About four years ago, the people-centric Otoge revolution exclusively repositioned Kwara politics and re-established it as the sole property of the people. Today, it’s no longer an asset for one man, one family, or one particular group of people to inherit and sustain among generations. Today, the name Saliu Mustapha comes to mind whenever Kwara Central Politics is mentioned. There is no denying that Saliu Mustapha effortlessly wielded three powers in the region: philanthropy, extraordinary national politics, and the Ilorin Emirate. Without a doubt, no one else in the region can claim comparable hegemony!
Just like in every situation, the question on the lips of many people who are curious about his growing influence is, “Who is Saliu Mustapha?” Why does he need so much power to control the region? In part, to say Saliu Mustapha is the Turaki of Ilorin and the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Kwara central senatorial district election in 2023 is to do a great disservice to him. Beyond these facts, which are widely known, his life is a manifestation of unprecedented acceptance and love from the people who now regard him as the Messiah and have come to plunder their sorrows away.
He, however, did not go from unknown to known overnight; by virtue of its political history, he has been there for a very long time, and his philanthropic gesture is one that will remain immortal in the hearts of many thousands, if not a million, of Kwarans, particularly the people of Ilorin. Add to that: the fact that he is the holder of one of the highest traditional titles in the emirate, the Turaki of Ilorin. Saliu Mustapha will be going to the polls tomorrow with his credibility intact on the street, his academic and professional credentials are excellent, and with three separate powers that his opponents from other parties cannot boast of.
Quite surprisingly, Mall. Saliu Mustapha has crossed the hurdles of philanthropy and coined a name for himself in the Ilorin Emirate. Though many people still believe that the two influences are only a means to an end and not an end in themselves, considering that the first three holders of the title were also foremost parliamentarians and philanthropists. Nonetheless, later, Turaki’s future political career will be the topic of discussion, but for now, he remains the man to beat.