Dr. Azeez Salako Muyideen Olaniyin, a Kwara State governorship aspirant under the All Progressives Congress (APC), has identified security and infrastructure as the twin pillars of his campaign. Speaking in Abuja after obtaining his Expression of Interest and Nomination forms, Dr. Olaniyin emphasized that securing the state’s borders is a prerequisite for economic growth and investor confidence.
Expressing full confidence in the party’s leadership and the electoral process, the aspirant dismissed concerns regarding the integrity of the party’s internal mechanisms, stating that he has closely followed the party’s trajectory and trusts its current direction.
A Focus on Territory and Trust
When questioned on how his administration would differ from the eight-year tenure of the current leadership, Dr. Olaniyin highlighted critical gaps in the state’s development.
”We have our peculiarities,” he noted. “Presently, we are having challenges in security, and infrastructure is not adequate. We also have problems in the health sector and education. These will be my priorities.”
He argued that without a stable environment, “investors do not want to come,” and promised a departure from the traditional approach to governance by prioritizing tangible “structures” and territory protection.
New Security Strategy
Addressing the spillover of insecurity from Nigeria’s Northeast and Northwest into the North Central region, Dr. Olaniyin warned that Kwara (often referred to in context as a gateway state) must not be treated in isolation. He proposed the establishment of a specialized local security outfit to complement the efforts of the Nigerian Police Force.
”We rely on the [federal] security and the police. They are trying their best, but it is not enough. We must have our own local security office that will now secure our territory,” Olaniyin stated.
He concluded by stressing the national importance of the state’s stability, asserting that stopping the spread of insecurity in the North Central is essential to preventing further escalation across the rest of the country.
