Leaders of thought from across the seven local government areas of Kwara South on Friday canvassed power shift to Kwara North Senatorial District in the 2027 general elections to ensure equity, fairness and justice.

Held on Friday at Ajase-Ipo, Irepodun Local Government, the Kwara South Summit organised by the Kwara South Equity Advocates, stakeholders said that since the return of democracy in 1999, Kwara North has not experienced equitable distribution of power and inclusiveness.

The summit had members of the state House of Assembly, council chairmen, the state APC Chairman, Prince Sunday Fagbemi; traditional rulers, and other leaders of thought in attendance.

Declaring the summit open, the Asiwaju of Oko-Irese, Dr Johnson Bamidele Adewumi, noted with delight the development drives of administration of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq in Kwara South and other parts of the state.

He mentioned Osi campus of Kwara State University, Osi-Obbo Aiyegunle road, Orisa bridge in Oro-Ago, Igbaja road among others, as some of the developmental projects of the administration in Kwara South, urging the people of Kwara South to continue to support the administration.

Represented by Prof Olusegun Elegbede, Dr Adewumi declared his support for any step or decision that would bring about equity, fairness and justice in the 2027 general elections.

The guest speaker from Political Science Department, Federal University, Lokoja, Prof Ebenezer Ejalonibu Lawal, said the issue of marginalization, discrimination and all other vices are symbolic of the monopoly of power by a single group in any given polity.

He added that the policy of the federal character principles of Nigerian government also serves as a lesson which must be imbibed across political strata especially as it relates to zoning of governorship seat in the 2027 general elections.

Prof Lawal said the excursion into Kwara State politics and governance in the state from 1999 to date has revealed the bare fact that the Kwara North Senatorial District has been shortchanged.

“With Kwara Central’s eight years of uninterrupted governance and eight years of Kwara South uninterrupted governance, the shift to Kwara North becomes an inevitability. Fortunately, every part of the state has men and women of unbridled potentialities and capacities to handle the affairs of the state”.

Another guest speaker, Prof Olufemi Owolabi, also identified with developmental drives of administration of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.

He said sustaining policies of continuity of good governance in Kwara State requires a collective effort from government institutions, civil society, private sector actors, and citizens.

“This is because governance is not a task that the government can undertake alone. It is a shared responsibility that thrives on partnerships, collaboration, and inclusivity.

“The challenges of modern governance, from infrastructural development to human capital investment, require resources, expertise, and perspectives that transcend the government’s capacity. Building on past successes and fostering active stakeholder engagement, the state can create an inclusive, transparent, and sustainable governance model.

“This collective approach will ensure that the state continues to soar in economic growth, social justice, and environmental sustainability. Together, we can align governance with the people’s aspirations, uphold transparency, and accountability, and innovate solutions for a brighter and more prosperous Kwara State”.said Prof Owolabi

The APC Chairman in Kwara State, Prince Sunday Fagbemi, for his part commended AbdulRazaq for promoting equity and fairness across the state, adding that any society where there is no equity and fairness, anarchy will set in.

According to Prince Sunday Fagbemi, the impact of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s administration is visible in all 193 wards of the state, with noticeable improvements in each area.

The party Chairman urged Kwara Southerners and people from other regions to support the governor’s choice of successor, ensuring continuity of the good work already began .

Prince Sunday Fagbemi encouraged Kwara Southerners to rediscover their lost unity and regain their former influence in the state, recalling that when Kwara was first created, Kwara Southerners held prominent government positions due to their unity of purpose.