Revealed: How Justice Salami, BOB’s Selfish Ambition Cost Kwara South Governor’s Ticket
An investigative report from the Villa reveals that Kwara South lost the opportunity to produce the next Governor of Kwara State because of the selfish ambition of some stakeholders within the Kwara All Progressives Congress (APC)
The State Governor, Mallam Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq, CON, was reportedly advised to present two sellable aspirants from Kwara South who could win the general election for the ruling party in Kwara State.
The investigative report revealed that Justice Isa Ayo Salami, a long-time ally of the President, led the Afenifere group in promoting Bashiru Omolaja Bolarinwa (BOB), former Kwara APC State Chairman, to the President.
However, the State Governor was said to have declined the proposal, citing BOB’s alleged unpopularity across the senatorial district and his inability to manage relationships among party faithful.
At the height of the conversation with His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, the group was reportedly given the opportunity to present another viable and sellable candidate from Kwara South.
However, Justice Ayo Salami and BOB allegedly insisted that if BOB was not considered, no one from Kwara South should be considered.
This was described as a deliberate effort to sabotage the region’s opportunity to produce the next Governor, despite the presence of accomplished professionals, technocrats, successful businessmen, and professors among the co-gubernatorial aspirants within the Kwara APC.
Consequently, the State Governor was reportedly given free rein to choose his successor from Kwara North in the interest of equity and fairness, a position said to have always been his preference, while party members and aspirants were directed to respect the party’s decision.
The emergence of the current Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Salihu Yakubu Danladi, who is alleged to be the Governor’s anointed candidate, was said to corroborate this investigative report.
Kwara South politics has been described as being characterised by betrayal, divide-and-rule tactics, and selfish interests, all of which have continued to deny the region development and leadership opportunities.
