December 22nd, 2024
The Kwara South Youth Coremate has rejected the proposed “Kwara South for Kwara North 2027 Agenda” summit, describing it as a divisive and self-serving initiative aimed at advancing the interests of a select few.
In a strongly worded statement issued by the group’s Chairman, Mr. Olusegun Isaac, the youth body claimed the summit was orchestrated by the Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Saliu Danladi, alongside certain assembly members. According to the group, the theme of the summit is misleading and does not represent the collective interests of Kwara South.
The group highlighted that prominent stakeholders, including Sen. Oyelola Issa Ashiru, Attorney General of the Federation Hon. Abdulateef Fagbemi, Hon AbdulRaheem Ajuloopin, Hon Ismail Tijani, State APC Chairman, Prince Sunday Fagbemi, Senatorial Chairman, Alh Tajudeen Olabanji, and elder statesman Alhaji Lai Mohammed, were neither consulted nor involved in the planning of the summit. They noted that several key figures, including Prof. Olusegun and Engr. Dr. Chief Johnson Adewumi the proposed Chairman of the occasion, have publicly distanced themselves from the summit, citing a lack of consultation.
According to the youth body, the summit was designed to use the Kwara South platform for personal political gains, rather than addressing developmental challenges in the region. They warned that the summit could deepen existing political and social divides in Kwara South, further weakening the region’s unity. The agenda being pushed, they argued, does not align with the aspirations of the people of Kwara South and risks alienating the region from broader state development efforts.
The group insisted that all major decisions regarding the region’s future should involve widespread consultations with stakeholders. They also questioned the timing of the summit, suspecting it to be a tactical move ahead of the 2027 elections to sway public opinion.
The Kwara South Youth Coremate has unequivocally rejected the summit, calling for its immediate cancellation. “This gathering has no legitimacy, as it neither represents the collective interests of Kwara South nor serves the unity of the state. It is a political ploy that we categorically reject,” Mr. Isaac stated.
The group emphasized that meaningful engagements for the region’s progress must involve transparent, inclusive, and consensus-driven processes, warning against any attempt to undermine the collective aspirations of Kwara South.