From Taiye Joseph, Ilorin
In a landmark announcement on his 63rd birthday, Dr. Alabi Tajudeen, formally declared his intention to run for the governorship of Kwara State in the 2027 elections under the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Addressing a gathering of party leaders, traditional rulers, religious leaders, youth, women, and residents, who is a philanthropist, outlined a vision focused on stability, development, and inclusivity.
“I stand before you not merely to celebrate another year, but to embrace the responsibility of destiny,” Dr. Alabi said. “Kwara is blessed—with fertile land, resilient people, and rich culture—but potential alone does not build prosperity. What transforms a state is responsible leadership.”
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Highlighting his key priorities, Dr. Alabi pledged to modernize agriculture into a wealth-generating sector, upgrade schools to global standards, improve security, make healthcare accessible and affordable, and develop infrastructure to connect people with opportunities. He also stressed the untapped potential of tourism and urged youths to be innovators, not just voters.
“After extensive consultations, I hereby formally declare my intention to contest for the office of Governor of Kwara State. This is not a personal ambition. It is a generational responsibility. Together, we will build a Greater Kwara—not through slogans, but through structure; not through division, but through inclusion; not through improvisation, but through policy,” he added.
The declaration was followed by a policy dialogue organised by the Greater Kwara Foundation, where stakeholders called for continuity in governance and people-focused development. Dr. Alabi emphasised the importance of sustaining institutional memory and building on past achievements.
“Our duty is not just for the moment. It is to continually sustain and build on what has already been achieved. Prosperity must not be seasonal. It must be deliberately structured to improve the standard of living of our people,” he said.
Development experts at the forum also highlighted lessons from Asian economies. Dr. David Olayemi urged Kwara to adopt deliberate economic transformation strategies and invest in human capital, citing South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, and Hong Kong as examples.
“There is clear evidence that the state is laying a solid foundation. What is required now is continuity and scaling up these efforts to achieve sustainable prosperity,” Olayemi said.
Dr. Johnson Adewumi of Thomas Adewumi University, called for inclusive development anchored in citizen welfare, stressing that progress must benefit future generations.
The dialogue also addressed security, education, healthcare, youth empowerment, and agriculture, with participants advocating actionable policies to ensure Kwara becomes a model of sustainable development in Nigeria.
