By Adeshina Oluwaseun
As a youth advocate and political analyst, I have often been skeptical of “successor endorsements,” viewing them as dynastic maneuvers. However, Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq’s decision to back Ambassador Yahaya Seriki has forced me to rethink that cynicism. This is not a father handing a crown to a son; it is a seasoned governor passing the baton to a highly qualified technocrat. The Governor deserves our collective appreciation for resisting the temptation to pick a weakling who would make him look good in hindsight. Instead, he chose Seriki, a man whose intellectual weight and administrative pedigree suggest he will not just continue projects but will fundamentally advance the mechanisms of good governance.
What impresses me most about Ambassador Seriki is his understanding of the nexus between foreign policy and local development. he saw how functional states attract aid, partnerships, and trade. Governor Abdulrahman broke Kwara’s cycle of debt, but Seriki can break the cycle of dependency. His endorsement signals a shift from a government of “projects” to a government of “systems.” While the Governor built roads and schools, Seriki has the expertise to build the digital infrastructure and public financial management systems that ensure those roads are maintained and those schools are properly funded for decades. That is the advancement of good governance.
Some have whispered that the Governor should have left the field open for a primary free-for-all. But in a political environment still recovering from the godfatherism of the past, a clear endorsement by a performing leader provides stability. It prevents the distraction of intra-party sabotage and allows the candidate to focus on policy debates with the opposition. Governor Abdulrahman has done the hard work of rehabilitating the APC in Kwara; his endorsement of Seriki is the final lesson in political maturity: knowing when to step aside for someone even more capable. Seriki does not owe his career to local thuggery; he owes it to merit, and that is refreshing.
Moreover, Seriki’s cosmopolitan worldview means he will prioritize digital governance, ease of doing business, and anti-corruption mechanisms that go beyond rhetoric. I foresee a Seriki administration introducing performance bonds for contractors and citizen feedback portals for every ministry. These are not abstract ideas; they are the hallmarks of the governance he witnessed in developed capitals. Governor Abdulrahman has laid the concrete foundation; Seriki will install the smart wiring. For the youth of Kwara, this is exciting. It means jobs will come from innovation hubs, not just political patronage.
Therefore, I write this to publicly thank Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq. You could have chosen a safe, pliable candidate, but you chose a visionary. By endorsing Ambassador Yahaya Seriki, you have ensured that the cause of good governance in Kwara will evolve from basic infrastructure to institutional integrity. I urge the people of Kwara to see this endorsement for what it is: a strategic gift to the future. Ambassador Seriki will not just govern; he will modernize. That is the best possible outcome for our beloved state.