How I survived political oblivion in Kwara — Lai Mohammed

Immediate past Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has given hindsight into how he struggled to remain in the political limelight in Kwara State after his gubernatorial defeat.

Daily Trust recalls that the former minister got his finger burnt in his first foray into Kwara politics 20 years ago when he contested and lost the gubernatorial election in the state.

After that defeat, Lai remained in the opposition and was labeled a ‘Lagos Politician’ by his political adversaries back home until 2015 when the APC following its merger with other opposition parties defeated the ruling party and gained power at the state and federal levels

But speaking with reporters shortly after a welcome reception in his honour by his community in his hometown of Oro, Irepodun Local Government Area, Lai reflected on how he overcame his early political struggles in the state.

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“I remember twenty years ago when I came to run for governorship in Kwara State.  After I had lost the election, some of my advisers said I lost because I was a Lagos boy/politician and I should be coming home more regularly.

“They suggested that I pick one activity yearly that would allow me to relate with my people in Oro regularly and suggested the Ramadan Talk.

“So, I will come to Oro every Ramadan and under the guise of preaching Ramadan, I met my political associates and we are where we are today,” he added.

Speaking on religious intolerance, the former minister said, “I always brag about Oro as one of the few religious tolerant communities in Nigeria and I pray and hope that the whole of Nigeria will take a cue from the town.”

He said, “It is instructive that I started the Ramadan at the Muslim praying ground, which I think is normal.

“But after two years, the Muslim praying ground was not available because it was undergoing renovation.

“I was then advised to move the event to Ilorin, the state capital, by some Muslim clerics.

“Then I informed my community of the shift in the venue, but they advised that we should hold the talk at St Andrew’s Catholic Church here in Oro. I felt a little bit surprised.

“They told me that in Oro, there is no difference between a Muslim and a Christian and for the next three consecutive years, I held the Ramadan talk at St Andrew’s Catholic Church.

“To me, this is a big statement about the tolerance of people. I only hope that other communities will also borrow a leaf from Oro. Religion is a matter of choice. My people are religiously tolerant.”

Welcoming the former minister, National President of Oro Community, Prof. James Bojuwoye, applauded him for leaving indelible footprints in the sand of time for the community.

“As the first political appointee from the town, he has made us extremely proud of him. He has contributed financially to activities of both Christians and Muslims in our town in obvious demonstration of religious tolerance and harmony for which the community is well known,” he said.