In Ilorin, Rt. Hon. Salihu-Yakubu Danladi, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the 2027 Kwara State governorship election, has pledged to consolidate the development achievements of incumbent Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq. Speaking during the "News Keg" interactive programme organized by the Kwara State Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Danladi argued that the state requires continuity and further progress rather than a return to what he described as its "ugly past."
Danladi, who currently serves as the Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, emphasized that his seven years in the legislature have prepared him for executive leadership. He stated that his role in legislative processes, particularly regarding appropriation and oversight, provided him with a comprehensive understanding of the state's governance challenges and the implementation of the current administration's policies.
“I am not new to what is happening in Kwara State today. I have spent seven years in the legislature. No other candidate had any experience in government. I know virtually every sector and the challenges confronting the state,” Danladi said.
The candidate, an electrical engineering graduate currently pursuing a PhD in economic development, detailed specific interventions made during his tenure representing the Ilesha/Gwanara Constituency. He highlighted the facilitation of approximately 210 boreholes, the construction and rehabilitation of rural roads, and improvements to 18 primary healthcare centres. Notably, he cited a 33-kilometre road project that reduced travel times in the area from several hours during the rainy season to about 30 minutes.
Addressing security concerns, particularly in Kwara North, Danladi said he facilitated the training of 300 local security personnel to enhance surveillance and intelligence gathering in vulnerable border settlements in Baruten Local Government Area. He stressed that security is fundamental to development and called for sustained collaboration among security agencies, traditional rulers, and community leaders. Additionally, he noted that partnerships with investors have helped establish alternative power arrangements, including solar-powered electricity, in some rural settlements.
Looking ahead to a potential 2027 administration, Danladi outlined priorities focused on human capital development, agriculture, electricity, and rural infrastructure. He argued that improved road networks connecting farming communities to urban markets would reduce transportation costs and lower food prices. He also pointed to the establishment of the Federal Science and Technical College in Kwara North as a key intervention for expanding educational opportunities.
Danladi dismissed calls to "rescue" Kwara State, arguing that the state should instead focus on building upon the foundation laid by Governor AbdulRazaq. He pledged balanced development across the three senatorial districts, assuring residents of Kwara North, Central, and South that none would be neglected, while expressing optimism about the economic potential of strategic investments in agriculture and rural infrastructure.
<small>Source: Vanguard News — read the original story there.</small>
