A pioneer member of the first and second Kwara State House of Assembly between 1979 and 1983 representing Ajasse Constituency, and veteran politician and the Chief Aare of Ajase-Ipo Kingdom, Alhaji Abdulkarim Oladipo Kadiri has declared his support for the governorship aspiration of Prof. Wale Sulaiman, CON, under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The respected elder statesman and political figure made his position known after what he described as wide consultations and careful assessment of the various contenders in the race for the 2027 governorship election in Kwara State.
According to him, Prof. Wale Sulaiman stands out as a candidate who genuinely represents the aspirations and struggles of ordinary people.
Alhaji Kadiri noted that Prof. Sulaiman’s life journey—from humble beginnings to becoming a globally respected professional—symbolizes the possibilities that can emerge when the right leadership, policies, and governance structures are in place.
The veteran politician also highlighted the growing acceptability of the APC governorship aspirant across the state, describing him as a tested and trusted leader with the competence and integrity required to lead Kwara State to the next phase of development.
He recalled that Prof. Wale Sulaiman served as a Special Adviser on Health matter to the Executive Governor of Kwara State, Mallam Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, during the COVID-19 pandemic, a period during which Kwara State earned recognition as one of the states that effectively managed and contained the COVID-19 crisis through coordinated preventive and responsive strategies.
Alhaji Kadiri further observed that Prof. Sulaiman’s governorship campaign narrative stands out from the conventional promises often associated with political campaigns.
According to him, Prof. Sulaiman remains one of the few aspirants who have presented a clear and realistic development blueprint for the people of Kwara State, anchored on the principle of “Kwara First,” a vision that prioritizes the collective interests of the state above regional, ethnic, or sectional considerations.
He emphasized that the aspiration of Prof. Sulaiman is not driven by regional sentiment but by competence, capacity, and character.
The veteran politician also commended the aspirant’s ability to maintain strong relationships with political stakeholders and the leadership of the APC, describing it as a reflection of his capacity to manage relationships and resolve conflicts within the political space.
Chief Aare of Ajase-Ipo concluded by stressing that Kwara State must move forward politically and avoid returning to what he described as the “primitive politics of ethnic and religious sentiment,” which he said has never served the long-term interests of the state.
End.