The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State on Thursday received another letter of intent for the governorship race from Chief Olasheni Ibiwoye, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN). The party’s legal adviser, Monsurat Omotoso, described Ibiwoye’s intent as a big plus for the PDP. This letter is the fourth expression of interest received by the party.
Monsurat, also known as Peace, told Kwarans that many people chose the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2019 hoping for better governance. Now, she said, they have realized the huge and costly mistakes they made. She stated, “Now they know better; they have all started to realize the huge and costly mistakes they made. Now, they have realized the better party.” She added that the aspirant made a good decision by choosing PDP over other parties, saying, “Coming to PDP is a delight; your coming to PDP is a very big plus for PDP.”
Speaking earlier, the aspirant, who titled his letter “Securing Kwara First: A Covenant with the People,” promised to rest the state on what he called five reducible pillars that will secure Kwara and restore dignity to every home and life residing in the state. He listed the commitments as security and peace, human capital, equitable development, new economy transformation, and integrous good governance and justice.
Security and Peace
On security and peace, Ibiwoye said no society grows where fear lives, recalling that for too long, the people have mourned after tragedy. He noted that Kwara State, popularly known as the State of Harmony, has virtually been turned into a theatre of war. He declared, “That era ends now by the grace of God. We will deploy a Community-First Security Architecture that fuses traditional institutions, local vigilantes, and modern intelligence-led policing. Every ward, every farmstead, every market in Kwara will be safe to live, work, and invest in. Security will be preventive, not reactive; intelligence-driven, not accidental; people-centred, not distant. We will invest in security software as available globally to tame every form of insecurity plaguing the state.”
Human Capital Development
He posited that youths ought not to be a burden as presently seen. He promised to make them a comparative advantage and asset by creating mass jobs through the establishment of skills acquisition centres in each senatorial district, ICT innovation hubs, and partnering with the private sector operating in the state. He also pledged to revamp public schools, retrain teachers, deploy digital classrooms, and align the curriculum with skills, technology, and global competitiveness. He assured that Kwara children will not just compete but will lead.
Equitable Development
Believing that development should not stop where the tarred road ends, Ibiwoye said if given the opportunity, his government would establish a Kwara Rural Development Commission with statutory representation in all 16 local government areas.
New Economy Transformation
On new economy transformation, he promised to make Kwara a food and agro-export powerhouse within 24 months in office through mechanized farming clusters with bold infrastructure renewal—roads, bridges, housing, energy expansion, and modern urban renewal—to unlock markets, reduce travel time, and connect farms to ports. He emphasized that infrastructure is not concrete; it is opportunity.
Integrous Good Governance and Justice
He declared that the fifth pillar would ensure transparency, accountability, inclusiveness, and justice. He promised that traditional institutions will be partners, not spectators; local governments will be engines, not appendages; and every policy will pass one test: “Does this put Kwara people first?”
Reacting, the PDP deputy state chairperson, Chief Wasilat Atinuke McCarthy, said the letter was more a manifesto. She pointed out that their leader, former Senate President Dr. Bukola Saraki, is attracting the best brains to the party.
