Kwara 2027: Only Politicians Who Consider Common Good As ‘Incidental Byproduct’ Will Promote Violence-Former Environment Minister

Ahead of the 2027 general election in Kwara State, former Minister for Environment and Housing, Architect Tayo Halimah Alao, has submitted that it will be considered inconceivable that any politician in the state will entertain the idea of introducing violence or treating matters that have to do with the upcoming elections as do-or-die affair cognizant that common good ought to be the primary goal of everyone.

She also noted that if common good is considered as the primary goal rather than being an incidental byproduct, no politician will treat political contests as matters of life and death where winning is considered the only acceptable outcome and losing is seen as total ruin.

 The former minister, who said this in an interview with Team@orientactualmags.com during the 2026 annual dinner held by The Ilorin Likeminds Foundation at the Innovation Hub, Ilorin , Kwara State on Friday, also emphasized the need to ensure peaceful elections and strengthen public trust in democratic institutions.

‘You see, the important thing is that everybody and even the people who are occupying positions , everybody wants to do well and we all have a common goal and the common goal is to do your best for your people. The goal is to bring your people out of poverty, bring them out of the impoverished environment and you want them to do well, so, the wellbeing of our people is paramount.  That is what every single office holder wants and that is the goal and that ought to be the goal. We should focus on our people, we should focus on what will make the lives of our people better and how we can improve the living standard of our people. And if we have that as the main goal, we are all leaders whichever party we belong to we must prioritize common good’ she submitted.

Architect Tayo Alao also noted that only those who do not prioritize common good will treat matters that have to do with elections as do-or-die affair.

‘Of course there’s no need for violence. If your reason is to serve the people and improve their lives, why will you be violent about it? If you want to provide services, violence should be the last thing that you think about. And I hope that peaceful coexistence will continue to be promoted by all the stakeholders’ she added.

Commenting on the renewed efforts to improve participation of women in leadership positions, the former Environment minister called it a welcome development.

 ‘Women gender and our percentage in leadership positions has been a long standing issue. I remember that while serving as Executive Secretary of the Kwara State Commission for Women, it was one of the issues, it was a front burner issue. The bedrock of society, the bedrock of any society is a woman. So, the more of us you have in decision making and leadership positions the better the standard of living’ she said.

Commending the Ilorin Likeminds Foundation for organizing the event to ensure that the rich traditions, arts and culture of Ilorin people are preserved and celebrated, Architect Tayo Alao also submitted that culture is a foundational driver of societal cohesion.

‘Most people are determined by their culture, their behaviour, their behavioural patterns, the way they live their lives and how they perceive living itself.

Culture means a lot to us and one of the very paramount and important things was what happened yesterday at the Durbar festival. It’s a reflection of the people of Ilorin. A very peaceful event, in Ilorin, we have come together joined by tradition, joined by religion, to form our own very unique culture. 

In recent times, quite a number of our people have come together to form cultural groups that champion education, charity, and all of that. It has helped to form a very strong bond between them just like we have tonight, apart from being brothers, you look at them as if they are even blood related because they are committed to what they are doing. The solidarity is very powerful. This is very important and it is very necessary’ she submitted-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 or get in touch via orientactualmag@gmail.com.  Thank you