state were in the party. Gbenga Olawepo, Sulaimon Ajadi, Bamgboye etc. However, It was not long after the establishment of DPP that Alabi Lawal died. But Omo Laderin didn't leave empty handed, he left behind a united opposition party ready to take on the destructive dynasty holding Kwara down. When it was decided that Kwara governorship should go to Kwara South, all major candidates from Kwara South came out to via for the seat. But before the primary, it was agreed that anyone who emerges should be supported by all others to ensure the opposition goes into the race with joint strength. The primary election was conducted and Hon. Gbenga Olawepo emerged vicorious.

However, rather than support the winner of the primary a earlier agreed, Bamgboye went to Accord Party to contest for the same office and Ajadi also went to another newly formed party, Action Congress (AC) to contest. They divided the opposition, thereby making it chances of victory slim against an established dynasty. As if that was not enough, rather than embark on campaign on the basis of truth and fair play, those who want to justify their defection from DPP went back to Kwara South to claim that Olawepo emerged because he was Ilorin candidate, even though it was obvious that he clearly defeated them at a free and fair primary election. They decided to divide the people by stirring up false propaganda and sentiments to gain support in Kwara South.

This is the reason why at the end of the 2007 general election, Bukola Saraki was announced as the winner, with Gbenga Olawepo coming second. One fact is clear here, the people of Ilorin who are desirous of change in the status quo fulfilled their promise by voting for Kwara South Gbenga Olawepo against their own Saraki. If other zones, particularly Kwara South had voted for him as was done in Ilorin, there was no way the election could have been rigged. It is therefore unfair to accuse Ilorin, which voted massively for change in 2007 as being the problem of Kwara.

Similarly in 2011, Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN)had become a major force in the national politics and strategically positioned as the major opposition party to the People Democratic Party (PDP). While the Saraki’s brought Fatai Ahmed as their candidate, ACN brought Dele Belgore to challenge the status quo. Because substantial populations of Ilorin are still desirous of change, they voted massively for Dele Belgore against Saraki’s lackey. But what happened in other places? They voted for Saraki’s candidate. Abdulfatai Ahmed won the election and Belgore came second.

I am of the view that, if other zones had voted massively for change as was done in Ilorin, there was no way the election would have been rigged. I therefore say once again that, it is unfair to accuse ilorin of being the problem of Kwara politically. Furthermore in 2015, we all expected that many would have learned from previous experiences, but it turned out that we were wrong. The major opposition PDP presented Simon Ajibola from Kwara South against Abdulfatai Ahmed. One had expected that at least, if Ajibola could not win in Ilorin and other places, he would win in Kwara South, since Gov Ahmed had pointedly told the Kwara South people that he his not their candidate, but that of Saraki.

However, despite coming from Kwara South, Kwara South also didn’t vote for Ajibola, or any other candidate from the opposition. I am of the view that, if Kwara South itself didn’t vote for Ajibola, then it is unfair to accuse Ilorin of being the problem. Additionally, let us assume, for the purpose of argument, that Ilorin is the problem. What stops other senatorial districts from checkmating Saraki’s candidate from their districts? At least, Ilorin people would not come and vote for Kwara South and Kwara North senators, House of representative members, State house of assembly members and others. How come these other senatorial districts were still voting for Saraki’s candidate, despite knowing Saraki is the problem? If they cannot vote out Saraki’s candidate in elections were Ilorin doesn’t participate, certainly, Ilorin cannot be held responsible for the collective failure to chase our the menace of Kwara. What I am trying to say here is that, it is not correct to blame Ilorin or any particular district of being the problem, when in fact, it is a collective failure.

I am of the view that, the claim that Ilorin is the problem of Kwara is not only dividing the people and preventing us from working together sincerely; it is also taking a psychological toll on the youths. Such false notion is more dangerous than many thought, because it is pushing the good people of Ilorin, particularly the youths into the corner, and giving other zones the sense of false victim-hood.

For example, an Ilorin person is automatically being accused of being the problem anywhere he goes; despite being the major victim and doing all he could to change the situation. Sooner or later, when he could no longer tolerate being wrongly accused by others for no just cause, he would instead go to those who will not accuse him unnecessarily. For those in Kwara South and North, they see themselves as victims and blame any Ilorin person they encounter. Some times, they even relate with them on the basis of suspicion.

Recently, I was in the midst of some young people from Kwara North and within 5 minutes of discussion, they already expressed their suspicion of Ilorin, as being the problem and unreliable. I was wondering in my mind, how can you meet somebody for the first time and you are already putting him on the spot simply because he his from Ilorin, yet you expect the same person to freely work with you to advance a joint cause? This wrong perception of Ilorin had greatly affected their methods of thinking and relations, to the extent that they never see anything wrong with themselves. This wrong perception denies them the ability to see things objectively because they already had a fixated mindset. This is not right.

Don’t get me wrong please; I am not exonerating Ilorin from all wrong doing. Of course, there are many things Ilorin is doing wrong. For example, the attempt by some Ilorin elders to coerce young people into doing their political bidding is highly condemn-able. The same with manipulation of the Islamic scholars and traditional institutions in favor of an individual. All these are areas Ilorin needs to improve upon.

We cannot continue to allow selfish individuals manipulate the society for their selfish gains. We cannot also allow the traditional institutions be turned into something used to enforce the political interest of an individual at the detriment of the vast majority. All these areas must be improved in Ilorin for sure, but blaming Ilorin for the problem of Kwara is simply out of it.

If there is a problem in Kwara, that problem is not the doing of one zone. Every zone contributed to it and if the problem must be properly addressed, all those who desire change from all across the state must come together and jointly fashioned out a way forward to resolve the problem. This is the essence of Kwara Must Change.

I am therefore using this opportunity to invite all Kwarans who desires change to start thinking outside the box. Let's erase the wrong perception sold to us by old politicians to keep us divided and come together to address our issues jointly and collectively.

Abdulrazaq O Hamzat
Kwara Must Change