Kwara South Senate Seat: ‘Igbomina Lokan’ Campaign Earns ‘Royal Seals’, ‘Collective Support’ During Summit Held At Monarchs Hotel

As part of organized efforts to promote and achieve equitable treatment and opportunities for the three blocs in the Kwara South senatorial district, prominent indigenes of Igbomina and other non-Igbomina people, who are supporting the ‘Igbomina lokan’ campaign, attended an important summit held by Omo Ibile Igbomina at Monarchs Luxury Palace Hotel on Thursday.

The summit had as its theme ‘Igbomina Lokan For Kwara South Senate 2027’ and the gathering recorded assemblage of dignitaries including prominent traditional rulers, politicians, people who are politically neutral and other stakeholders in Kwara South.

 Alhaji Garba Olu Olaoye set the tone for the gathering in his opening prayer at exactly 12:02 pm by noting that the leaders and stakeholders have come together with the mission of ensuring a collective support for the Igbomina lokan campaign.

 In his welcome speech, National President of Egbe Omo Ibile Igbomina, Mr Gabriel Yemi Jimoh noted that the gathering had nothing to do with political parties but rather had allowing the Igbomina bloc to produce the next occupant of Kwara South parliament seat as its main agenda.

He commended people from Ibolo and Ekiti blocs who have chosen to support ‘fairness’ and ‘equity’ by championing Igbomina lokan campaign noting that this will help to strengthen unity and cohesion in the senatorial district..

He specially acknowledged the role of Iyaloja of Offa in this respect.

Also giving his speech, Chairman of the Council of Elders of Egbe Omo Ibile Igbomina, Chief Solo Olaoye , who noted that he has been attending meetings and events held by Egbe Omo Ibile Igbomina since 1954, submitted that the one held on Thursday is unique in every respect .

He said having Igbomina monarchs attending the event in large numbers did not only enliven the gathering but also made their subjects proud while adding that it was a good development that people from the Ibolo and Ekiti blocs have also joined in advocating for equity.

 The Ekiti bloc, he noted, had occupied the parliament seat for 12 years while the Ibolo bloc that took over in 2015, would be completing its 12 years in 2027, it was therefore in recognition of this fact that the Igbomina people launched the Igbomina lokan campaign to promote fairness and equity.

Chief Solo Olaoye however noted that getting the Igbomina lokan campaign to achieve its desired result will be dependent on unity and presentation of a common front.  

He lamented that disunity has posed a threat and hindered political achievements of Igbomina people while emphasizing the need for everyone to henceforth speak in one language and one voice. 

 Deputy Chief of Staff, Government House, Ilorin, Princess Olubukola Babalola commended the Egbe Omo Ibile Igbomina leaders for taking early action on the Igbomina lokan campaign while blaming opportunities lost in the past on disunity.

She noted that there is no better time than now to unite and demand for equity and fairness.

Submitting that ‘we must be politically savvy because political power leads to economic power’, Princess Olubukola Babalola also urged unity among the Kwara South senate aspirants while noting that anyone who gets party nomination must be supported by all .

 A former commissioner, Chief J.B Ayeni said he was one of the early supporters of the Igbomina lokan campaign hence the radio programme held by his group during which supporting details were presented to justify reasons for promoting the idea of having an Igbomina indigene as next occupant of the Kwara South parliament seat.

He noted that although it is the turn of Igbomina bloc being the largest of the 3 blocs and having not ‘tasted’ the parliament seat since 2004, there is however the need for unity among the Igbomina people in order to get this translated into reality.

Giving her speech, Coordinator, Kwara State Female Aspirants Group (KSFAG) , Hon Zainab Damilola Abbas, who noted that Offa people highly value and actively promote equity, fairness, and justice, added that the people have spoken with a collective voice that it is the turn of Igbomina bloc and everyone is ordinarily expected to support the Igbomina lokan campaign.

Former Commissioner for Sports, Barrister Kayode Towoju also said the Ekiti bloc are supporting the Igbomina lokan campaign because of their love and commitment to equity assuring that nobody from Oke-Ero local government will seek senate nomination while acknowledging the role played by late Chief J.S Olawoyin in advocating for fairness and equity as a member of the Northern House of assembly during the first republic.

A member of Kwara State House of Assembly, Hon AGF Salahudeen, in his speech, also emphasized the need for fairness and equity in Kwara South citing President Bola Tinubu’s famous ‘Emilokan’ quote which eventually translated into reality.

 He also noted that peace will reign when equity and truth are allowed to prevail.

Hon Rauf Bello aka Labe Labe ,who represented former senator Sulaiman Makanjuola Ajadi urged unity among the Kwara South senate aspirants while emphasizing that the main goal is to ensure that the Igbomina lokan campaign translates into reality.

 Former Speaker of Kwara State House of Assembly, Hon Babatunde Mohammed, who submitted that the issue at hand requires strategic planning and consultation, noted that in politics, 2+2 may be 0 or 10 and not necessarily 4.

Politicians, he added, are less than 10 percent of the voters noting that the people have a ‘big say’ in respect of who should be their leaders.

He also emphasized the need for a follow-up meeting with all the aspirants by the Igbomina traditional rulers in order to ensure unity and presentation of a common front.

Talking to Team@orientactualmags.com and other reporters after the end of the summit, Hon Zainab Damilola Abbas, also noted that she is optimistic about the Igbomina lokan campaign having a happy ending cognizant of the submissions made by attendees of the event while expressing the hope that there will consequently be ‘unity of thought and action’.

She noted that being a women’s rights advocate, she will always support fairness, equity and justice.

 Hon Zainab Damilola Abbas, who is the Area Development Officer of Offa local government, said all the women in Kwara South are ready to give total support for the Igbomina lokan campaign and will also support a candidate who will prioritize matters that have to do with women and protect their interests.

Olupo of Ajase-Ipo, who is also the Chairman of Igbomina monarchs, Oba Ismail Yahaya Alebiosu said the Igbomina lokan campaign is justifiable while urging unity among the Igbomina people and asking for support from the Ekiti and Ibolo blocs.

In an interview with Team@orientactualmags.com, former chairman of Oyun local government, Hon Adebayo Jimoh Alao, who represented Engineer Nurudeen Adeyemi Balogun, noted that the parliament seat is valuable hence the need to ensure that the opportunity is not wasted and that a good candidate is presented by the Igbomina bloc.

‘On behalf of Engineer Nurudeen Adeyemi Balogun, we thank the people from other blocs for supporting the Igbomina lokan campaign.

Engineer Nurudeen Adeyemi Balogun is unavoidably absent but he is here in spirit and we are all here to represent him.

Today’s gathering is unique and historic because we have now gotten to the stage that people from the two other blocs are saying it is the turn of Igbomina bloc. However, it is important that the Igbomina bloc makes good use of this opportunity by presenting a man of the people who is tested and trusted and we have seen all these qualities in Engineer Nurudeen Adeyemi Balogun, he is the best among all the aspirants, he is an erudite politician, an altruistic person who is loved by the people’ he said.

 Engineer Nurudeen Adeyemi Balogun is a member of the Board of Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).

The event was attended by all the first class traditional rulers in Igbomina land ; Olupo of Ajase-Ipo, His Royal Majesty, Oba Ismail Muhammed Atoloye Alebiosu, Olomu of Omu-Aran, Oba Abdulraheem Oladele Adeoti,  Olupako of Share, Oba Olawale Haruna Ilufemiloye , Elese of Igbaja, Oba Ahmed Babalola Awuni Arepo II and Olusin of Isanlu Isin, Oba Solomon Oluwagbemiga Oloyede.

Other traditional rulers at the event were more than thirty.

Other dignitaries at the event include Deputy Chief of Staff, Government House, Ilorin, Princess Olubukola Babalola,Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr Rafiu Ajakaye, a member of Kwara State House of Assembly, Hon AGF Salahudeen, former Speaker Babatunde Mohammed, Hon Kayode Towoju, Hon Adebayo Jimoh Alao, Hon Akanni Abdulrahman, Elder Oyin Zubair, Professor Ebenezer Ejalonibu Lawal, Federal University, Lokoja, Chief Abdulahi Folorunsho, Taiyese of Offa, Mr Ayoku Olawole, Chief Bisi Oloruntoba and Chief Gbenga Awoyale- Team@orientactualmags.com Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08035023079, 08059100286, 09094171980. Thank you