By Jaji Ali Olukade
Things are going well in Kwara today, and the governor, His Excellency Mallam, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq CON is doing a commendable job. Many people fear however that a careless change of leadership could push the state backward. As a result, Kwarans are praying for a worthy successor who can continue the good work of Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.
Kwara North is calling for fairness, and the fear within APC is real: if Kwara North feels ignored or cheated, winning elections may become difficult. At the same time, many Kwarans insist that competence should come before zoning. This leaves the APC leadership with a serious puzzle, as the state waits quietly but tensely.
However, long before now, there has been a man steadily building bridges and repairing broken walls. Though he served as Senator for Kwara North, he has stood as a strong pillar for the entire state and for the APC as a whole. While others were busy making noise in the media just to announce their presence, he was quietly working for the unity and progress of Kwara APC.
The name Senator Sadiq is known across Kwara, not because of loud social media campaigns or surface-level empowerment meant to attract attention, but because of his quiet habit of reaching out to politicians in need and supporting the weak without drama.
While many were shouting to prove they were relevant, Senator Sadiq was busy holding the party together and restoring hope to those who were becoming tired. He cooled tensions and helped reduce internal heat within the APC.
So, now that Kwara North is speaking up and Kwara is searching for a capable successor to Gov. A.A, the answer seems to have been there even before the question was asked. Unless quality is no longer the goal, Senator Sadiq stands out clearly. Naturally, he should already be in the thoughts of the people.
Kwarans love President Tinubu, and they deeply appreciate Gov. AbdulRahman. They will continue to appeal to them and to all who have influence to look closely at the reality on the ground. If APC chooses Senator Sadiq as its governorship candidate, it will almost certainly enjoy an easy path to victory in 2027.
Yes, APC can win with other candidates too, but the opposition will still find space to compete and raise their heads. Choosing Sadiq, however, may push the opposition to wait until 2031 before considering a serious challenge.
Today, the majority of people in Kwara South and Kwara Central already agree that zoning should go to Kwara North. The only real discussion left is about who has the maturity, experience, and strength to carry the burden of leadership. The simple answer is Senator Sadiq Suleiman Umar, the Senator representing Kwara North.
Jaji Ali Olukade is from Alanamu Ward, Ilorin West, Kwara Central.q