10/04/2026
North Agenda: Between Aspiration and Reality...
There is a reality we must admit, and the sooner stakeholders accept it, the better for the collective aspiration.
has what it takes to lead the state. That fact is not in doubt. The region has produced, and continues to produce, capable leaders. The legacy of Shaaba Lafiagi stands as a testament to that strength.
The agitation for the region to produce the governor, though not constitutionally backed, was widely seen as a legitimate call for equity. In 2023, that sentiment resonated beyond the North. The voting pattern, particularly from the Central, where the incumbent who happened to be his party’s flagbearer emerged, reflected an unusual but deliberate shift toward balance.
Naturally, one would expect that such external goodwill would be complemented by internal consolidation. But that expectation met a different reality.
What unfolded within the region introduced doubt, especially among those outside Kwara North who had aligned with the cause. For many, the outcome raised difficult questions: Was the agitation truly collective? Was it driven by shared purpose, or fragmented interests?
Perception, in politics, often carries as much weight as reality. And in this case, the perception of disunity weakened what was once seen as a compelling moral argument.
As another electoral cycle approaches, similar calls are resurfacing. However, the tone has changed. The urgency is no longer matched by the same level of belief. More telling is the emerging pattern of stakeholders, once vocal about the agenda, now openly aligning with aspirants from other regions.
This brings us to a necessary question:
Is this a calculated political permutation…
or a quiet surrender to the logic of the highest bidder?
©The Unique Voice