••• Says G15 Group Remain Key Stakeholders in Progressive Agenda
A mammoth crowd of political supporters and associates on Saturday converged at the Tunde Idiagbon International Airport in Ilorin to accord a grand reception to All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain and former governorship candidate, Hakeem Oladimeji Lawal, marking his return to Kwara State ahead of the upcoming electoral season.
Following his arrival in the capital city, Lawal paid congratulatory visits to prominent religious and traditional leaders, including the 13th Chief Imam of Ilorin Emirate, Sheikh Muhammad Bashir Dasuki Imam Fulani at Agaka Isale, and the Magaji Aare of Ilorin Emirate, Alhaji Shuaib Aremu Zubair, at his forecourt to pay royal homage.
The homecoming activities culminated in a political gathering tagged the “Up Lawal Convergence: A Voice for the People” held at the Arca Santa Events Centre in Ilorin, which drew party leaders, community stakeholders, and youth organizations.
Addressing the gathering, Lawal charged thousands of supporters to remain steadfastly loyal to the APC under the leadership of Kwara State Governor, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, CON.
Speaking on party unity, Lawal reiterated his commitment to the progressive fold, noting that unlike politicians who defected to alternative platforms, he remains dedicated to the APC. He declared Governor AbdulRazaq as the undisputed leader of the party in Kwara State, recalling that both of them had contested for the governorship on multiple occasions in the spirit of service to the state.
Addressing speculation surrounding internal party dynamics, Lawal dismissed rumors linking him to an APC deputy governorship slot as fabricated and false. He also downplayed narratives surrounding the G15 group within the party, stating that its members remain integral brothers in the progressive struggle and expressing confidence that ongoing dialogue will resolve all internal issues to secure a victory for the APC in 2027.
Delivering remarks at the event, Kwara APC Deputy Chairman, Alhaji Abdullahi Samari, alongside legal practitioner Barrister Oguntoye and other political stakeholders, paid tribute to the legacy of Hakeem’s late father and former Governor of Kwara State, Rear Admiral Mohammed Alabi Lawal.
They commended the late patriarch’s contributions to infrastructure, pipe-borne water provision, and the transformation of secondary school education across the state, describing his developmental footprint as unprecedented in Kwara’s political history.