Aspirants for the 2027 governorship seat in Kwara State have continued to increase as Dr Alabi Tajudeen, on Monday, formally announced his intention to contest the coveted position under the All Progressives Congress (APC).
This is as he pledged to steer the State towards inclusive growth and sustainable development, if given the mandate.
Addressing a multitude of APC leaders, traditional rulers, clergymen, youths and women on the occasion of his 63rd birthday anniversary, Dr Alabi unfolded a vision focused on stability, opportunity, and prosperity for all the people of the State.
He said, “I stand before you not merely to celebrate another year, but to embrace the responsibility of destiny. Kwara is blessed with fertile land, resilient people, and rich culture, but potential alone does not build prosperity. What transforms a state is responsible leadership.”
Dr Alabi detailed priorities for his administration, including modernising agriculture to create wealth, equipping schools for global competitiveness, ensuring proactive security, making healthcare affordable and accessible, and developing infrastructure to connect people to opportunities. He also highlighted tourism as an economic driver and urged youths to be innovators, not just voters.
“With humility, conviction, and an unwavering belief in the greatness of our people, I hereby formally declare my intention to contest for the office of Governor of Kwara State. This is not a personal ambition. It is a generational responsibility.
“Together, we will build a Greater Kwara—not through slogans, but through structure; not through division, but through inclusion; not through improvisation, but through policy,” Dr Alabi said, calling on all Kwarans to join him in shaping the state’s future.
The declaration was preceded by a policy dialogue organised by the Greater Kwara Foundation, gathering policymakers, technocrats, and community leaders at the State Banquet Hall, as Dr Alabi emphasised the need for governance that prioritises citizens’ welfare and continuity of good policies, warning against “seasonal prosperity” and calling for structured economic planning.
“Our duty is not just for the moment. It is to continually sustain and build on what has already been achieved. We must protect institutional memory and ensure continuity of good policies,” he said.
A development expert, Dr David Olayemi, urged Kwara State to learn from the strategic planning and industrialisation successes of Asian economies, highlighting the importance of investing in human capital.
“Our dreams today can become reality tomorrow if we are intentional about them,” he said, noting that sustained reforms in education, healthcare, infrastructure, and social investment could transform the state.
On his part, Dr Johnson Bamidele Adewumi, founder of Thomas Adewumi University, Oko, stressed that development must be inclusive and focused on citizens’ well-being.
“There is nothing better than building on legacy and ensuring that what we do today benefits the next generation. We must look at how we can sustain progress and solve the problems confronting our people,” he said.
Panel discussions at the event addressed security, education, healthcare, youth empowerment, economic inclusion, and agriculture, among others, with participants advocating intelligence-led policing, improved education standards, stronger primary healthcare, inclusive economic policies, and transforming agriculture into a value-driven sector.
Stakeholders concluded that actionable policies and continuity of good governance are key to positioning Kwara as a model of sustainable development in Nigeria.
