Re: 2027 – Towoju Reacts as Lawmakers Begin Campaign for Danladi Amid Insecurity in Kwara South

 

I read with dismay Olabode Towoju’s outcry regarding a so-called viral video.

Towoju berated lawmakers and other politicians for campaigning amidst the insecurity plaguing Kwara South Senatorial District. He described a viral video showing some elected officials from Kwara South shamelessly violating the Electoral Act by campaigning for a governorship aspiration.

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In his view, these lawmakers and local government chairmen violated the Electoral Act, 2022, by abandoning their constitutional duties, an action he deemed a national embarrassment.

However, consider this: a party elder should understand the internal mechanisms for addressing such concerns if the goal is to avoid national embarrassment. Rushing to publish a condemnation of a viral video on an online News House/Newspaper was unnecessary. In fact, Towoju’s publication, as a former commissioner under this administration, is more embarrassing to the APC and the government he claims to support than the unverified actions of the political office holders allegedly shown in the video. If he truly believes anything could cause national embarrassment to our party, his approach is equally culpable.

 

The pertinent question is: how does political office holders declaring support for Kwara North prevent the chairmen in question from continuing their fight against insecurity?

 

Towoju argued that while lives and livelihoods are being destroyed in Kwara South and parts of Kwara North, these politicians are busy campaigning for their next ambition. But where exactly did they campaign, apart from the alleged viral video, for anyone to conclude they are “busy campaigning”? Wasn’t it his publication that brought this to wider attention?

Who, then, is insulting the intelligence of our people?

 

He lambasted the politicians for attempting to exploit Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s name and dragging the governor into their political circus—an act he said disrespects the dignity of his office. But what is Towoju trying to achieve here? Is he attempting to set them against the governor? He concluded, “Let the truth be told, this is not loyalty. This is recklessness that endangers the very individual they pretend to support.” He added that “Kwara South deserves leaders with sound judgment and respect for the rule of law, not opportunists who gamble with insecurity and ambition simultaneously.” In reality, this only exposes a leadership tussle, not a genuine concern for Kwara South’s security. Ironically, it appears as a worse gamble with Kwara South’s insecurity.

 

Why do I say this? A party elder genuinely concerned about insecurity in Kwara would not wait for a one-day gathering where political office holders declared support for a candidate before advising them on addressing insecurity—especially since the event wasn’t publicized on any news platform but only appeared in a viral video. If there were genuine lapses, such an elder should have already advised those chairmen and House members on their shortcomings.

To us, it seems Towoju is only upset because of a declaration of support for Kwara North or a particular candidate. This is more of a political maneuver against that candidate, conveniently cloaked in the insecurity issue—the very politicization of insecurity we consistently condemn.

 

Towoju must explain what exactly constitutes a “national embarrassment” in political officeholders advising their followers to support someone for a post in Kwara State by 2027, especially when the fight against insecurity requires identifying leaders who can sustain it. After all, people are already supporting Tinubu for president in Nigeria. Moreover, opposition parties are mobilizing against the ruling party at all levels, making inaction by the ruling party more dangerous.

 

Towoju or anyone else should urge the chairmen to do more to combat insecurity—a worthy cause. But these calls should not be politicized as a tool for personal ambition, or counter-publications like this will arise.

 

What we expected from Towoju was a clear stance on zoning, not a veiled attack on a perceived popular candidate under the guise of insecurity. He is free to support a candidate, but he should stop systematically attacking those whose choices or opinions differ from his. Alternatively, he should address the insecurity issue directly by specifying what the chairmen or House members are failing to do. Mixing the two issues only breeds suspicion—because Kwarans are not fools.

 

More importantly, Towoju or anyone else may call many people fake loyalists, deceitful supporters, or pretenders, but not only political office holders—most lovers of Kwara’s progress, whether in or outside politics—will openly declare their loyalty to AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for the good work he is doing. They will rally behind whomever appears to be the governor’s choice. They believe in Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and trust that his choice will align with the APC’s state and national objectives for Kwara’s benefit. Whoever he supports will have Kwara’s full support. If that choice happens to be the talking Towoju, we will follow—that remains the fact.

 

Above all, let this reality be clear to all genuine lovers of Kwara who are pained by the insecurity issue: the question of who becomes the next Kwara governor is not off the table if we truly want to address it.

 

Kwarans must determine who leads them in 2027 as part of the fight against insecurity. Supporting someone you believe can tackle Kwara’s challenges is not insensitivity to insecurity—it is a necessary step toward overcoming it.

Just passing by,

Bisi Kristien