By Saheed Abdullahi
The Central Senatorial District of Kwara State is a critical political bloc of the state composition. The senatorial district bellies four Local Government Areas of Ilorin West, Ilorin East, Ilorin South and Asa. Despite its state capital status, human capital development has continued to be a mirage.
Poverty scourge permeates the strata of Ilorin enclave, only a fraction of its population lives above the poverty line. The livability index of inhabitants’ life is extremely low. Ilorin, as a state capital, is now witnessing rural-urban drift, which makes it a cosmopolitan city. The influx of people from other States in search of greener pasture further poses security threats to the inhabitants of the community and beyond.
Successive Senators, who represented the Kwara Central, starting from Senator Isiaq Salman 1999-2003 to Senator Rukkayah Gbemisola Saraki 2003 to 2011, and then to Former President of the Senate, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki 2011-2019 before we had Senator Ibrahim Yahaya Oloriegbe between 2019 -2023, Mallam Salihu Mustapha takes over from him on June 13, 2023 after his inauguration in the upper chamber of the National Assembly.
The aforementioned former Kwara Central Senators did their possible best for the people. Unfortunately, their best was not good enough towards alleviating the sufferings of the people. Dr Oloriegbe is widely acclaimed to have outperformed beyond his predecessors simply because he was able to facilitate landmark projects such Federal College of Education (Special), Afon (bill passed) and Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Budo-Egba.
Unfortunately, he was not returned allegedly due to his poor human relations. I once came across an individual hurling curses on him on Social Media. I inquired why he was doing so, after cautioning him, he said: “my younger brother and his friends and younger one worked for his victory. Soon after winning the election, he ignored and stopped interacting with them.”
From personal observation, Senator Oloriegbe would attend public events, donated handsomely but when approached for pleasantries by people who ordinarily did not even beg for money, his face becomes unwelcoming.
Based on independent discreet investigation, the Senator could be reached by those who directly and indirectly worked for his triumph for mutual telephone conversation and physical political parley to strategize for success; but immediately after his victory and swearing-in, the hope of his passionate political strategists were dashed as he cut off from them.
Dr Oloriegbe, as Chairman Senate Committee on Health, being a qualified Medical Doctor with cognate experience, was among the lucky Senators at the 9th National Assembly that had opportunity to chair Committees designated for critical sectors of the nation’s economy. Senator Oloriegbe, who chaired the Senate Committee on Health, thought only his performance could earn him second-term ticket, unfortunately, he missed it.
A big eulogy to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and delegates at the Kwara Senatorial Primary, who ensured that Senator Oloriegbe did not get the return ticket, which elicited his outburst against Governor AbdulRazaq on Channels TV and other media outlets then. As we all know, the silent achiever Governor did not utter a word in exchange.
Many voters, particularly the youths, had made up their minds not to vote for Senator Oloriegbe if he emerged his party’s (APC) standard bearer for senate. But Mallam Salihu Mustapha was the preferred candidate at the APC Kwara Central Senatorial Primary. This caused jubilation in town even when 2023 general elections had not been held.
Now that the Kwara Central Senatorial mandate has been bestowed on the Turaki of Ilorin, Senator Salihu Mustapha, it is paramount he learns from the weaknesses of the past Senators including Dr Oloriegbe. Although he had done well in the area of empowerment, particularly his N200million Grand empowerment to alleviate the sufferings of the people.
Senator Mustapha should not be oblivious of the fact that the hope of Ilorin residents is overwhelmingly high on him. Presently, all eyes are on MSM as he is fondly called. This is because it is the first time the senatorial seat would be shifting from Ilorin West to Ilorin East since 1979 till date. He should endeavour to write his name in gold with unprecedented sterling achievements.
He should be fully aware that people are expecting a lot devoid of neglect and marginalization. MSM should be told that the entire Ilorin Emirate is hungry of jobs with reasonable living wage, hence, he is expected to surpass Senator Oloriegbe in facilitating institutions and agencies to create job opportunities for his constituents.
The Turaki of Ilorin should invest heavily in Ilorin Emirate for the benefits of the people. When he is no longer in politics, the seed of investment would have grown and will be supportive in feeding the people. That is what made our new President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu unique in Lagos as a Former Governor.
The Turaki should also be among juicy job lobbyists. Ilorin is bereft of good jobs and positions presently. Former President of the Senate, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki, former Chairman, Federal Character Commission, Professor Shuaib Oba Abdulraheem and Former House of Representatives member for Ilorin-East-South Federal Constituency, Alhaji Abdulwahab Issa, are reference points in political appointments and good employment attraction in Ilorin till today.
He is also expected not to relent in his good habit of empowerment. He had done it without occupying a political position. Now, he is occupying a strategic one. Senator Mustapha should be mindful that his constituents are watchful of what would be a Mega Empowerment by the brand new Senator. In a nutshell, Mallam Salihu Mustapha should not disappoint.
He should continue to have good rapport and human relations with his people to ascertain their problems towards tackling them hookline and sinker through legislation or otherwise. It should be noted that Senator Oloriegbe’s sterling performance in office as a first-term Senator is a huge challenge for the incumbent Kwara Central Senator Senator Mustapha.
Anything below Senator Oloriegbe’s performance would be a strong negative criticism point for Senator Mustapha. In the build up to the 2023 general elections, overwhelming majority of political watchers preferred Oloriegbe’s return and APC National Chairman or Ministerial appointment for Mustapha but it is crystal clear that Senator Mustapha is no doubt divine’s choice for Kwara Central Senatorial seat.
I want to strongly advise Senator Mustapha. He should not to be a seat warmer in the Red Chamber. He needs to be making vibrant contributions on the floor of the Senate. We saw how he was bullied by his major opponent of Peoples Democratic Party, Former Commissioner for Education in Kwara State, Former Minister of Youths and Sports, Mallam Abdulganiyu Bolaji Abdullahi in an open letter build up to the general elections. He should not give them room to lampoon him.
Mallam Mustapha should also understand that as a lawmaker and distinguished Senator, he needs to be responsive to his constituents and be a major contributor in the Senate. For searchlight to be beamed on him, Kwara Central requires quality, responsive representation as his emergence as Kwara Central Senator is the will of Allah and corporate voice of good people of Ilorin.
He also needs to see his constituents as critical stakeholders that must always offer productive advice on how to better their lives. The Senator must see his constituents as partners and quality assets that earned a right to be stakeholders to be listened to in his official engagement. Mallam Mustapha must not let his constituents down in his task of poverty reduction in the nooks and crannies of the Ilorin Emirate.
Saheed Abdullahi is of Radio Kwara, Ilorin
14-06-2023