A former governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress in Kwara State, Prof. Wale Sulaiman, has described the lingering dispute over the party’s governorship primary as a struggle driven by personal ambition rather than the interest of the people, saying political leaders should focus on addressing the state’s developmental challenges instead of pursuing power.
Speaking in an interview with journalists on Thursday, he lamented that political discussions in the state had become centred on individual aspirations instead of policies capable of improving the lives of Kwarans.
Sulaiman said the ongoing agitation by some dissatisfied aspirants under the platform of the G-15 had diverted attention from pressing issues confronting residents, including insecurity, unemployment, poverty and poor infrastructure.
“I think it is rather unfortunate that we have grown men fighting like schoolchildren whose principal has denied them candy. The debate should be about the needs of our people, not about a sense of political entitlement,” he said.
According to him, the state’s political class should be presenting practical solutions to the challenges facing the people rather than engaging in post-primary disputes.
“Kwara is one of the states badly affected by insecurity. People have vacated their villages, farmers cannot go to their farms, women struggle to go to markets, and unemployment remains very high.
“Nobody has really come out to say, ‘This is how I will tackle insecurity, create jobs, improve education, or develop infrastructure.’ The debate has become about who wants to be governor because they want to be king,” he added.
The former APC governorship aspirant said he had always approached politics from the perspective of service and development, stressing that leadership should be based on competence rather than personal ambition.
“I have never fought for any position because of self-gratification. I have always believed our people deserve better, and I have always engaged in politics based on issues,” he said.
Commenting on the controversy surrounding the APC governorship primary, Sulaiman maintained that every aspirant willingly participated in the party’s internal process and should respect its outcome.
“The process was there for everybody to see. Once the game has been played and a winner declared, people cannot suddenly begin to fault the process simply because it did not favour them.
“If those complaining today had emerged through the same process, would they have rejected the nomination? I don’t think so,” he said.
He argued that members of the G-15 should have raised any concerns about the process before the emergence of the party’s candidate rather than after the exercise had been concluded.
Sulaiman also referenced President Bola Tinubu’s position that APC governors would play a leading role in the emergence of their successors, saying Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq remained the recognised leader of the party in Kwara State.
“The President made it clear that governors would choose their successors. In Kwara, the governor is the leader of the party. If there were laid-down guidelines that were breached, those complaining should have pointed them out,” he said.
He reiterated that politics should remain a vehicle for delivering good governance and recalled that his own campaign was anchored on the Kwara Prosperity Agenda, which prioritised security, healthcare, education, infrastructure and youth employment.
Despite the disagreements within the ruling party, Sulaiman expressed confidence that the APC would remain united ahead of the 2027 governorship election and retain power in the state.
“When it comes to campaigns, there is nothing the opposition can say that can beat the APC at the polls. Our people are intelligent and can compare performances.
“I have seen Kwara under the PDP and under the APC. Whether it is healthcare, education, sports facilities, or infrastructure, people can judge for themselves.
“Eventually, Kwara North will come together, Kwara Central will play its role, and Kwara South will be decisive. Based on the performance of the APC and what I know about our people, I believe the party will still carry the day in 2027,” he said.
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