Political gladiators in Okelele/Ibagun communities in Ilorin-east local government area of Kwara state recently burried their political differences in honour of the state governor, Mallam AbdulRahaman AbdulRazaq. UMAR BAYO ABDULWAHB reports.
Over the years, Okelele/ Ibagun communities in Ilorin-east local government area of kwara state had remained a strong determinant for politicians seeking to win elective positions in any election in Ilorin-east.
For political parties and their candidates seeking elective offices, victory in Okelele/Ibagun ward is always a sweet one because of the development and benefits that come with such victory.
For instance, the special adviser on strategy to the state governor, Alhaji Saadu Salahudeen, the senior special assistant on security, Alh Muyideen Aliyu and the director general of Kwara State Social Investment Programme (KWASSIP), Abdulquowiy Olododo are all indigenes of Ibagun.
The governor only last week appointed another indigene of the area, Raufu Asude as education secretary of Ilorin-east Local Government Education Authority (LGEA). The All Progressives Congress ( APC) state women leader, Alhaja Falilat Mohammed is also from Ibagun.
In the race for 2023, general elections, current member representung Ilorin-west Asa federal constituency and a former governorship aspirant under APC in 2019, Alhaji Abdulganiyu Cook Olododo, an indigene of ibagun, is seeking re- election under the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
Ironically, Olododo’s son, Abdulqowiy is the director general, Kwara Social Investment Programme (KWASSIP). All are indigenes of Ibagun.
Testing the microphone ahead of 2023.
Like the popular maxim that every politics is local, little wonder therefore that political gladiators have always struggled to win and control the soul of Ibagun ward in any election.
Therefore, the event of Saturday December 24, 2022 wedding/Walinat Quran of the Salahudeen children was another opportunity to test microphone ahead of the campaign for the 2023 eections.
Although the event was meant to be a wedding/ Walimat -l-u Qur’an ceremony of the children of the special adviser to the governor on strategy. It therefore turned out to be a moment to appraise the political situation of Okelele/ Ibagun community ahead of 2023 elections in the state.
Politics without bitterness
In a rare display of politics without bitterness, gladiators in Okelele/ Ibagun community jettisoned partisan politics as they accorded the state governor, AbdulRahaman a rousing reception at the wedding/Walimat -l- Qur’an ceremony of the Salahudeen’s children.
The gladiators who cut across different political parties burried their diiferences and accorded the state governor a rousing welcome.
Who’s who in PDP
Three top notch of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Alh AbdulRaheem Olesin, Alh Bibire Ajape and Alhaja Sarat Adebayo who are all indigines of Ibagun like Salahu, attended the ceremony.
Alhaji Olesin and Alhaja Sarat arrived the Alagbado venue of the event before the commencement of Walimat and stayed till the end of that session.
On his part, Alhaji Ajape who arrived when the reception was already on, had to wait for the arrival of governor AbdulRazaq to receive him as one of the leaders of Okelele/Ibagun community.
In a rare display of politics without bitterness, the governor and Ajape exchanged pleasantries and Ajape was made to sit beside the governor.
Roll calls
Other dignitaries that graced the occasion included the Olupo of Ajase- Ipo, the Balogun Alanamu, Dr Abubakar Jos, the Alangua Ibagun, Malam Sakariyau Ilufemiloye, the state commissioners for finance, Mrs Florence Oyeyemi; that of agriculture, Alh Abdulateef Alakawa; the health commissioner, Dr Raji Rasaq; tertiary education, Dr AbdulAfeez Abolore and youth, Chief Olabode Towoju.
Others included the leaders of Ibagun Progressive Union (IPU) led by Alh Kuranga Omomeji Morogun and Barr Raufu Ajao, former minister of state for health, Dr Aminat Ndalolo, Ambassador Sheikh AbdulAzeez, a close ally of the governor, Dr Gali Alaaya, special adviser to the governor on political communication, Alhaji Bashir Adigun; special assistant on special duties, Alh AbdulRazaa Jidda; special assistant women affairs, special assistant political (central), special assistant religion (Islam), Alhaji Ibrahim Danmaigoro and senior special assistant, security, Alh Muyideen Aliyu.
The chairman, Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board, (SUBEB), Prof Shehu Adaramaja, heads of agencies/ parastals including rector Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin Dr Abdul Jimoh; general manager, Radio Kwara, Kayode Aremu; chairman, Kwara Television Service, Alh Hameed Adio; proprietor Garin FM, Barr Mahmud AbdulRaheem and Prof Ibrahim Jawondo were also present.
The Chief Imam of Ilorin, Sheikh Mohammed Bashir Salihu led other clerics in conducting the wolimat Quran session for the 24 celebrants and also offered prayers for the success of their weddings.
Chief imam extols Saadu Salahudeen’s virtures
The Chief Imam extolled Saadu Salahu’s virtues of humility, hardwork, kindness and commitment to the betterment of humanity, adding that, “These good virtues endeared Salahu to all and sundry and earned him the honour being accorded him today by the low and the high in the society.”
A renowed Islamic preacher, Sheikh Sulaiman Dan-Borno, in his brief sermon, urged parents to train their children in the way of Allah.
He urged them not to allow the quest to enrol their children and wards for western education rob them of the benefits of Islamic education.
Ibagun community counts blessings
Blueprint observes that the rousing reception accorded the governor by the people of Okelele/Ibagun community stemmed from the fact that the governor has really impacted on the community through projects execution and appointment of indigines of the area into juicy positions.
The indication emerged when members of the APC in Ibagun ward recently pledged to deliver the ward for the state governor in the coming 2023 general elections.
They equally pledged to ensure the victory of all other candidates of APC across board during the elections.
The APC stalwarts said that the governor has made their job easier because of the strategic appointments he bestowed on indigenes of Ibagun ward.
The chairman of APC in Ibagun ward, AbdulRauf Adanla had at an event organised to honour some notable kwarans pledged that the ward will deliver their votes for AbdulRazaq and APC.
At the event, APC Kwara- central senatorial candidate, Mallam Salihu Mustapha, Ambassador Yahaya Seriki, Alh Saadu Salahu, Abdulqowiy Olododo, Alh Yinka Aluko and Alhaja Arinola Lawal were presented awards for their selfless service to Ibagun community.
The event was graced by the state secretary of APC, Alh Mustapha Isowo, state woman leader, Alhaja Falilat Mohammed, a close ally of Governor AbdulRazaq, Dr Mohammed Ghali Alaaya, Senior Special Assistant on security, Alhaji Muyideen Aliyu, special assistant on religious ( Islam), Alh Ibrahim Danmaigoro and Hon Amuda Jimoh.
The Ibagun APC ward chairman listed the following as some of the projects that the administration of Governor AbdulRazaq has executed in Ibagun ward. This includes Jagun-Alagbado road, completion of Alawonla road, rehabilitation of GDSS, Amule, Larokun- Olori- Okelele road, home grown school feeding, traders money for work women and youths, NG- CARES programme, conditional cash transfer for vulnerable youths and women.
While Saadu Salahu itemized the governor’s giant strides in all sectors, Abdulqowiy Olododo said AbdulRazaq has implemented youth and women-friendly programmes to deserve their votes.
In their separate remarks, Alaaya and Hajia Arinola Lawal noted that the people of the state are resolute on their decision to return AbdulRazaq for a second term.
They noted that AbdulRazaq has earned the respect and confidence of the people through the regular payment of salaries and pensions for civil servants and retirees, revival of the education sector, construction of roads across the state, robust women and youths projects; respect for the religious leaders and traditional rulers.
