When we all marched to the poll on the 4th of March, 2019; for the progressives and forward thinking Kwarans, we knew what we wanted, we knew the kind of leadership we needed, it was beyond a party affair, family pedigree or cheap publicity. We wanted a Kwara governed by a true Kwaran, with a successful individual track record, that would deliver the dividend of democracy, hitherto denied Kwarans. 

When we all trouped out enmasse to vote for the candidate of our choice, we knew what had happened in the past, what is happening and what is expected to happen (to our dear state) in the future. We knew those we started with, those whom we were at par when we were created in May 1967. We knew those who meant well for the state, those who turned the trajectory and brought the progress recorded so far to a halt, we knew those who meant well for the development of the state and those who never had any good motive for our dear state. 

When we all eventually made up our mind to change the ruling hegemony, exactly a year ago, it was a determined struggle with divine intervention. The society was naturally divided into “we vs them”. No one had to be forced to choose whether to stand with the oppressor or the oppressed. The former were still confident that the taxpayers’ money was (is) at their disposal and they could send it on any errand. They worried less about the electorates and their constitutional power. The latter on the other hand were in a state of doubt, they knew the oppressors were dangerous and would use anything within their means to hold onto power till their last breathe. Eventually, we became confident, we had to choose; either to strike out our common enemy once and for all or we continue the suffering for another 4 years. To the glory of God, victory came easier than we thought, the fall of Kwara-Pharoah came at last, we eventually struck out the common enemy. 

When we went to the poll to make a decision, all we wanted was atleast a break from the norm, we wanted to change the narrative whereby someone would come from somewhere and authoritatively appoint who to govern the state for the next 8 years. We wanted a candidate popularly chosen and elected. We wanted a candidate that shared our plight and listened to our yearnings. We wanted a candidate that we could boldly refer to as ours. We prayed Day and Night to God, we knew it was getting out of hand and as God said “Call me, and I will answer you”, HE eventually did. He gave us the Silent achiever, the man that has taken it upon himself to champion a new kwara, the man that has taken the life and well-being of every Kwaran as important as it should be. 

When we voted for the man whom we knew little about (having won the party’s primary election in October 2019), we had the hope that things would change for better, we were optimistic and prayerful. We are too late to fail, and as destiny would have it, we couldn’t have voted for someone better than the man of the people. The man is Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq. When he was duely announced and issued certificate of return by the electoral umpire, we wanted him to assume office immediately. The constitution was not designed that way, we had to wait till the 29th of May, 2019 before the true son of the soil could “drive himself” down to his swearing in ceremony. 

We are just celebrating a year of good governance and excellent performance, we need not compare a successful one-year administration with an 8-year or 16-years mediocrity of an administration. We need to rally round Governor Abdulrahman, we need to show him that we are solidly behind him and as long as he keeps governing the state for good, we will never cease to support him. We pray Allah (SWA) guide him right and see him through (till) the end of his administration. 

Aluko Ahmad is a Public Affairs Analyst from Ilorin (Kwara State) and is currently a Corp member at the FCT, Abuja. He can be reached via email: alukoahmada@gmail.com