KWARA VOICE

•Esinrogunjo Blasts G15 Alliance with PDP, Says ‘Anti-Godfather’ Campaign Makes No Sense•

A chieftain of the Accord Party, Abdulganiy Olamilekan Esinrogunjo, has criticised the emerging alliance between the G15 bloc and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), describing it as a contradiction of the political philosophy that produced the 2019 Otoge movement.

Esinrogunjo’s criticism comes as the G15, comprising aggrieved APC politicians, moves closer to the PDP and former Senate President Bukola Saraki ahead of the 2027 elections.

Senator Saliu Mustapha has also defected from APC to PDP and emerged as the PDP candidate for Kwara Central, while Saraki has publicly urged the opposition party to unite against APC.

In a satirical intervention titled “A Child Tries to Understand the G15 Logic,” Esinrogunjo questioned how politicians claiming to be fighting against the emergence of a new political godfather could simultaneously align themselves with the political establishment that Otoge defeated in 2019.

He said the contradiction was simple, “You are bringing back the old godfather to stop the new godfather. Oya, make it make sense.”

According to him, the G15's argument that it left APC to prevent Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq from becoming a godfather becomes difficult to reconcile with its decision to work with the political structure associated with the pre-Otoge era.

The Accord chieftain also questioned the claim that AbdulRazaq alone was responsible for the political setbacks suffered by members of the G15, particularly those who initially pursued the 2027 governorship before seeking alternative political positions.

He further challenged the argument that the Governor should be blamed for Senate contests shaped by competing political and regional interests.

Esinrogunjo's satire ultimately asks whether the G15 is genuinely opposed to godfatherism or merely opposed to a political leader who refuses to impose their preferred candidates.

“If you are bringing back the old godfather who imposed you, to stop the new godfather who refused to impose you, are you really fighting godfatherism or are you simply looking for a godfather who will do what you want?” he asked.

The intervention comes against the backdrop of an increasingly open alliance between the G15 and PDP.

Recent reports indicate that PDP has authorised Saraki to engage the aggrieved APC politicians, while Saraki has now publicly welcomed Mustapha and other defectors into the opposition party.

Esinrogunjo argued that the development presents voters with a choice beyond the confrontation between the AbdulRazaq camp and the G15-PDP alliance.

He said Accord Party would seek to occupy the political space created by voters who are unwilling to return to the old political order but are equally unconvinced by the emerging struggle within the former Otoge coalition.

“Kwara does not need the old godfather or a new godfather,” Esinrogunjo said. “Kwara needs a new political choice.”

He expressed confidence that Accord would challenge both established political camps in Kwara Central as the 2027 campaign gathers momentum.

“₦605 per litre is our starting sustainable price for petrol. Nobody will buy petrol above ₦610 under our government."
~Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim

Attack Against Rukayat Sh*ttu Turns Into Celebration of Her Success

_Lawmaker’s post on AbdulRazaq’s senatorial bid triggers wave of solidarity_

An attempt by opposition leaning social media commentators to attack Hon. Rukayat Sh*ttu has reportedly backfired, as a wave of public endorsements and testimonials has transformed the controversy into a broader celebration of the lawmaker’s record.

The controversy began after Sh*ttu made a social media post expressing confidence in Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s prospects in the Kwara Central senatorial contest, following Senator Saliu Mustapha’s defection from the APC to the PDP and his emergence as the opposition party’s candidate.

The post subsequently attracted a stream of critical comments from individuals described by Sh*ttu’s supporters as opposition aligned social media actors.

Rather than silencing the lawmaker, however, the criticism triggered an immediate counter reaction.

Supporters, constituents and other members of the public began responding with testimonials about Sh*ttu’s legislative activities, constituency interventions and accessibility.

What initially appeared to be an attempt to overwhelm the lawmaker’s post with negative comments quickly became an opportunity for her supporters to highlight what they described as her achievements in office.

Commenters cited her legislative initiatives, community interventions, youth and women empowerment programmes, education support, water projects and renewable energy interventions.

One supporter, Abdullateef Olalekan Sikiru, described Sh*ttu as “one of the best things” to have happened to Owode/Onire Constituency, Asa Local Government and Kwara State.

“We will not trade our gold for iron,” he declared, describing the lawmaker as a “shining star” whose record, courage and commitment to her constituents would continue to speak for her.

Another supporter, Muhammad Rabiu, urged critics to acknowledge areas where Sh*ttu had performed while also identifying areas requiring improvement.

He argued that no representative could satisfy every demand and that constructive criticism was preferable to outright condemnation.

The renewed engagement gradually shifted the conversation away from AbdulRazaq’s senatorial contest and towards Sh*ttu’s own performance.

Supporters began citing legislative initiatives associated with her tenure, including the Kwara State Electric Power Sector Bill, 2025, Unexplained Wealth Bill, 2025, and Religious Preaching and Religious Entrepreneurship Regulation Bill, 2025.

They also referenced motions and matters of public importance concerning issues such as ritual killings, illicit drug abuse and emergency medical response.

At the constituency level, supporters highlighted interventions involving solar-powered streetlights, borehole rehabilitation, educational support, youth empowerment, women and girl child programmes, as well as assistance to traders, artisans and farmers.

The response consequently evolved into a broader defence of Sh*ttu’s political standing.

By the time the exchange gathered momentum, her supporters had filled the conversation with endorsements and testimonials, with some describing the development as an unintended publicity boost for the lawmaker.

Supporters argued that the episode demonstrated the difference between social media activity and electoral strength, stressing that Sh*ttu’s political future would ultimately be determined by voters.

“The people who gave her the mandate are watching, and when the time comes, they will have the final say,” one supporter said.

The development has since become another talking point ahead of the next election, with supporters increasingly promoting the message, “One good term deserves another.”

For Sh*ttu’s supporters, what began as an attempt to attack the lawmaker has therefore evolved into something entirely different, a public conversation about her performance, political relevance and prospects for continuity.

The attack generated the noise. Her supporters supplied the testimony. Her record became the story.

•Contending forces within government•
By Abdulrazaq Hamzat

No government is short of progressive and regressive forces within its folds. It doesn’t matter if it is in Nigeria or America.

The fact is that, no matter how progressive a government claimes to be, there are always regressive forces within it and no matter how regressive we think it is, there are always progressives within it and each of these forces would be struggling to drag government towards their direction.

The question would therefore be that, which of these forces is making headway in its strive at driving government towards its direction?

By progressive, I do not mean a formal group which calls itself progressive by name, neither do I mean regressive as a formal caucus which calls itself that name.

Progressive and Regressive forces here would be identified by the issues they are pushing within the government, either rational or emotional (factual or deduction), the direction they seek to convince government to take (conservative or liberal), the agenda they seek to prefer (status quo or reforms) and most importantly, the tactics they adopt in pushing these agenda (lobby or blackmail).

Although, there is another third force in government, which I would simply describe as anywhere belle face, because they are usually on the fringe and not decided. They are always waiting to see where the pendulum swings before following the trend.

But, substantially, civil service and sometimes, media and civil society are mostly the pawn in the chess game of political governance and they amplify the voices of either of the contending forces, knowingly or unknowingly.

To say it differently, civil servants, media and civil society will largely determine which of the contending forces will succeed in making significant headway in its quest to drag government to its direction.

While civil servants have cultivated a reputation for resisting reforms that would affect their personal comfort, no matter how progressive, the bias of media and civil society on the other hand often tilt towards controversial contents that would attract readership or gain visibility for prominence and either of the contending forces that can aid the process of creating such content would naturally get media goodwill.

When you read media reports quoting unknown sources within government or referring to certain secret documents, you should know that a contending force within government is trying to influence certain decisions in its favor or shift public attention towards something that would advance its position.

What they release sometimes maybe correct, probably distorted or out rightly fabricated, but irrespective of what it is, the aim is to use the public reaction generated as a leverage to advance certain interest within government.

As citizens, our duty therefore is to pay attention to these issues and determine for ourselves, if we want to be the tool or loud speakers of either progressive or regressive forces, or better still, join the forces of the anywhere belle face.

As I have earlier noted, in every ruling government, 3 categories of people are always trying to pull government to its direction.

These 3 forces include, the regressive, the progressive and the anywhere belle face.

The first and fiercest of all three (3) are the regressive forces, which are often very powerful, strategic and desperate.

Their tactics are often very subtle, deliberate, but brutal, because they often utilize high level instrument of blackmail to neutralize any perceived opposing voices of reason close to the decision maker.

These groups may be the first to call for change in unfavorable government, but when the change arrives, they are the first to resist it, if its reforms and policies are seen to be capable of threatening their political hold and personal leverage.

In reality, they want to influence government to their advantage and if they could not, they will blackmail it to secure some concessions, but if that didn’t work, then they want to de-market and change it.

However, the change they seek is not one that would be fundamentally different, but that which will still retain the status quo and old ways of doing things.

They will maintain that, this is how it is done or this is how we used to do it as if they have made anything worked before, arguing that doing it differently will make the people unhappy.

To them, every policy must be viewed from the prism of electorate, not people.

However, what they will forget to tell you is that, doing it their way has never made life any better; neither does it holds any prospect of making it better.

Because this group will claim to be fighting for people’s interest, considerable percentage of the populace will queue behind them, bullying, threatening and attempting to forcefully suppress other more reasonable voices.

The progressive forces on the other hand are often not so conscious of political intrigues.

They are often relatively individualistic, strongly willed and principled and most importantly, have penchant for pushing difficult reforms with possibility of high long term impact.

To be a progressive force within a government is to risk losing goodwill and being at the receiving end of constant blackmail, not only from the opposition to government, but by the regressive forces within government.

Every leader understands that reforms are often very difficult, because they affect people’s way of life and seek to take them away from their comfort zone.

But still, reforms are inevitable, if we have to move the society forward.

Upon assuming the position of authority, a leader will therefore be torn between associates, who will encourage him to take the important, but difficult direction, and those who will convince him to sustain the status quo and continue on the path of cosmetic improvements.

The point to note here is that, nobody is an island and as human being, no matter the good intention, capacity for transformation and preparedness of a leader, he or she will at one time or the other, listens to the voices of people around him and the more progressive voices he hears, the greater the tendency of his government tilting towards progressive direction, and the more the regressive voices, the greater the chance of the government moving towards regressive direction.

Ofcourse, there are leaders who will take their own direction irrespective of what their associates are saying, but in reality, how many issues can the leader individually handle?

Therefore, people who understand this reality and want the society to progress, through the delivery of good governance, will develop thick skin to blackmail, device strategic means to limit its effect and make it impossible for regressive forces to dominate and determine the direction of government.

Abdulrazaq Hamzat is a Peacebuilding Professional and can be reached at [email protected]

Owode/Onire Deserves a Conversation Based on Records, Not Baseless Comparisons

Recently, there has been growing discussion about the performance of Hon. Rukayat Sh*ttu, the representative of Owode/Onire Constituency in the Kwara State House of Assembly.

Some have praised her performance. Some few have attempted to dismiss her achievements. But the most important question should not be: Who can shout the loudest?

The real question is:
How has representation in Owode/Onire improved?

Leadership should not be measured by political arguments, propaganda, social media noise, or personal sentiments. It should be measured by records, results, and the extent to which the lives of the people have improved.

That is the standard by which Hon. Rukayat Sh*ttu should be judged—and the standard by which every previous representative of Owode/Onire should also be judged.

Representation Must Be Measured by Impact
A representative has three major responsibilities: to make laws, to speak for the people, and to attract or facilitate development and opportunities for the constituency.

Therefore, any serious comparison between Hon. Rukayat Sh*ttu and her predecessors must ask:
- What laws did they sponsor?
- What motions did they move?
- What constituency problems did they bring to the attention of government?
- What communities benefited from their interventions?
- How many people received empowerment and economic opportunities?
- What did they do to improve education?
- What did they do about water supply?
- What did they do about rural electricity and infrastructure?

These are the questions that should guide the discussion,not baseless talks.

A Record of Legislative Initiative
Hon. Rukayat Sh*ttu has demonstrated that representation is not only about attending plenary sessions. It is also about bringing ideas and solutions into the legislative process.

Her legislative initiatives includes:

1. Kwara State Electric Power Sector Bill, 2025
This bill seeks to modernise Kwara's electricity framework, including replacing outdated electricity laws and creating a framework that can support improved energy access, investment and development in the state's power sector.

2. Unexplained Wealth Bill, 2025
This proposed legislation is aimed at strengthening accountability and addressing illicit enrichment by requiring people with suspicious wealth beyond their known legitimate income to account for its source.

3. Religious Preaching and Religious Entrepreneurship Regulation Bill, 2025
The proposed bill seeks to address concerns relating to exploitation, incitement, manipulation and certain financial activities conducted under the guise of religion.

Beyond sponsoring bills, Hon. Rukayat Sh*ttu has also sponsored important motions relating to public safety and social responsibility, including the need for stronger responses to ritual killings, the regulation and censorship of content promoting the use of illicit substances, and the need for partnerships with hospitals to respond to medical emergencies in hotels.

This demonstrates a representative who is not waiting for problems to disappear on their own, but is using the instruments of legislation and parliamentary motions to address them.

Bringing Development Closer to Rural Communities
The constituency record also deserves attention.

Owode/Onire is a large constituency with many rural and underserved communities. For years, one of the greatest challenges facing many communities has been the lack of basic infrastructure.

Hon. Rukayat Sh*ttu's account of her stewardship, her interventions have included:

- the installation of over 200 off-grid solar-powered streetlights;
- intervention in and repair of more than 20 boreholes;
- renovation and furnishing of a school within the constituency;
- empowerment and support for more than 250 young people through vocational training, tools and starter kits;
- support for traders, artisans and farmers;
- continued advocacy for rural development and inclusion.

The significance of these interventions is not merely in the numbers.
A streetlight in a rural community can improve safety and economic activity.
A repaired borehole can save families from travelling long distances in search of water.
A renovated classroom can create a better environment for learning.
A vocational tool can help a young person become self-employed.

These are the practical ways representation should be evaluated: by the difference made in people's daily lives.

The Right Comparison Is: How Far Have We Moved Forward?

Nobody is saying that previous representatives did nothing.
Every representative should receive credit for whatever contributions they made to the development of Owode/Onire.

But politics must allow room for progress.
The relevant question is not whether previous representatives were good or bad people. The relevant question is:

Has representation improved?

Has the constituency become more visible in the State Assembly?

Are more rural communities receiving attention?

Are more young people being empowered?

Are more legislative ideas coming from the representative?

Are constituency needs being raised more strongly at the state level?

Are more communities feeling the presence of representation?

These are the questions that should form the basis of comparison.

And based on the record of legislative initiatives, rural interventions, empowerment programmes, water projects, educational intervention and energy advocacy, it is reasonable to argue that Hon. Rukayat Sh*ttu has raised the standard and visibility of representation in Owode/Onire.

Let the Records Speak
The people of Owode/Onire do not need to engage in unnecessary arguments.
They should ask for records.

If someone claims that a former representative performed better, let the person present the records.

How many bills did the representative sponsor?

What motions did they move?

How many communities benefited from their interventions?

How many boreholes were facilitated or rehabilitated?

How many schools were renovated?

How many young people were empowered?

What concrete programmes reached farmers, artisans and traders?

These are not questions of hatred or political rivalry.

They are questions of accountability.

And the same questions should be asked of Hon. Rukayat Sh*ttu herself.

That is how democracy should work.

No leader should be praised without evidence, and no leader should be condemned without evidence.

A New Benchmark for Representation
Hon. Rukayat Sh*ttu should not be judged because of her age, gender or popularity.
She should be judged by her work.

And so far, her record has shown a combination of:

- legislative initiative;
- constituency engagement;
- rural development advocacy;
- solar streetlight interventions;
- water interventions;
- educational support;
- youth empowerment;
- support for small-scale economic activities;
- public-safety advocacy; and
- efforts to ensure that communities that are often ignored are included in the development process.

Owode/Onire deserves representation that can be seen, felt and measured.

The conversation should therefore move away from baseless talks and empty political comparisons.

Let every representative be judged by the work done during his or her time in office.

Let us compare records.

Let us compare legislative initiatives.

Let us compare community interventions.

Let us compare the number of people reached.

Let us compare the impact.

Because in the end, politics will always have different opinions,but the records speak for themselves.

And when representation is measured by legislative initiatives and visible constituency interventions, Hon. Rukayat Sh*ttu has clearly established herself as a representative whose performance has raised the standard of representation for Owode/Onire Constituency.

That's why the good people of Owode/Onire are saying come 2027 its

END DYNASTIES, END GODFATHERISM: KWARA DESERVES NEW LEADERSHIP.

_No godfatherism. No political hijack. Let the people's choice work for the people….

By
Abdulganiy Olamilekan Esinrogunjo

Kwara State has come of age. For too long, our political conversation has revolved around familiar names, political structures, personalities, and inherited influence. But Kwara is bigger than any individual, family, or political dynasty. We are a state of talented people, ambitious young minds, hardworking communities, entrepreneurs, professionals, farmers, educators, and innovators. It is time to move our political conversation from personalities to policies, from political entitlement to service, and from promises to measurable performance.

Besides, Kwara of today is not the Kwara of twenty years ago. Across Ilorin, Yashikira, Kaiama, Omu-Aran, Offa, Lafiagi, Edu and every corner of the state, young Kwarans are creating businesses, building careers, embracing technology, farming, acquiring skills, and contributing to society. They are more informed, more connected, and increasingly interested in the quality of leadership that will determine their future. Our politics must therefore evolve with our people. We need leadership that is energetic, innovative, inclusive, accountable, and prepared to compete for opportunities for Kwara.

Democracy should be about giving citizens the freedom to choose their leaders based on competence, character, ideas, and capacity—not simply on political connections. When political influence becomes concentrated within a small circle, the space for fresh ideas and new leadership becomes unnecessarily narrow. Political rotation should not be viewed as an attack on anyone. It should be understood as an opportunity to broaden participation and allow other capable Kwarans to contribute their talents to the development of our state.

This is not about disrespecting the contributions of those who have served Kwara. Leaders such as Dr. Bukola Saraki and Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq have played significant roles in the political history of the state. Their contributions can be acknowledged while still recognizing that Kwara's future should not be permanently defined by a handful of political names. Every generation has a responsibility to ask whether the leadership model of yesterday is sufficient for the challenges of tomorrow.

The question before Kwarans, therefore, should not simply be “Who has been there before?” It should be “Who has the capacity to take us where we need to go?”

Apparently, our state needs leadership that understands the realities of ordinary people. We need leaders who understand business and job creation, who appreciate the importance of quality education, who understand the urgency of healthcare, who recognize the potential of agriculture, and who are prepared to confront the security challenges facing our communities. Most importantly, we need leaders who are willing to listen before making decisions on behalf of the people.

This is where Hon. Adamu Usman S-Fawa, the Governorship Candidate of the Accord Party in Kwara State, presents himself as a credible alternative.

An accountant by profession, businessman, trader, community leader, and former Member of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Hon. Adamu Usman brings experience from both the private and public sectors. His academic background in Banking and Finance, Financial Management, and Public Administration further reflects a combination of financial knowledge and understanding of public policy and administration.

His aspiration is built around the belief that governance should work for the people. Kwara does not need leadership that sees political office merely as a position of prestige. It needs leadership that sees public office as a responsibility—a responsibility to create opportunities, strengthen institutions, improve infrastructure, empower young people, support businesses and agriculture, and ensure that government remains connected to the people.

The time has come to stop treating political names as permanent ownership of the future. No individual owns Kwara. No political family owns the aspirations of its people. The state belongs to all Kwarans, and every qualified citizen should have the opportunity to offer himself or herself for service.

We must therefore begin to ask more difficult but necessary questions. What are the practical plans for youth employment? How can agriculture become a stronger source of wealth? How do we attract investment into Kwara? How can our educational institutions produce young people equipped for the modern economy? How do we improve healthcare and strengthen security across our communities? And perhaps most importantly, how do we build a government that listens to its citizens?

These are the conversations that should define the next political chapter of Kwara.

Kwarans deserve debates, not drama. They deserve policies, not empty slogans. They deserve accountability, not unquestioned loyalty. They deserve leaders who can explain not only what they intend to do, but how they intend to do it.

The emergence of Accord provides an opportunity to widen the political space and present a credible alternative. It gives Kwarans the opportunity to look beyond established political structures and evaluate a different leadership proposition.

The choice before us should not be about hatred for the past. It should be about hope for the future.

Kwara can do better. Kwara can become more economically productive, more secure, more inclusive, and more prosperous. But achieving that future requires the courage to think differently and the willingness to give capable people the opportunity to serve.

Hon. Adamu Usman S-Fawa represents that call for a new direction—leadership rooted in experience, community, competence, and service.

The time has come to choose competence over familiarity, ideas over slogans, performance over political entitlement, and service over godfatherism.

Beyond every dynasty, Kwara belongs to its people.

And when democracy is truly allowed to work, the people—not political godfathers—should determine who leads them.

Let the people's choice work for the people.

Abdulganiy Olamilekan Esinrogunjo is the Accord Publicity Secretary, Kwara State.

Beyond the Noise: Let Hon. Rukayat Sh*ttu’s Records Speak

As a concerned citizen of Owode/Onire Constituency, I believe it is important to respond to some of the criticisms directed at our representative, Hon. Rukayat Motunrayo Sh*ttu, Member Representing Owode/Onire Constituency in the Kwara State House of Assembly.

Criticism is an essential part of democracy, and every elected representative should be held accountable. However, criticism should be based on facts and a fair assessment of performance. Before anyone concludes that nothing has been done, it is necessary to look at the records of the last three years.

Legislative Achievements:

Hon. Rukayat Motunrayo Sh*ttu sponsored the Kwara State Electric Power Sector Bill, 2025;

Unexplained Wealth Bill, 2025;

Religious Preaching & Religious Entrepreneurship Regulation Bill, 2025.

She has also contributed to over 30 motions and matters of public importance on the floor of the House. Among the issues she sponsored motions on are stronger punishment for ritual killings, regulation of harmful media content promoting illicit drug abuse, and partnerships between hospitals and hotels for medical emergency response.

Water Projects and Restoration:

Several communities have benefited from the construction of motorised boreholes. These include:

Baba Kudu Village in Gambari/Ayekale Ward;

Aluseke Village in Agbonna/Elebue/Fata Ward;

Omidoyin Community in Otteh/Ballah Ward;

Onikoyi Village in Otteh/Ballah Ward;

Eleke Village in Alapa/Onire/Odegiwa Ward;

Afo/Oja in Awe/Orimaro/Adigbongbo Ward;

Manyan Village in Alapa/Onire/Odegiwa Ward; and Owode/Gbogun.

Borehole repairs and water restoration have also been carried out in Adeleji Village, Bakase Village, Eleke Community and Alapa Community, while a water tank was purchased for Giwa Olowo Village. More than 20 boreholes across rural communities have also reportedly been rehabilitated.

Road and Infrastructure Development:

Interlocking paving stones have been facilitated in:

Daudu Alapa Palace, Alangua Agbona Palace , Alangua Efue Palace, and Alangua Dongari Palace providing improved access and infrastructure for residents of these communities.

Renewable Energy and Electrification:

More than 200 solar-powered streetlights have been installed and distributed across communities in Owode/Onire Constituency.

The first phase involved 90 solar streetlights distributed across the nine wards,

The second phase involved 70 solar streetlights across the nine wards.

These interventions have also helped communities without adequate access to electricity.

Education and Youth Development:

Manyan LGEA Primary School received total renovation and furnishing.

School bags, sandals, writing materials and other educational materials have also been distributed across the nine wards.

Through the Education Support Initiative, Mathematics textbooks, English textbooks and reading materials have been distributed to primary and secondary schools.

Students have also been sponsored for the Nigeria Mathematics and Science Olympiads and academic competitions organised by the National Association of Political Science Students of Nigeria.

Summer lesson programmes have equally been organised for students during long vacation periods to support academic excellence and continuous learning.

Women and Girl-Child Support:

Menstrual hygiene mentorship programmes have been organised for schoolgirls, with sanitary pads distributed across secondary schools in the constituency. These initiatives promote girl-child health, dignity and continued education.

Empowerment and Economic Support:

Under Empowerment Programme 1.0, more than 200 beneficiaries received support in the form of sewing machines, grinding machines, dryers, agricultural support materials, wheelchairs and cash assistance.

Under Empowerment Programme 2.0, known as “Owo Idokowo,” a ₦30 million cash empowerment programme supported 250 beneficiaries.

SME and Rural Support:

Petty traders and small-scale business owners have received cash support. Artisans and farmers have also benefited from different forms of assistance, while economic relief interventions were provided following the removal of fuel subsidy.

Financial Inclusion:

Through a partnership with UBA, efforts have been made to improve financial access in rural communities. Constituents have been assisted with bank account opening and access to digital and government financial opportunities, bringing thousands of rural dwellers closer to formal financial services.

Community Engagement:

Representation is not only about projects. It is also about being available to the people. Hon. Sh*ttu has maintained regular constituency meetings and consultations, bi-weekly stakeholder and feedback engagements, and continuous grassroots interaction across communities.

These achievements do not mean that everything has been solved or that the representative cannot do more. There are still challenges across Owode/Onire Constituency, and constituents have every right to demand more development, better services and stronger representation.

However, it is unfair to present the situation as if nothing has been done.

Those who criticise Hon. Rukayat Motunrayo Sh*ttu should therefore criticise constructively, identify areas where she needs to improve, and also acknowledge the things that have been achieved.

Politics should not make us blind to development. If there are shortcomings, let us point them out. If there are areas that require improvement, let us demand action. But where there are visible interventions and documented achievements, let us also give credit where credit is due.

As concerned citizens of Owode/Onire Constituency, our loyalty should first be to the development and progress of our communities. We should judge our representatives by their records, their accessibility, their legislative contributions and the impact of their interventions on the people.

The question is not whether more can be done. Certainly, more can be done. The question is whether nothing has been done. The records clearly suggest otherwise.

Let us criticise responsibly. Let us acknowledge achievements honestly. And above all, let us put the interest of Owode/Onire Constituency above partisan politics.

Let the records speak. Let the people judge.

Comrade Uthman Abdulquadir Alapansanp writes from Alapa/Onire/Ode-Giwa Ward.