(Op-Ed) Aching for Kwara

By Titilope Tawakkaltu Titilope

Once upon a Kwara, I never thought I would be this cliché. Even when I lived thousands of miles away from the shores of Nigeria, the distance felt theoretical, an abstraction. But now, after nine weeks soaking up the exciting, frantic energy of Lagos, I find myself not merely missing home, not Lagos where I was born and bred but Kwara where my heart aches for. The irony is as thick as Lagos traffic.

For two months, my life has been a masterclass in contrasts. I have written more bureaucratic reports than I have penned my own thoughts, traded the familiar, comforting roads of Ilorin GRA for the perpetual puzzle of Ikeja’s grid, and unlocked more doors to lounges with interesting menus and scenery than in all my preceding years combined. Yet, with every new Lagos experience, one constant echoes: a fierce, almost physical longing for Kwara.

I miss the sacred geometry of my daily life: the evenings at La Valor, the chaos-in-order of Challenge bus-stop, the iconic Post Office, and the unparalleled culinary genius of Amala place. I miss the political war-room gist and the late-night deliberations with my brothers; the easy banter with Shoboi, Sheffygold, Jaji, Zubair, Ibrahim, Adebisi et all. I miss the simple, joyous act of going to Shoprite to spectacularly win or lose at table tennis, or heading to the Kwara Stadium to watch the raw energy of the PR League. I miss holding the microphone, addressing the vibrant, energetic youths, and the simple courtesy of driving and waving at faces familiar and blessedly unfamiliar.

Oh, Kwara! I surely do miss my home.The Unthinkable Knock

You might wonder why, after a recent, unfortunate incident, I haven’t been publicly calling out names or the authorities in my beloved hometown the place I genuinely believe is the best in the world, the final resting place of my legendary father, Alhaji Yahyah Anifowoshe, Otunba of Igbomina Ekiti land and Giwa Adinni of Ansarul Islam Society of Nigeria.

The truth is, the unthinkable happened. I had always imagined the next time Igbonla made the news, it would be a celebratory headline in fulfillment of a future I am still crystallizing. Certainly not for kidnapping. Definitely not my father’s “White House” being dragged into discussions on Sahara Reporters or Arise TV for a bandit attack! Audhubillah!

I got the news and I did not just cry; I wailed. It was a primal, desperate sound, a longing for my beloved father, a wish that he was here to somehow fix the unfixable. I then paused, thought about what he would have done, and reached out to the necessary authorities. To the glory of God, I am unwilling to speak about my experience so far.

But in this sobering experience, two brilliant, non-negotiable truths became clear:

1. State Policing is not a luxury; it is the next sanest, most immediate thing we can do as a people in the face of the prevalent insecurity in Kwara and Nigeria.
2. I AM UP TO SOMETHING! Yes, something akin to a Zohran Mamdani-style, unapologetically Kwara something.
   
   Beyond the shadow of insecurity, a lot of good things have been popping out of the Kwara soil. We have seen lectures officially kick off at the Ilesha Baruba campus of Kwara State University, which is huge for academic expansion. And our Kwara ICC set to be one of the tallest thing in the state is seriously close to completion. I bet the first stop there by Kwara youths is going to be the elevator for those high-altitude selfies. The gigantic Oluremi Tinubu Hospital is also powering ahead, promising a massive upgrade to our healthcare infrastructure. And yes, Kwara is getting smart, with its own AI Summit just around the corner.
   Policy-wise, my smart brother, Dr. Lawal Olohungbebe, is dropping innovative, mind-blowing educational blueprints for the future of our youth. On the ground, my friend Ishola Kayode is doing real magic, coaching public secondary students from all three zones (north, south, and central) to code and perform technological wonders; a project fully backed by Governor Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq. Plus, our SA on Student Affairs, Wasiu Onidugbe, didn’t just talk about empowerment; he gave Kwara undergraduates a genuine platform to pitch their business ideas and walk away with grants worth millions of Naira. Progress is literally being paved, too, with a stack of new roads recently commissioned.
   I also watched the numerous gbasgbos on social media. Kwara Politicians, it turns out, are such great writers the art of the politically charged retort is alive and well.

But it was a recent video that truly made my heart soar: people dancing to a K1 the Ultimate sort of tune, chanting, “incoming mi Danladi.” I got super excited about that tune. I enjoyed it so much that I must now show you my card: I am up to something, and I am rooting for SYD.

Now that my hand has been revealed, let me also remind you, with all due respect to everyone’s opinion, that “I no send your Papa.”

I miss Kwara. I can not wait to be back home. But hey, if you ever see Governor Sanwo-Olu of Lagos, please help me thank him for taking good care of this Kwara lady. The mentorship and intense learnings from the Lateef Jakande Leadership Academy (LJLA) are the very reason why I can now smile at trolls, say almost nothing, and get on with the business of something.

In all this, I am up to something, and I seriously look forward to returning to Kwara to raise the broom so high whilst dancing to the tune of the SYD-themed gospel message.

Shey oti get e?

Anifowoshe Titilope serves as SA to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu