What started like a mere rumour on the purported governorship ambition of two sons of a former Commissioner of Finance, Kwara state, and the Wali of Ilorin, Alhaji Usman Mustapha, has gradually taken shape and in fact generating huge interests among Kwara electorate. UMAR BAYO ABDULWAHAB writes.
Father’s love
Confirmation of what had for sometime been muted became public when the former Commissioner of Finance in kwara state and Wali of Ilorin, Alhaji Usman Mustapha recently declared that he was not against the governorship ambition of his son, Alhaji Lukman Mustapha.
The duo of Lukman Mustapha, a banker and member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Alhaji Moshood Mustapha, a former House of Representatives, and member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) are eying the exalted elective position of the state.
Although the two of them are yet to formally declare their ambition publicly, both, according to close sources have set up different groups carrying out subtle campaigns for them.
Lukman a banker turned politician is also the chairman of the newly established Sobi Fm in Ilorin while his brother, Moshood who is a former commissioner under former governor Bukola Saraki, had also served as a former legislative aide under Saraki as to the senate president.
Pleasant family division
The ambition of the two had allegedly divided members of their family as to who enjoys whose support. The duo are seeking the blessing of their father as the favourite to run for the number one position in the state.
An interest group under the auspices of Lukman Mustapha Freedom Squad had stormed the residence of Alhaji Usman Mustapha at Government Reserved Area (GRA), Ilorin, seeking his endorsement for his son to declare his interest in the race.
Determined to make their aspiration come true, the group last weekend mobilised score of Lukman’s supporters to the private residence of the Mustaphas father situated in Abdulrasaq Road, Government Reserved Area (GRA Ilorin to seek the father ‘s blessing for preferred aspirant ahead of the 2019 governorship election.
During the rally, which started from Stadium road, Ilorin and ended at the Isale Aluko family residence of the Mustaphas, the father of the duo, Alhaji Usman Mustapha, said the ambition should be left to God to decide. He stated that it was not within his powers to determine, who governs the state.
“Everything belongs to God, it is God that makes everything. Let us put the matter back to God so that we can have whoever we want.
“The question of my giving him to you (the people) as Governor is more than my power. But let’s be hopeful that God will bring peace in the entire things.
“I’m not against him (Lukman). I told them (Mashood and Lukman Mustapha) what I want and it appears that it hasn’t spoken well”, Mustapha said.
When asked what would be his position if the two sons eventually emerged as candidates of their parties, he said “they should choose one”.
Leadership prowess
The State Coordinator of the Squad, Onikahun Omokayode, said the group was aware of the leadership prowess in Lukman Mustapha and had resolved to him with a view to bringing Kwara to the next level.
He noted that the state needs the likes of Mustapha to rebuild and consolidate on the gains of the past governments in the state.
Omokayode, who described the Sobi FM Chairman as a philanthropist, said he has been of tremendous help to community in spite of the fact he has not held public office.
Either North or Central Kwara
However, the political landscape of the state has remained unsettled as to whether the next Governor would come from Kwara Central or North. Those, in public perception, known to be giants politically are already warming up and mounting social and political structures in a subtle way to realise their individual ambitions. By forming structures, they are seen as having what it takes to govern the State of Harmony when time comes.
From Kwara Central alone, the list of gubernatorial aspirants is growing day by day. Initially, those believed to be nursing the ambition for the state apex political seat included a former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Moshood Mustapha; a one-time Acting National Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje; the National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi; and the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Dr Ali Babatunde Ahmad as well as Chief of Staff Government House, Ilorin, Alhaji Yusuf Babatunde Abdulwahab.
New aspirants in the gubernatorial race are former Chief of Staff, Government House, Ilorin, Alhaji Mohammed Toyin Sanusi; former Chairman, State Universal Basic Education Board, Alhaji Ladi Hassan; a member of the House of Representatives, Dr Abubakar Amuda-Kannike and Ambassador Abdulfatai Yahaya Seriki Gambari.
The aforementioned aspirants from Kwara Central, which comprises of Ilorin West, East, South and Asa Local Government Areas, are believed to be preparing for the race under the banner of the APC.
Those who are believed and touted to be oiling their machineries for the covetous job from Kwara North include a member of the House of Representatives for Edu/Moro/Patigi Federal Constituency, Hon. Aliyu Bahago Ahman-Pategi; his counterpart from Baruten/Kaiama Federal Constituency, Hon Zakari Mohammed; a one-time State Commissioner for Rural Development, Mr Usman Adamu Bawa.
The PDP also in contention
For the PDP, quite a number of aspirants have also emerged preparatory not just to test political waters but ultimately win the governorship race by leveraging on the recurring height of political awareness in the state. With the turnover of event and the conviction that Kwarans are capable of determining the next captain of their ship, they have also been making secret moves to wrestle political power with the ruling APC leadership in the state.
The likes of the Chairman of Sobi FM Radio Station, Mallam Lukman Olayiwola Mustapha and a retired police officer, Alhaji Mohammed Ibrahim Ajia, are said to be eyeing the gubernatorial ticket of the PDP and eventually become the sole candidate of the party. It remains to be seen the length within which the aspirants go in actualising the targeted ambitions. What stand the aspirants out individually are their antecedents, pedigree, uniqueness, experience, wealth and followership.
In the APC, candidate to be looked out for among the lot is someone with requisite experience, loyalty to the political structure and perhaps an unassuming politician whose emergence would take pundits by surprise.
The recruitment into the governance of the state through the dominant political structure has always been unpredictable, the same game that played out ahead of the 2011 general elections.
It is being speculated that the race for governorship ticket of the party is among Kawu Baraje, Bolaji Abdullahi and Ali Ahmad. The trio are believed to be enjoying the strong backing of the status quo.
But on account of early warning signal of likely backlash from the state political structure, they have decided, like others, to make their aspirations secret. Some of them, it was learnt, had set up socio-political groups to canvass and mobilise support for them ahead of the primaries of the party, which would come up later in the year.
