Kwara North: The Retrospective

By Mohammed Haruna Likpata

It may seem like a story telling, but an act that deserves a kind hearted freedom of thoughts in a complicated society like ours. We are humans that cannot outweigh the history and as such, it is very important as a matter of fact we have the courage to make certain decisions as may be required. By the special grace of Allah, I am a member of All Progressive Congress (APC) by the virtues of my constitutional rights to choose a political party at all times and I was a Member of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) by the virtue of that Constitutional right. I am confined by my convictions to write this piece in clarifying certain aspects of my views on why our Governor, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazak was elected and voted for by Kwara North to complete his second term in Office.

Success they say is achieved by developing our strengths, not by eliminating our fears-Marilyn Savani. And Excellence is never an accident. It is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, and intelligent execution- Aristotle. These two quotes are typical scenario of majority of Kwara Northerners that have greatly being misunderstood and misrepresented in the political scheming of Kwara State. Even among some Kwara Northerners, there are still some doubt in notions of misrepresentation of our people in regards to political process and involvements in the scheme of affairs in the State. I will paint two scenarios that has had great impact in our political journey in the State. These scenarios will serve as a driving force and guide as we move into the future in the political landscape of Kwara State. One scenario was a case of political independence by Kwara Northerners and the second scenario was a case of comparing available opportunities and developments of Kwara North. Either way, a decision was made by the electorates and the results were announced.

This article become so necessary following the debates in some quotas about 2023 elections in the State. The election wasn’t between Kwara North against other parties, but an engagement and involvement of different political parties in the State. Yet, Kwara North was being misunderstood as weak, vulnerable and cannot withstand the political stability in Kwara State. Kwara North is not weak and vulnerable, instead their strengths are being tested and glorified going into the future. At all times, eighty percent (80%) of Kwara North decide what they want at a particular period in championing their political journey. This is not by accident, but with high intentions and deliberate actions.

Let me give a brief background that portray a bigger picture about Kwara North as a people. Many are of the opinion that Kwara North is divided based on the two Federal Constituencies. Kwara North is a far distant region from one community to the other. Traveling from Edu/Moro/Patigi/ axis where I come from down to Baruten/Kaiama with a far distance of about 9 to 10 hours of a single journey. It is a land that is blessed with abundance natural resources, yet the potentials are not yet recognized. It is a land that has common trade opportunities among her people that will attract international market and investments, yet opportunities not harnessed . It is a land with rich cultural heritage that is uncommon, yet not multiculturally embraced. This article is written to further strengthen the bond among Kwara Northerners beyond the existing political ties and peaceful coexistence among the Nupes, Batonus, Bakobaru, Yorubas and Fulanis that are always being misunderstood by the political interests.

This does not in anyway dispel the truth of public political perspectives of those who choose to believe what they rarely know about Kwara Northerners.

First, We need to understand that across Nigeria, Kwara North is one of the most diverse Senatorial Zone with multi-cultural heritage. This is the only Senatorial Zone with multiple identities in the State which make Kwara North unique and politically unified. The strengths in Kwara North remains the most viable option to leverage on as a people for the unity of the State. The strengths in Kwara North should be seen as a potential for growth and development. The strengths in Kwara North should be a discovery for a new generational hope that advocate for a more sustainable future for generations to come in Kwara State. I opined that Kwara North is politically unified, matured and civilized in making choices of political leaders in the State. Kwara North has never been sectional or sentimental in sustaining and deepening democracy in the State. I have learnt good lessons in the political process since joining politics in 2018 till date. And I concluded in my opinion that majority of Kwara Northerners made political decisions on choice even when some dissenting voices deem it otherwise. They are always resolute in the direction they choose to go. Kwara Northerners are not spectators in the State and the two scenarios I will present here has proved same. I will be very objective in my judgements while painting the two scenarios as a forward looking politician and not jus as an interested party in the scheme of things since 2018 till date. These two scenarios has nothing to do with any political party but as a people of Kwara North that have oftentimes mistaken for lack of political vision. Their strength is their weakness, their weakness shall be their strengths as we go into the future. As we all know, facts do not care about your feelings.

The First Scenario: As an Aspirant in 2018 before becoming a Candidate under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for 2019 general elections, I had two great people who are very close to me. one is an Uncle from my LGA based in Minna and the second person was a friend from Baruten LGA based in Kwara State. They both separately told me, precisely around June 2018, eight Month to 2019 elections not to contest under the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2019 general elections. I asked why? They said PDP cannot win elections in Kwara North and I come from Kwara North. I said to them that Kwara North has never rejected any party Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki belongs to? Again on different days they affirmed their positions. I said to them okay the future will tell. These two people are from the same Kwara North, but different Federal Constituencies and were never a politician as at 2019. When I secured my ticket in 2019, this very friend of mine came to my residence in Ilorin to congratulate me for winning the PDP ticket but insisted that we would loose that election and was quick to have prayed for my success. He is my close friend and ally but I have never experienced brutal words that was too confrontational in making a case against my former party (The PDP). I got furious and even asked him not to go that far. He said my friend, Kwara Northerners have decided long before now. Campaigns kicked started and kept my eyes on every events during the campaigns with tones of crowds. We kept pushing and to my surprise, on the eve of that election, I started hearing Haruna Likpata is a good Candidate but we said we dont want to vote PDP again because of reason A or B. Down to my Polling Unit, it was a terrible and horrible experience for me to have won in my Polling Unit as a Candidate in that election despite coming from there. As if it was a general meeting that was held across Kwara North, from Nupes to Baruten, Kaiama and across Moro. The most significant thing for me was the strengths and enthusiasm of Kwara Northerners as a people to make deliberate decision on an election that is almost a year to come.

The second scenario was the 2023 elections which was perceived to be a big threat to the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the State, considering the zoning of People’s Democratic Party’s ticket to Kwara North. This is another test for the majority of Kwara Northerners in their resolve to take a stand devoid of sentiments and feelings. And this goes back to my earlier statement that Kwara Northerners are unique and do not attach sectionalism in making their political decisions in the State.

The dynamics and political messages from my party, All Progressive Congress APC) against People’s Democratic Party (PDP) was a total rejection of 2019 elections replay. We all can see the results even when there are improvements of such results in other part of the Zone for PDP in the last election, Kwara North insisted it has to be All Progressive Congress (APC). The voters in Kwara North did not detached People’s Democratic Party (PDP) of 2019 from the PDP in 2023. The perceptions about the past was still fresh in their minds, Kwara Northerners didn’t look at the Candidate of PDP as a means to an end, but insisted the current Governor deserved and has to complete his second term in office. The State wide results from Kwara North stands out in the 2023 elections. It shows the credibility of the people and loyalty to the entire structures that produced our Governor, His Excellency, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazak. So for anyone to think Kwara Northerners abandoned their son was only been unfair and do not understand the past political intrigues in the State. I think Kwara Northerners only think strategically in their priority and placements at the time. For those who think Kwara Northerners are not politically united, do not consider other factors that produce results at the polls or know certain political decisions have to be made. Politics they say, is a game of interest and that interest could mean good or bad. The most obvious difference among her people is the tribe which has never affected our political rotations and sharing of political ideologies. 2019 and 2023 elections in Kwara North and Kwara at large, was a retrospective of the future political landscape in the State. Kwara Northerners will not debate it but our quietness and silence comes with consequences in the future. Our political decisions in Kwara North is always unimaginable no one can change.