Kwara State is an exciting phenomenon.

By

Cornelius Adebayo

It is different from what the original designers conceived - in every conceivable way - name, shape and size, expectations and aspirations.

It is in some ways, an epitome of the uncertainties that have characterized the Nigerian polity.

Just over ten years ago, on July 26, 1991 I was asked to speak on the occasion of "Kwara Day" of the Federation of Kwara Students, University of Ilorin. My topic then was, "The Place of Kwara State in the Future of Nigeria". The choice of that topic was an indication of my worries and concerns at that time, about the future of the state. I decided to start with a political description of Kwara.

"Kwara is a substantial part of what was baptized West Central State when the first set of six states were created out of the Northern Region. The North was one of the three regions plus one state (the Mid-West State which was created out of the Western Region) which made up the Federal Republic of Nigeria, inherited by the first military junta in 1996."

"The baptismal name, West Central, a frightening though purely geographically descriptive appellation was quickly jettisoned in favour of an "indigenous" one. It was the fusion of the erstwhile Ilorin and Kabba Provinces of the old Northern Region. These two provinces were arguably, physically the least developed of the Northern provinces in terms of amenities - being farthest from the power base, more in politico-spiritual sense than in dimensional terms. They were, however, two of the most advanced in terms of human resource development and progressive tendencies that usually accompany such development. If we got nothing from the North, we got good education."

"Even before a large chunk of the old Kabba Province - what used to be called ‘Kwara overseas’ - happily veered off to join a substantial part of the old Benue Province in what is now known as Benue State, in 1979, Kwara’s original name had to be changed to reflect a more acceptable natural phenomenon - The River Niger- known as "Kwara" to the people around Lokoja. This of course forced the division of that name to give up Kwara for Kogi. The state’s assumption of this new name was, in my opinion, a sign of fear or an admission of insecurity. How can a Northern State be called West Central? Was someone luring us into the West? But if Kogi State is created today shall we then change the name of our state again- since those who donated the name Kwara to us may be part of the proposed Kogi State? And so will Kwara change name again, perhaps this time to Edu State, since Kwara and Edu (Nupe) mean the same thing or would OYA State [the word for the same Niger River in Yoruba] find equal acceptance? But to seriously pursue that line will be to dwell disproportionately on an area of the subject under discussion that -may be of the least interest, for now, to a majority of our audience. Yet this issue dramatizes the peculiarity and dynamism of Kwara as a geo-political entity. We are more Nigerian than any other Nigerian state. Of our 14 Local Governments, one or two could be at home in either Sokoto, Niger, or Plateau States, two or more could easily be part of Oyo or Ondo States, while at least a part of one local Government could be part of old Bendel. We have made substantial contribution to the landmass making up the Federal Capital Territory. Nigeria’s political map has changed again and again. Inter and intra state boundaries have been altered even more frequently than the musical chair that our Federal Government leadership had become over the years and earlier. As I said elsewhere, the original Kwara has been several times mutilated, our state has been beheaded and de-limbed; what started as the merger of two Northern provinces ends up today as less than one original province since a large chunk of old Borgu Division of Ilorin Province now forms part of Niger State. -

The current political reality is that we have a Kwara State, smaller than the Ibm Province of the old Northern Region, within a geo-political entity called North Central Zone in an informal but defacto [even if not dejure] zonalized Nigeria. I am saying that we in effect are within the context of a six zone set up in Nigeria, in contrast with the three or four regional pre — 1966 set up, part of North Central Zone. Other states in this zone include Niger, Kogi, Benue, Plateau and Nassarawa. Please note that Kaduna State is part of the North Western Zone. The rest of the original North is broken into North East and North West, while the original West is broken into a Western Zone comprising what remained of Western Nigeria after the creation of the original Mid-West which is now grouped with the Minority states of the old Eastern Region and called South South zone, leaving the core Igbo states as the Eastern Zone. It is this zonal structure that is used for purposes of appointments into federal political and governmental offices outside of strict state representation. Ministerial appointments, key party posts and even major administrative postings at the federal level take zonal balance into consideration. In effect, except for mutual convenience between people and states, the old regions are dead. Common services between them have been, as a matter of deliberate state policy, minimized. It is therefore ridiculous today to talk of one North or One West or one East as in pre-civil war Nigeria. The iniquity and injustice of States and Local Government creation under the military has confounded the complex political problems of Nigeria. There is no rhyme or reason in what has been done especially since 1976. One or two states might be just as big in population or landmass, as one or two Local Governments in some other states. The case of Zamfara State and Ifelodun Local Government of Kwara State are easy examples. The illogicality of Kano State alone having about twice as many Local Government as Lagos State whereas Lagos population is larger than Kano and Jigawa put together is yet another. And yet revenue is shared between states on the basis of equality, population and landmass among other key factors. It is on this and other issues that the agitation for a restructuring of Nigeria hinges, and the need for a National Conference has found popular acceptance.

At a conference of Concerned Traditional Rulers and Leaders of Thought co-hosted by the Ooni of Ife and the Sultan of Sokoto recently in Abuja, four of Nigeria’s six geo-political zones, East, West, South and Middle Belt unanimously demanded a National Conference while Alhaji Maitama Sule who spoke as a North Westerner even though he proclaimed that he did not have a zonal mandate agreed on the necessity for dialogue. Senator Abubakar Tuggar from the North East concurred! At that conference, I was on the Middle Belt delegation and was party to its submission. While we of the Middle Belt Forum agreed that geo-political realities demand that posts and positions in parties and the Federal Government must reflect federal character and the zones as may be relevant, we called for a review of the composition of the zones in order to ensure that the Northern minorities who are geographically situated "North of the South and South of the North" are regrouped to reflect the ethnic realities and the express desire of the people. This will, for example, bring Southern Kaduna, most of Taraba, much of southern Adamawa and Bauchi into the Middle Belt while leaving Zaria of present Kaduna State in the North West. That would also enable the Kwara and Kogi people to determine their own fate in the context of zonal re-groupings. We insist on a National Conference for a dispássiónate debate and ultimate resolution of all these nationality and related problems with judicious provisions for inter and intra state and zonal boundary adjustments such that peoples and nationalities are placed in zones/states/local governments of their choice. We insist and every one agreed, that at the end of the day, referendum must be held as the only democratic means of ascertaining the popular wish of the people wherever it is in doubt. What is preferred today is the incongruous South-South or the Union of Niger Delta for the Southern minorities and Middle Belt for those of the North. The truth is that people do not want to be reminded of old associations. But within the context of these sensitivities, Kwara has her own peculiarity by virtue of our interesting history. It is to do with the pre and post-independence agitation for the merger of the Yoruba people of Ilorin and Kabba provinces with the West. This was championed by the Ilorin Talaka Parapo led by the late Alhaji Sule Maito and which controlled the Ilorin NA over a period under the overall leadership of the late J.S Olawoyin. A similar Movement for the aggregation of Northern Minorities into a Middle Belt State was championed by the United Middle Belt Congress [UMBC] led by the late J.S Tarka. Another self-determination group, the Bornu Youth Movement was led by Ibrahim Imam. These demands, including the agitation of the Eastern minorities for a Calabar /Ogoja Rivers [COR] State movement was championed by the Action Group with which the nationalist agitators were in alliance. That was the situation until the soldiers struck in 1966. The Mid-West agitation had earlier been solved through a political conspiracy between the NPC and the NCNC federal coalition partners as part of a combined effort to break up the Western Region base of the Action Group.

Where does Kwara belong in a restructured Nigeria?

Today, there is a fight for the soul of Kwara. The battle is raging now with intensity only comparable to the Ilorin Talaka Parapo days of pre independence Ilorin NA. In the face of this comes the current Arewa Consultative Forum’s untimely insistence on an indivisible North. As earlier analysis must hopefully have shown, it ridiculously anachronistic!

My position is very well known on the issue of a (Sovereign) National Conference but I also hope that my preceding analysis has established the necessity for restructuring Nigeria. In any case, I can hardly better the arguments in my book on this matter and I would not like to bore you with further lengthy quotations. Fortunately the idea is no more strange sounded when we were marketing it in this part of the world a couple of years back. I take the position, based on the scripture, that tribes or nations are a divine creation and whoever seeks to break up or keep broken what God has made one, or to forcefully couple together except through voluntary union is divinely separated, will inevitably suffer the fabled fate of Babel. Isn’t it ridiculous that at the end of August 2001 people are arguing on whether Kwara is North or West? Of Course, none of the above! Both the North and the West are dead. It is as ridiculous to speak of one North as it is to speak of one East or one West. Call an Edo man, or a Delta person a Westerner and he will laugh at you, as would the Bayelsa or Akwa Ibom man if you say he is from the East. In like manner the Middle Belter from Kaduna for example, hates to be called a Northerner. These are stark realities.

The issue that arises today is: where does Kwara belong in a restructured Nigeria - for Nigeria will be restructured sooner or later - hopefully at a civilized conference rather than after avoidable conflicts. What is good for the Scots, the Irish and the Welsh, the Macedonians etc, etc, is good for the Yorubá, the Nupe, the Baruba and the others: self-determination and power devólution! Undue politicization of this matter can lead to avoidable disaster.

We have come to the point when Kwara must not continue to tolerate the over- ambitious political horse trader whose nationality changes with the zoning of the Nigerian presidency. How can such a character continue to pretend to be a viable or serious leader of our fragile state? Happily, I can see that the people are beginning to appreciate what some of us have always known. It must now be quite clear why we cannot collaborate with this impostor. How long will our innocence (to avoid the word ignorance) last! How much of what he takes from us does he actually give back in his so -called philanthropy, his shameless pauperization of a helpless people?

Let me quickly quote from a report in The Post Express On Sunday, August 19,2001 at Page 12:

"The governor also mentioned while holding the Quran of giving his mentor some amount of money monthly as a sign of appreciation and loyalty to him" - We know much more than that! Now, listen to what he has to say as I quote from Page 6 of The Punch, Wednesday August 15, 2001- the continuation of a front page headline report captioned " Yoruba Oba in Ilorin: No Way, says Saraki"

... "There is nothing like the Oba of Ilorin. Where are Yorubas in Ilorin? "Afonja is just about two compounds in Ilorin and a compound in Ilorin is just about 500 people, two compounds are just about 1,000 people. So the Yoruba have no numerical strength in Ilorin.". .

"We in Kwara are part of the north. No piece of our land will be allowed to be merged with the South- West."

WE must put polities into ACF unless we want to deceive ourselves. We cannot get our right by sitting down quietly"

My comments?

Zoning does not mean merger. As we are today North Central Zone (or Middle Belt Zone as we prefer to call it), we are not merged with Niger, Kogi or any of the other sister states. If we join the Western Zone tomorrow, we shall not fuse into or be merged with Osun, Oyo, Ekiti or any other Yoruba State. The advantage accruing there-from would be an opportunity to vie for whatever belongs to the Zone in a way we at present can’t as in the case of Chief S.B Awoniyi’s failed bid for PDP chairmanship slot on account of his being of the same ethnic stock with the President, despite his superior credentials. The concern was that enormous power would be concentrated in the hands of two Yoruba people at the same time. But the people of Ilorin and all of Kwara, especially Yoruba Kwara, will decide how they are and where they (should) belong. One thing is clear though, it will take a political triple jump to fly Kwara over the Middle Belt or North Central Zone into the North of Saraki’s political day — the dream was canvassed during his recent tour of the North Western Zone at the head of an ACF delegation. If Dr Saraki chooses to equate the Yoruba population of Ilorin with the Afonja household just to get his own back on Governor Lawal who he must dominate or humiliate, he is free to politick but let him not toy with the rest of us who have no other state that we can call our own. We are talking about a chameleonic politician whose father had briefly sojourned in Ibm for Quranic education: a man who had retraced his Egba routes with his party’s zoning of the presidency to Yoruba land in 1982/83 and had once contested leadership of the Kwara delegation to the Middle Belt with us at the Government House in Jos, during the early parts of the ill-fated Babangida transition: a man who sat with us on the eve of the SDP 1993 Presidential primaries in Jos to interview candidates and decide who we of the Middle Belt Forum were to support, although he was to subsequently and characteristically break faith with the Forum and suddenly becoming more AREWA than the Sultan! Some people can take on different guises at different times and different places. Some of us are what God has made us and will remain what we are. I will never deprecate or deny my Northern roots. I was a Northerner when there was one North. I cherish my northern connections but never abuse them. A popular Middle Belt view of the north, past and present was recently succinctly expressed by one of the Middle Belt Governors. We shall come to that before I conclude this brief address. The Post Express, Tuesday August 21,2001 at page 6 reports:

"Lawal, featuring on an NTA network programme, Pointblank monitored in Ilorin, ... dismissed the threat of any OPC invasion of Ilorin and any part of Kwara State, saying that his leader was crying foul where non existed.’

"As far as Dr Saraki is concerned, a newspaper report quoted him as saying his mother is from Iseyin. Another newspaper said the father is from Abeokuta. How can he be more Northern than me that my mother is from a chieftaincy house in Ilorin?" "He advised the political chieftain not to play the politics of knocking the heads of the people in the North with the South, "he shouldn’t do that, Politics can be a very dirty game, a very mean game but there are some people who should be above it"

With that statesmanlike position, Lawal has won the support and sympathy of those of us who had watched their combat from the sidelines. I am a Yoruba man with traceable routes in present day Kwara State. I grew up in the North and went to school and university there. Unlike somebody else I wasn’t denied Northern scholarship even when it was to be had for the asking ( He couldn’t prove his northern -ness) even with an Ilorin man as Northern Agent in London where his application was made). I am not an occasional or at best a frequent visitor to Kwara with a demonstrable stake in the place. I worked in Kwara and still work for Kwara, selflessly. In tune with current political realities and in furtherance of my service to my people I am a leader of the Middle Belt Forum and associate with the Movement day and night. But as an Igbomina a Yoruba, I am a conscientious member of AFENIFERE and by God’s grace at present Chairman of AFENIFERE’s Political Committee and member of its Central Working Committee. But I still function in the leadership of the Middle Belt Forum and have used my position in these two important organizations to bring the two (AFENIFERE and MBF) closer as we work towards the Nigeria of our dream. Under no circumstances must Kwara be turned into a battle ground for whatever reasons. Unfortunately, a recent Forum for Kwara Yoruba billed for the conference room of an Ilorin Hotel was frustrated by the Police. Whatever doubts we may have had about Governor Lawal’s innocence or otherwise in the matter has now been dispelled. The OPC wolf cry must be calculated to embarrass both him and us. The Arewa meet wherever, and whenever they please. Indeed, a recent meeting organized where a reputable Yoruba scholar, Chairman of AFENIFERE Contact Committee, Professor Bolaji Akinyemi was Guest Speaker. It will thus be seen that the real leaders of AFENIFERE and AREWA are talking and seeking ways of bridging gaps. The excuse the police gave for stopping the Yoruba forum in Ilorin is the excuse Saraki now gives for his own attack on the Yoruba people of Kwara State: that the OPC were around the corner! Authentic AREWA leadership respects AFENIFERE and the respect is reciprocal.

Now, to a typical Middle Belt response to Saraki’s anachronistic northern case:

Actually, the Vanguard of Wednesday August 15,2001, same day as the Saraki Punch quotation above has a front-page report;

"Gov Audu makes case for the Northern minorities.

By Wole Mosadomi & Ade Bada

"....Receiving the Patron of the Middle Belt Forum, Chief Solomon Lar and the Chairman, Air Commander Dan Suleiman (rtd) in Lokoja, Governor Audu said the Middle Belt agenda was not negotiable.

"We should get ourselves together. We are not saying what belongs to another person should be given to us but whatever it is, give it to us because in the business of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, all of us are shareholders," he said, adding: "Nobody owns the country more than the other person." When the Sardauna of blessed memory, the great man was alive, the concept of the North was different from what we are seeing now. "If it is dirty jobs, we are Northerners, if it is a good job, lucky job, we are not! "But it is no longer the case now. That is my concern. If it is a question of doing donkey job, dirty jobs, that is when they will remember that you are a Northerner.‘

The Governor said he was forced to ask a recent delegation of ACF to the State that "are you people saying we are now Northerners?

One could easily rest one’s case on that note. After all that was the man who called Saraki and Lawal to Lokoja to reconcile them! He may need to recall Dr Saraki for some home truth. Governor Audu’s Kogi State was part of Kwara. Kwara was part of the North. The North is no more. Kwara is today part of the Middle Belt. Therein we get our share of political and government dues. But the Yoruba people of Kwara State cannot, must not and will not remain a minority group within a minority zone in a restructured Nigeria. Today, Dan Suleiman who leads the Middle Belt Forum is from Adamawa State in the North East just as Ayo Opadokun who is Secretary General of AFENIFERE is from Kwara State in the Middle Belt. We are working- doing the ground works for the Nigeria of tomorrow. Let me say that the Yoruba of Kwara are the most accommodating of people. A Nupe became Governor in Kwara State at a time when one could not rise to the same position in Niger where they formed a clear majority. They and the Batonu and Kaiania people are as integrated as the Egun and Awori in Lagos and Ogun States. Even so, they must have the freedom with the rest of us to decide and determine where to belong in a restructured Nigeria. The ultimate decision must be the people’s.

That is the essence of democracy. And so, we know what Kwara was, we can trace its history but can only pray about its future. May that future reflect the hopes and the finest aspirations of its peoples. The Kwara ruled by General (Sir) David Bamigboye was bigger than that ruled by Gen. George Innih, which was bigger than the one over which I was governor, while that one was bigger by far than what we have today. What started as West Central is now Kwara, but the chances are that we may yet have another change of name. Kwara is meaningless to the current owners of the state, ile laa wo somo 1 ‘oruko!

I grew up in Ilorin Division of Ilorin NA in Ilorin Province of Northern Nigeria. Gen. Bamigboye made me an indigene of Igbomina, Ekiti Division, I helped Innih create Irepodun Local Government but I am now an indigene of Isin Local Government and I am being asked to support the case for splitting that local government into two! How else can one illustrate the dynamism of Kwara and of its geo-politics? Finally! So, let me conclude by going back to the beginning. With the ongoing campaign for generational shift in the power equation in Nigerian politics, my appeal is even more relevant today. So with your permission, I say the future of a State is ultimately a reflection of the future of its youths.

The good leaders of tomorrow must be evident in the responsible followership of the youths of today and the future consciousness of youth leaders. Kwara leaders have held and are holding very responsible positions in Nigeria and for Nigeria abroad, most creditably.

I plead that failures of today be not turned to patterns to be copied. The self-serving argument often advanced in defense of nepotism and parochialism is that "when you give a mad man a hoe, he would make mounds between his own legs". But who would give a mad man a hoe? Leadership is for the sane, the mentally and ethically balanced. Every opportunity for leadership is a challenge. With all humility, I must say I have utilized the opportunities I have had in the broadest possible interest of the people our future as a people, the peoples of Kwara State, is indeed bright. Little or petty-minded and self-serving leaders and political traders can never build great states or nations. Kwara has all it takes to be great. We have no cause to despair.

October 2001