Open Letter | No third term for lawmakers: Kwara must align with national principle
An Open Letter to the National and Kwara State Leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC)
Our revered royal fathers, the custodians of our heritage, values and community conscience, have spoken with an unambiguous voice. Their recent counsel is clear: the culture of indefinite tenure and the quest for a third term by members of the National Assembly must be rejected. This advice is rooted in a desire for justice, renewal and the expansion of political space for a new generation of leaders.
However, as we embrace this noble principle at the national level, the leadership of our great party must confront an inescapable truth about governance and fairness. An age-old African proverb teaches us: “What is good for the goose is equally good for the gander.” If the national leadership of the APC and the Kwara State hierarchy recognise that long, unbroken tenures stifle fresh energy in the National Assembly, then, by every rule of logic, justice and equity, the same principle must apply across the board.
The illogic of selective justice
We cannot cut off the branches of a tree to create space while allowing the roots to become overcrowded. A federal lawmaker and a state lawmaker are two sides of the same democratic coin. To argue that a third-term ambition is an overreach in Abuja but acceptable in Ilorin is to undermine the very principle of justice. As Aristotle famously noted, *“Justice consists of treating equals equally.”* There is no distinct political DNA that separates a National Assembly aspirant from a State House of Assembly aspirant. If we agree that stagnation at the federal level hinders progress, we must also accept that sit-tight politics at the state level breeds complacency and shuts out vibrant local talent.
A mandate for Kwara North: The case for inclusion
True equity, however, goes beyond tenure; it is also about the fair distribution of political opportunities. If the APC truly stands for fairness, it must address the legitimate aspirations of the people of Kwara North. For too long, the North has remained a cornerstone of our party’s strength, yet the governorship has remained beyond its reach in our rotational arrangement.
In line with the call for justice, we believe the next chapter of Kwara’s development should see Kwara North produce the next governor. In this regard, the emergence of Rt. Hon. Yakubu Danladi-Salihu as the party’s governorship candidate is not merely a political choice; it is an act of justice. As a seasoned legislator who understands the workings of government, his candidacy represents the fresh energy our royal fathers and the electorate seek.
We therefore call on the National Leadership of the APC and the state party leadership to:
Enforce a uniform standard: Let the party’s position against third-term ambitions apply across all legislative levels.
Embrace zoning as a tool for unity: By supporting the governorship’s shift to Kwara North and backing the candidacy of Rt. Hon. Yakubu Danladi-Salihu, the APC will demonstrate that it listens to the grassroots and rewards loyalty with fairness.
Respect the voices of our elders: Our royal fathers do not speak out of malice but out of deep concern for the future of our communities. Ignoring their position at the state level while claiming to uphold it at the federal level undermines the party’s sincerity.
Equity cannot be selective; it must be universal. We cannot preach rotation at the federal level and tolerate stagnation at the state level. Let the APC stand firmly on the side of justice, equity and genuine progress. Let the rule that guides the giant also guide the small.
Yusuf Hassan Taiwo writes from the Land of Odumosa
