By Wole Adedeji, Ilorin
The widely speculated political squabbles between Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and Senator Saliu Mustapha over their interests come 2027 elections has been dispelled.
The perceived bad blood been widely rumoured was to the effect that the interests of Governor AbdulRazaq after his second term in 2027 would be the Senator for Kwara Central which Senator Mustapha is presently representing in the National Assembly red chamber.
Also, Senator Mustapha is said to be warming up to become Governor after the incumbent AbdukmlRazaq in 2027 as against the governor’s alleged interest in the current Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Yakubu Danladi who is from Kwara North District.
However, speaking with the Nigerian Xpress on the matter, Barrister Kunle Suleiman, a top Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC and a known pillar of the governor said there was no dispute between the duo describing it as a mere rumour.
He said what the people didn’t know was that Mustapha does not have it in mind to contest governorship wondering where people got the idea from.
He disclosed that on December 25, 2024, Senator Mustapha told him that much that he was not running for governorship. His words; ” on 25th December, 2024, Senator Mustapha told me in his house that he is not struggling the steering (governance and leadership of the APC in the State) with the governor.
“He told me that he was only requesting me (Barrister Suleiman) to help plead with the governor to allow him take the second run for the Senate. So, it is clear
that there is no problem between them”.
The APC Chieftain however said with the leadership of the party lying on the laps of the governor, “Governor AbdulRazaq could smoothly pick the Kwara Central Senatorial ticket if he so wishes.
He added whatever, the what the ambition of the Governor AbdulRazaq is does not deprive Senator Saliu Mustapha positions in any form in the as a partyman in the APC pointing out that the Senator would gladly pick any appointment offered him.
According to him, such appointment could be Ministerial, Ambassadorial or in the Board and Parastatals vacancies.
He told the Nigerian Xpress that “Kwara APC had already zoned governorship slot to the Kwara North Senatorial District in the spirit of fairness adding that; “Kwara Central where the governor and Mustapha come from had done eight years, Kwara South also did eight years so, it is now the turn of Kwara North which we had all agreed on”.
“It is only appropriate that power rotates in the State. You can be anything in the party as long as you are a good and loyal partyman, the APC Chieftain stressed.
