17/01/2026
OP-ED: Yet 29, the single story, ‘the birth’ and my participation as 'Kwara Aiyekooto' in Online media, Kwara opposition political circle
Abdulwaheed Sulaiman
For years, I have effortlessly tried to tell a single story, ‘the birth’, and my participation in the online media space as 'Kwara Aiyekooto', somewhat referred to as 'Kwara Parrot' within the Kwara opposition political circle. Luckily for me, I drew inspiration from Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s book titled “The Danger of Single Story”.
An interesting excerpt from the book reads in parts, “I've always felt that it is impossible to engage properly with a place or a person without engaging with all of the stories of that place and that person. The consequence of the single story is this: It robs people of dignity. It makes our recognition of our equal humanity difficult. It emphasizes how we are different rather than how we are similar.”
Fondly called Kwara Aiyekooto, Abdulwaheed took his first breath as the only child of his parents. Thus, nurtured from infant till young adult under the guidance of his paternal grandmother - 'Iya Alagbo' (the herbs merchandise).
Shortly after his birth, there was a story of irreconcilable conflict which led to the separation of his parents -naivety of the young bride while the older but loving groom became a victim as enforcer of uncompromised order from his mom. Though, officially divorced, both are alive, hearty, and happily married to their heartthrobs with five children from both ends.
My Dad, Alhaji Sulaiman AbdulRahman, better known as 'Sule Agbon', was a furniture, trader, and politician known for his uncompromising stance during his early life before transitioning into the car dealing business, where he rose to become the incumbent Kwara State Treasurer of the Association of Motors Dealers of Nigeria (AMDON).
In politics, my father was a key member under the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the Third Republic and later the Committee for National Consensus (CNC) during the Abacha transition era.
He was also a member of the All People's Party (APP) and later the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara state, where he keenly contested for the party ticket for the councillor seat in Adewole ward, Ilorin West Local Government Area.
My mom, Hajia Sherifat Amin nee Busari, started her life as a young trader before joining the Civil Service in 2006.
Flashback to March 17 2011, months before I sat for my basic education certificate examinations at the Government Day Junior Secondary School, Adewole in Ilorin, Mrs Ellen, my computer training coach at Adeta roundabout, had phoned me to lock up the office because the owner, Alhaja Ramat Oganija's husband (an immigration officer), had been announced dead.
Coincidentally, I had just returned from school (still in my uniform), and it was the day for the official flag-off ceremony of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) governorship candidate, Mohammed Dele Belgore. Ilorin was agog as the old and young people trooped en masse to witness the historic occasion.
As a curious, disciplined, and motivated teenager, I was wittingly attracted to the decorated and coloured air balloons with the ACN party logo for the flag-off ceremony. Without much hesitation, I locked up the R2 Computer Institute and took a few-minute walk to the popular Lubcon Baseball Park along Adewole, the venue of the ACN flag-off ceremony for Kwara State.
Remember the story of my growing up with my paternal grandmother, which earned me the popular Nickname, "Omo Iya Alagbo" and sometimes "Oko Iya Alagbo" meaning The Son or Husband of herbs merchandise.
My late paternal grandmother, Alhaja Hawau AbdulRahman nee Onikepe (of the blessed memory), was a highly supportive, religious, hard-working, disciplined, and dedicated old woman. She was always ready to secure my space in every quality learning environment, no matter the cost. When she was not funding the tutorial class, her son (my dad) would be ordered to provide the necessary support for the learning endeavour.
From schooling within the community Arabic and Islamic Primary School, to hawking herbs for my grandmother after school, and attending evening and night Qur'an classes every day, I grew up to learn the ropes of hard work, perseverance, discipline, and cheerfulness towards every one of my endeavours. And for my almost 18 years with her, Iya Alagbo was always intentional towards the successes of her children, family, and neighbours alike.
At the ACN flag-off ceremony for its gubernatorial candidate in the 2011 general election in Kwara state, I witnessed the first-hand excitement of attendees, including the large crowd of party faithful and supporters at the event, coupled with the melodic musical performance of King Wasiu Ayinde, who serenaded the event as the official artiste for the campaign.
Additionally, I listened to every of the address by the Guber candidate, Mohammed Dele Belgore; Governors Babatunde Raji Fashola (Lagos) who was robbed in jean and polo shirt with ACN muffler tied on his neck; Rauf Aregbesola (Osun) dressed up in a pure white half-length native dress; then ACN National Leader, Bola Ahmed Tinubu; and Alhaji Lai Mohammed.
Interestingly, before the end of the campaign flag-off, there were sporadic shootings, disruptions, and violence unleashed as attendees had to scamper for their safety. While scampering for my safety, I lost my school uniform, which was held to my neck at the event and safely took cover at the Government High School premises. It was a good, bad, and ugly experience for me as an adventurous schoolboy.
While the event of March 17, 2011, became a turning point in my life, I became more emboldened, exposed, and interested in the opposition political affairs and activities in Kwara state. Remember, I was still a teenager under the guidance of my paternal grandmother.
Yet another fascinating story of my interest and exposure to opposition politics was my attendance during the ward tour of the late Strongman of Kwara politics, Dr Olusola Saraki, alongside his daughter and Gubernatorial Candidate for ACPN in the 2011 elections, Senator Gbemisola Ruqqayyah Saraki, in Adewole Ward, Ilorin West Local Government Area.
From the evening of that memorable day, I saw the movement of my dad's sitting room set of chairs, from the family house to the Adeta LGEA Primary School, the venue of the ACPN ward campaign. With joy in my heart, I prepared my mind to also witness the political gathering due to my earlier experience with the ACN flag-off ceremony. Alas, the gathering was slated for late night, an arrangement reportedly devised for the party campaign train by Dr Olusola Saraki, the then leader of the ACPN and late strongman of Kwara politics.
On that faithful night, my grandmother was fully asleep as I sneaked out of the family compound and made my way to the Adeta LGEA Primary School. At the political gathering, I saw our sets of sitting room chairs -- a three seater chair, one two seater, and two units of single seater chairs. I also saw my dad visibly coordinating the programme on the wooden stage, unbeknownst to me, that he was the deputy coordinator for the ACPN campaign in Ilorin West Local Government Area of Kwara State.
Like the true son of my father, I bravely anticipated violence and disruption of the political gathering, just like it happened at the ACN flag-off. Just as I listened to the address by Senator Gbemisola Ruqqayyah Saraki, at the political gathering, the Saraki Womenfolk in Adewole ward, led by Alhaja Iya Ikumeja, presented a huge-sized photo frame to Dr Olusola Saraki, as he is seated on the three-seater chair from my dad's set of chairs brought for the memorable event.
Fortunately, there was no visible disruption at the gathering as I rushed back to the family house to prepare for the next school day.
Just as Adichie wrote, ‘the consequence of the single story is this: It robs people of dignity. It makes our recognition of our equal humanity difficult. It emphasizes how we are different rather than how we are similar.
To be continued...
• Abdulwaheed Sulaiman, a graduate of English Language and Education and postgraduate certificate holder of Public Relations and Advertising, is a Media and Communications specialist and hails from Adewole Ward, Ilorin West Local Government Area of Kwara State. He can be reached via [email protected].
