The publication of excerpts from Professor Dapo Thomas’ autobiography, Lagos Boy and Lagos Politics, has reignited an important conversation about how successful political parties manage competing interests without sacrificing unity.
According to the account, there was an understanding within the Lagos political establishment that, after sixteen consecutive years of Muslim governors, the next governor should emerge from Lagos East and be a Christian. Whether every detail of that account is accepted or not, the underlying principle remains instructive: sustainable politics often requires deliberate inclusion.
That lesson should not be lost on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as political calculations for the 2027 governorship election gather momentum in Kwara State.
Today, the Kwara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is visibly divided between the bloc popularly known as the G15 and those aligned with Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq. The disagreement has become significant enough for the party leadership to constitute a reconciliation committee headed by retired Colonel AbdulWahab Ademola Lawal, with the mandate of restoring unity ahead of the next electoral cycle.
As reconciliation efforts continue, attention has naturally shifted to the question of who should emerge as the party’s governorship candidate.
A strong argument currently gaining traction is that power should rotate to Kwara North to address longstanding concerns over political marginalization. That is a legitimate position. Every part of the state deserves to feel a genuine sense of belonging.
However, inclusion should not be viewed through only one lens.
If the APC is genuinely committed to healing divisions and strengthening its prospects in 2027, then another constituency equally deserving of consideration is the Christian community in Kwara State.
Power rotation is fundamentally about ensuring that every significant segment of society feels represented. Regional balancing is one dimension; religious balancing is another. Pursuing one while overlooking the other risks replacing one grievance with another.
History offers a compelling perspective.
The last elected Christian governor of Kwara State was Chief Cornelius Olatunji Adebayo, whose administration was cut short by the military coup of December 1983 that ended the Second Republic. More than four decades later, no Christian has been elected governor of the state.
By contrast, while Kwara North continues to seek greater representation in the state’s democratic leadership, the district has not been entirely absent from the state’s leadership history. Senator Mohammed Shaaba Lafiagi, an indigene of Kwara North, served as governor during the military era in the early 1990s.
This observation does not diminish the legitimate aspirations of Kwara North. Their quest for equitable representation deserves respect and thoughtful consideration.
Rather, it suggests that if the APC truly wishes to make a bold statement about fairness, equity and inclusion, then the conversation should extend beyond geography to embrace religious representation as well.
Fortunately, the party is not lacking in credible Christian aspirants.
Within the G15 bloc, Hon. Toyin Alabi has emerged as one of the leading contenders. If President Tinubu and the APC leadership conclude that rebuilding party unity requires accommodating aggrieved stakeholders, Alabi represents a credible option worthy of serious consideration.
Outside the factional contest is Engineer Femi Sanni, popularly known as Araba. Throughout the ongoing political tensions, he has largely maintained an independent campaign, choosing to focus on his vision for Kwara rather than aligning himself with either faction. That approach has enabled him to project himself as a bridge-builder at a time when the party arguably needs one most.
This should not be overlooked. Political parties often emerge stronger when they choose candidates capable of reconciling competing interests rather than deepening existing divisions. The APC in Kwara will require such a figure if it hopes to preserve its electoral dominance.
President Tinubu himself has repeatedly demonstrated that politics is not merely about rewarding loyalty; it is also about making strategic decisions that promote party cohesion and electoral success. His reported reconciliation with Babatunde Fashola ahead of the 2011 Lagos governorship election, despite earlier political disagreements, illustrates the value of choosing unity over prolonged internal conflict.
Kwara now presents another opportunity for similar statesmanship.
Supporting a Christian governorship candidate would not be an act of charity or tokenism. Rather, it would acknowledge the legitimate expectation of an important constituency within the APC that has waited for more than four decades to produce an elected governor.
Such a decision could also broaden the party’s appeal among voters who increasingly want evidence that inclusion is more than a campaign slogan.
Some will argue that competence alone should determine who becomes governor. They are correct. But competence and inclusion are not mutually exclusive.
The APC has aspirants who embody both qualities. The real question, therefore, is not whether qualified Christian candidates exist, but whether the party is prepared to recognise that religious inclusion is every bit as valid a consideration as regional balancing.
As the reconciliation committee continues its work and President Tinubu reflects on the future of the APC in Kwara State, one question deserves careful consideration:
If inclusion justifies the argument for zoning the governorship to Kwara North, should it not also justify serious consideration of a Christian governorship candidate after more than forty years?
The answer may well shape not only the future unity of the APC in Kwara but also the party’s credibility as a platform genuinely committed to fairness and inclusive leadership.
In politics, perception matters. Justice matters even more. And when both align, parties often reap the reward at the ballot box.
