Kwara North Agenda: Kwara Speaker, Legislators Boycott Unity Meeting
A much-anticipated meeting convened to revive the Kwara North Leaders/Stakeholders Forum ended on a controversial note on Saturday following the conspicuous absence of the Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Hon. Yakubu Danladi, and other legislators loyal to him.
The meeting, which held at the Ilorin residence of Senator Mohammed Ahmed (mni), a prominent political figure and convener of the defunct forum, was aimed at fostering unity and redefining the political direction of the Kwara North Senatorial District ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In his invitation dated 19 April, Senator Ahmed noted that the event was not convened to serve any individual's ambition, but to “foster more credible and holistic unity and cooperation amongst political players from Kwara North, irrespective of party affiliations.”
However, the boycott by the state assembly leadership has raised speculations about deepening cracks within the political elite of Kwara North.
Despite the boycott, the meeting recorded the attendance of several prominent political stakeholders, including a former Nigerian ambassador to Malaysia, Nurudeen Mohammed; a former Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Benjamin Yisa; the PDP Kwara North Senatorial candidate in the 2023 elections, Issa Bawa, and other party chieftains from across political divides.
Speakers at the gathering lamented the growing disunity among leaders of the region, which they described as a major obstacle to the region’s longstanding aspiration to produce the next governor of Kwara State.
“It is clear that without genuine reconciliation and consensus-building, the 2027 dream may remain elusive,” Dr. Afolabi, one of the speakers said during deliberations.
Senator Ahmed, in his opening remarks, reiterated the importance of Kwara North speaking with one voice, adding that the forum would continue its engagements despite the absence of some key figures.
The Kwara North region, which comprises five local government areas, has long agitated for power rotation to the zone, having never produced a democratically elected governor since the return to democracy in 1999.
With the 2027 elections looming, the Saturday meeting was seen as a critical attempt to reboot the region’s strategy. The boycott by Mr Danladi and his faction may, however, signal more internal challenges ahead.
Efforts to reach the Speaker’s media aide for comments on the boycott were unsuccessful as calls put to his phone returned unavailable .
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