2027: Politicians Urged to Stop Weaponising Poverty in Kwara

Politicians in Kwara State have been cautioned against exploiting poverty and diversity as tools for political mobilisation ahead of the 2027 general elections. The warning came on Tuesday during the official launch of the One Kwara Agenda (OKA), a civic advocacy and engagement platform committed to fostering unity, fairness, and merit-based leadership across the state. […]

Politicians in Kwara State have been cautioned against exploiting poverty and diversity as tools for political mobilisation ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The warning came on Tuesday during the official launch of the One Kwara Agenda (OKA), a civic advocacy and engagement platform committed to fostering unity, fairness, and merit-based leadership across the state.

The press conference, held at the NUJ Secretariat in Ilorin, attracted a diverse assembly of stakeholders, including professionals, traditional leaders, faith-based figures, students, and youth representatives.

Convener of the group, Dr. Femi A. Adetola, who is also the Aare Akinroogun of Obbo-Ile Kingdom, said the initiative was conceived as a timely response to the growing tide of divisive politics that has increasingly pitched communities, faiths, and regions against one another.

“Kwara cannot develop when it is at war with itself. A house divided cannot stand,” Adetola declared.

He called on “politicians to stop weaponising poverty and diversity”.

Campaigns, he noted, should be centred on ideas, policies, and competence at the appropriate time rather than fear or ancestry.

He said the state, which historically stood as a model of peaceful coexistence, has in recent decades witnessed widening cracks along ethnic, religious, and regional lines.

According to him, such divisions have slowed development, weakened institutions, and fostered a culture where merit is sidelined in favour of sectional or sentimental considerations.

He described the platform as a gathering for ordinary citizens, professionals, clerics, students, market women, elders, and youths who are united by a shared vision of a Kwara where leadership is accessible to all citizens, regardless of religion, ethnicity, or regional origin.

Adetola emphasised that the group is neither a political party nor aligned with any political faction, but a civic movement dedicated to protecting the state’s indivisibility.

The convener said a critical pillar of the agenda is nurturing a new generation of leaders through leadership boot camps, fellowships on governance ethics, and cross-cultural training programs,

Adetola however appealed to traditional rulers and religious leaders to actively promote cohesion, urging them to act as bridges rather than barriers. “Your voice carries weight. Speak boldly for unity, fairness, and meritocracy,” he told them.

He further tasked the media to exercise responsible reportage, shaping narratives that heal divisions rather than deepen them.

Daily Trust reports that the launch of OKA comes against a backdrop of heightened political awareness in Kwara, as citizens prepare for the 2027 elections.

Analysts note that the state’s diverse demography, historically a source of strength, has increasingly been exploited for political gains, often leaving capable leaders sidelined due to ethnic, regional, or religious considerations.

Addressing these challenges, OKA’s framework stresses that development, peace, and prosperity can only be achieved when the state rises above narrow identities.

Adetola warned that failure to address divisive politics would compromise not only governance but also the long-term unity of the state.

He called on the citizens to “Reject identity politics but demand competence, fairness, and unity.

“Engage, participate, and hold leaders accountable. The future of Kwara depends on the choices we make today. We are One Kwara, One People, One Future with Shared Destiny”, he added.