[OPINION] Ilorin Is Not Number Two; And Never Will Be

By Olaide Ahli

The recurring political narrative suggesting that Ilorin could become “number two” if another region of Kwara State produces the governor is emotionally powerful but historically weak. It is a claim built on political anxiety rather than empirical reality. A careful look at the structure of Kwara State since its creation reveals a different truth that Ilorin’s dominance has never been dependent on who occupies Government House.

Kwara State was created on May 27, 1967. From the military era to the present democratic dispensation, the state has witnessed various administrations, shifting alliances, and evolving political actors. Yet through all transitions, Ilorin has remained the capital and administrative nucleus of the state. During the military years, when governors were appointed rather than elected, Ilorin did not become secondary.

During civilian administrations, including that of Abdulfatah Ahmed and the current government under AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Ilorin’s centrality did not diminish. Leadership changed, but the structure of power did not relocate.

The reason is simple: Ilorin’s strength is institutional and demographic, not merely political. As the state capital, it hosts the executive, legislative, and judicial arms of government. It houses the largest concentration of ministries, agencies, civil servants, and political stakeholders. It remains the economic and commercial hub of the state, attracting migration and sustaining population density that gives it electoral and sociological weight. These are structural realities that cannot be undone by electoral rotation.

Urban dominance in any state is defined by population concentration, institutional presence, and economic gravity. On all three counts, Ilorin stands firmly at the center of Kwara’s political and administrative life. Governorship is a tenure-bound office. Ilorin’s position is embedded in geography, history, and demography. The two are not interchangeable.

The argument that Ilorin must permanently produce the governor to avoid becoming “number two” reflects a politics of fear rather than a politics of confidence.

Across Nigeria, capital cities do not lose their relevance because leadership rotates. Political outcomes are shaped by coalitions, negotiations, and circumstances, sometimes beyond sectional calculations. The emergence of Yahaya Bello in Kogi State remains a reminder that political trajectories are often determined by broader dynamics, not by fear-based mobilization.

If Ilorin is to remain strong today and tomorrow, the answer lies not in monopolizing political offices but in producing politically sophisticated and strategically engaged individuals. Cities retain influence when their elites are organized, intellectually prepared, and capable of building alliances across divides. Politically strong individuals whether in public service, party structures, civil society, or business sustain relevance through negotiation, policy influence, and institutional participation.

Ilorin’s historical strength has always rested on its ability to produce influential actors who shape conversations beyond local boundaries. When its political class is confident, strategic, and inclusive, its influence remains intact regardless of who holds the governorship. Influence is built through engagement, not preserved through anxiety.

Development across other parts of Kwara State does not translate into Ilorin’s decline. Growth in other regions strengthens the state’s economy and stability, which in turn reinforces the capital’s role as coordinator and beneficiary of statewide progress. Development is not a zero-sum equation.

Inclusion elsewhere does not equal demotion here.
History is consistent. Structure is stable. Demography is decisive. Ilorin has never been “number two” since 1967, and it cannot become one because its dominance is rooted in institutional presence and sociological weight, not in the temporary occupancy of political office.

Let politics be about vision and strategy not about manufacturing the fear that Ilorin will somehow become ‘number two.

The real challenge before Kwara is not who becomes governor, but how all regions can advance collectively while maintaining political maturity. Ilorin’s future will be secured not by fear narratives, but by strong individuals who understand that enduring influence is strategic, inclusive, and structural.

Olaide Ahli writes from Ilorin