A coalition of All Progressives Congress (APC) support groups in Baruten Local Government Area of Kwara State among other residents have endorsed the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Salihu Yakubu Danladi, for the 2027 governorship election.
The endorsement was announced at a press conference and rally held in Okuta, where party loyalists and residents turned out in large numbers to declare support for the Speaker’s ambition.
The event witnessed a mammoth crowd that marched through major streets of the town, singing and dancing while displaying campaign paraphernalia, including fez caps and branded T-shirts bearing the image of the Speaker.
The stakeholders made a renewed call for political inclusion and insisted that 2027 presents an opportunity to address the longstanding imbalance in the state’s power structure.
Speaking at the event, Mallam Abdullahi Idris, Sinadunwiru of Okuta Emirate, said the lawmaker has impacted lives across the three senatorial districts of the state.
He highlighted his interventions in water supply, youth engagement and welfare support, noting that several communities have benefited from borehole projects and empowerment initiatives.
“In the past, our people depended on unsafe sources of water, but today, boreholes have been provided across many communities. Our youths are also being engaged through meaningful opportunities that have improved their livelihoods,” he said.
Idris added that the Speaker’s achievements surpass those of many past office holders, describing his leadership style as people-oriented and responsive to grassroots needs.
He also referenced his “stomach infrastructure” approach, noting that many residents have benefited from direct assistance during times of personal hardship and employment.
Despite these gains, the community leader lamented the level of underdevelopment in the area, particularly the deplorable condition of roads linking communities to Ilorin and other parts of the state.
According to him, “While some parts of the world are in the first and second categories of development, and Africa is often described as third world, our situation here can best be described as fourth world due to neglect.”
As a result, he urged stakeholders across the state and at the national level to support the emergence of the Speaker as governor to address the lapses in the district and others, arguing that Kwara North has yet to produce a democratically elected governor since 1999.
Also speaking, Barrister Abubakar Othman, described Danladi as a dynamic and accessible leader who possesses the qualities required to govern the state.
“The young man is very dynamic, approachable and accessible. He has integrity and honour. He has demonstrated strong leadership qualities since becoming Speaker, and we are praying that God crowns our efforts for him to occupy the Government House,” he said.
Othman disclosed that he chaired a committee that consulted traditional rulers across Kwara North, including communities in Moro Local Government Area such as Jebba and Shao, on the project.
He appealed to stakeholders in Kwara Central and Kwara South to support the call for power shift to Kwara North in the interest of equity and fairness.
“Our brothers and sisters in Kwara Central and South should join us in ensuring that the governorship comes to Kwara North, which has not tasted it since the return of democracy,” he said.
In his remarks, the Emir of Okuta, Abubakar Sero Idris, also made a strong case for the zoning of the governorship to the northern part of the state.
He said the position of governor is critical to the development of any community, lamenting that Kwara North has remained largely neglected despite its consistent political support.
“When we talk about governorship, it is a very sensitive position that reflects on the community that holds it. Here in Kwara North, we have been highly neglected for a long time despite our unwavering support to political leaders and parties,” he said.
The monarch appealed to the people of the state and the leadership of the APC, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to support the aspiration of the Speaker.
“But this time, we are appealing for that support to be reciprocated. If our son is given the opportunity, we will also support power rotation to other districts when the time comes,” he added.
The Emir stressed that the demand for the governorship slot is not a call for exclusivity, noting that any leader from the zone must govern inclusively.
“We are not saying everything should be done for us alone in Baruten or Kwara North. The governor must carry all parts of the state along,” he said.