By Hon. Abdulkareem Yusuf Danhawa (Jagora)
Politics has always been about interests, negotiations, understanding, and collective decisions. In every political setting, especially within party structures, there are moments when personal ambitions must give way to the broader interest of unity, stability, and continuity.
To refresh our memories, in 2019 the Senate seat of Kwara North was zoned to Baruten/Kaiama Federal Constituency, particularly Kaiama, which eventually produced the current Senator, Pharm. Sadiq Umar. However, despite the zoning arrangement, the APC primary was not exclusive to Kaiama alone. It was contested by several aspirants, including Alhaji Ibrahim Iliyasu from Moro in the Edu/Moro/Patigi Federal Constituency.
If Alhaji Ibrahim Iliyasu had won the APC primary and subsequently the general election, he would have been constitutionally declared Senator regardless of zoning. The question then is simple: what would have become of zoning at that time? Would it have been called betrayal? Why was there no public outcry then?
Again in 2023, the same zoning arrangement remained in favour of Baruten/Kaiama to allow Senator Sadiq Umar a return for a second term. Yet, Engr. Daud Tauheed from Moro also contested in the APC primary but was defeated. Where were the voices of today at that time?
Beyond the APC primary, prominent sons of Patigi also contested the general election. Alhaji Attahiru Adamu Manko ran under the SDP, while Dr. Baba Kolo Jiya contested under the NNPP. Had any of them won, they would have been constitutionally declared Senator irrespective of zoning.
The simple question therefore remains: if Manko or Kolo-Jiya had won in 2023, would zoning still be sacred, or would arguments have been conveniently adjusted to fit political reality?
More importantly, did anyone accuse them of betrayal for contesting against the zoning arrangement? Were they asked to step down? The answer is clearly no.
Ironically, many of the same voices that now strongly oppose Senator Sadiq Umar’s return are the same individuals who supported or defended these candidates in 2023. Political fairness demands consistency. One cannot oppose zoning yesterday and defend it today simply because interests have shifted.
That said, it is important to sincerely commend the people of Patigi. Despite fielding their own sons in the 2023 election, many still supported Senator Sadiq Umar overwhelmingly. That act demonstrated political maturity, unity, and loyalty to collective interest above personal ambition. Their contribution should not be forgotten or misrepresented.
The issue, therefore, is not with the broader people of Patigi, but with a few overzealous actors attempting to rewrite history and fuel division through selective narratives.
It must also be acknowledged that some may genuinely oppose the idea of a third term, and in a democracy, such opinions are valid. However, such concerns must not ignore past precedents where similar situations were tolerated without resistance. Politics must be guided by fairness and consistency, not selective outrage.
Even within opposition (PDP) politics today, aspirants other than Patigi obtained expression of interest and nomination forms for the same Senate seat, without accusations of violating zoning. Is zoning only applicable to the ruling party APC? This clearly shows that political participation has never been strictly limited by zoning principles alone.
If any area has a stronger historical grievance, it could be argued that Moro, which has never produced a Senator for Kwara North or House of Reps since 1999, would have the loudest claim. Yet, even there, political actors continue to show restraint and commitment to unity and people from Baruten, Kaiama, Edu and Patigi are quiet over this gross marginalization.
The conversation becomes even more interesting when examined within Patigi itself. Dr. Mahmud Muhammad from Patigi District is also reportedly interested in the Senate seat, despite the fact that Senator Ahmed Zuruq from Patigi Town served between 1999 and 2003, while Late Hon. Ahman Pategi represented the constituency from 2007 to 2019 in the House of Representatives.
By the same zoning logic being promoted today, one would expect internal calls for equity within Patigi itself—between districts such as Lade, Kpada, and Patigi Town. Yet this internal dimension of fairness is abandoned. Is that not biased? Why is fairness only invoked when it serves particular interests? These are difficult but necessary questions to prick the conscience of all Kwara Northerners.
Looking back, between 2007 and 2015, Late Hon. Ahman Pategi served two consecutive terms without major agitation for zoning rotation within the constituency. At that time, party supremacy and negotiation prevailed over sectional pressure and was given the third-term ticket in 2015. Why was it not handed over to Patigi or Moro? Are we now having selective amnesia?
Politics is about give and take, sacrifice, negotiation, and party discipline. No local government owns Kwara North alone and no one has monopoly to claim right to any seat. We all belong to the same political space and loyalty must sometimes accommodate leadership decisions, even when they do not fully align with personal ambition.
Finally, if zoning and equity must be taken seriously, then the same standard must apply across all political parties, not just selectively within APC. Equity cannot be credible if it is demanded from one side while ignored on the other and I am calling on the leadership of the party at both National and State levels and our traditional institutions to critically look into this political situation and take swift action where necessary. Consistency is the true test of political morality!
God bless Kwara North.
God bless Kwara State.
God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.