••• Olofa of Offa, Olomu of Omu-Aran, Others Throw Weight Behind North’s Governorship Bid for Equity and Fairness
First class traditional rulers from Kwara North and Kwara South Senatorial Districts converged on Monday in Ajase-Ipo for a high-level engagement focused primarily on strengthening security, unity, and the political future of the state as the Nation gears towards the 2027 general election.
The engagement session, themed “Kwara’s Unity, Security and Kwara North 2027 Governorship Agitation,” expertly coordinated by Hon. Nura Muhammad was hosted by the Olupo of Ajase-Ipo, His Royal Highness, Oba Ismail Yahya Atoloye Alebiosu, at the Ajase-Ipo Descendants Union (ADU) Hall.
The gathering drew prominent First Class monarchs, including the Etsu Patigi, Alhaji Ibrahim Umar Bologi II (Vice Chairman, Council of Chiefs), and the Olofa of Offa, Oba Mufutau Muhammad Gbadamosi Ajagungbade I Esuwoye II, among others.
Delivering the opening remarks, the host monarch, Oba Ismail Yahya Atoloye Alebiosu, welcoming the delegations lauded his counterparts for the show of brotherhood coming together for a common goal that would affect both the two regions positively.
The Emir of Tsaragi, Alhaji Aliyu Abdullahi Kpotwa Goshi II, in his goodwill message noted that the event is truly historic, being the first of its kind between the two regions to deliberate and take a holistic approach to matters of importance affecting their regions.
The Etsu Patigi, His Royal Highness, Alhaji Ibrahim Umar Bologi II, Traditional Leader of the Patigi Emirate and Vice Chairman, Council of Chiefs and Traditional Rulers in his keynote address, stressed that unity cannot thrive without security and urged traditional rulers to support the government by encouraging their people to provide timely information to security agencies.
The meeting also provided a platform for Kwara North traditional rulers to formally seek the support of their Kwara South counterparts for their aspirations to produce the next Governor of the state in 2027, citing political fairness.
Etsu Patigi passionately appealed to the two other senatorial districts to support the candidates from Kwara North, stating that since the return of democracy in 1999, the North has not occupied the seat of governorship.
“It’s our prayers that Inshallah it’ll become a reality because this time around we are all saying ‘Awa Lokan’ in Kwara North,” he added.
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Emir of Ilesha Baruba, Prof. Halidu Abubakar, noted that Kwara Northerners are united on the 2027 agitation and have resolved that the candidate must be from Kwara North, irrespective of the specific part of the district.
On his part, Olofa of Offa, His Royal Highness Oba Mufutau Muhammad Gbadamosi Ajagungbade I Esuwoye II fully backed the North’s demand, arguing that after seeing the Central and South producing for decades, it is the right of the North to produce the next governor.
“We in Kwara South have even agreed that anybody emerging from the Kwara North is going to get our full support,” he added.
Collaborating Olofa’s remarks, the Olomu of Omu-aran, Oba Abdulraheem Oladele Adeoti, praised the synergy between the two regions, suggesting that a rotating leadership of the state among the three Senatorial Districts should be a welcome idea that everyone will embrace for equity and fair play.
Speaking on the persistent issue of banditry, Emir of Lafiagi, Alhaji Mohammed Kudu Kawu, insisted that security agencies must take the final action to dislodge and decimate miscreants from their last strongholds to ensure lasting peace.
Emir of Yashikira, Alhaji Umaru Sariki Usman, along with other monarchs, appealed to the government to support efforts in self-defense by empowering the local vigilantes, noting their superior knowledge of the terrain.
Similarly, Emir of Kaiama, His Royal Highness Muazu Umar Shehu, emphasized the necessity of a collective approach, urging indigenes to be careful about the kind of people they harbor in our various communities.
The engagement also featured a minute of silence observed in honour of local vigilantes and security personnel who lost their lives protecting citizens.
Other Traditional Rulers in attendance at the event includes; Emir of Okuta, Emir of Tsaragi, Alofa of Ilofa, Olosi of Osi Olupako of Share, Olusin of Isanlu Isin, Elerin of Erin-Ile, and Elese of Igbaja, Oba Ahmed Babalola.
