DECLARATION SPEECH BY SENATOR SADIQ SULEIMAN UMAR FOR THE OFFICE OF GOVERNOR OF KWARA STATE
Date: Tuesday 31th March, 2026
Protocol.
My dear people of Kwara State,
Members of the press,
Distinguished leaders and stakeholders,
Party faithful,
Women and men of goodwill,
Youth of our great state,
Ladies and gentlemen.
Today, I stand before you humbled by the grace of God, strengthened by the prayers of our people, and inspired by the promise of a greater Kwara.
I stand here not merely to make an announcement, but to share a conviction. A conviction that the best days of Kwara State are still ahead of us. A conviction that the hopes of our people are valid, their sacrifices are not in vain, and their future can be brighter than their present.
It is with great humility, a deep sense of duty, and absolute faith in the destiny of our state that I formally declare my intention to contest for the office of Governor of Kwara State in the forthcoming 2027 general elections under the platform of our great party, the All Progressives Congress, APC.
This decision is not born out of personal ambition. It is born out of responsibility. It is born out of the belief that leadership must always answer the call of history. And when a people desire progress that is deeper, broader, and more enduring, those who are prepared must step forward.
Kwara has come a long way. Under the visionary and purposeful leadership of His Excellency, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, CON, our state has witnessed a new direction. We have seen the restoration of public confidence in governance. We have seen meaningful reforms, renewed infrastructure, better institutional discipline, and a government that has worked to place the people back at the center of governance.
For these gains, I commend His Excellency, the administration, our party leaders, and every patriotic Kwaran who has contributed to this journey.
But my dear people, history teaches us that progress must never pause. Foundations are not built to be admired alone; they are built to carry greater structures. The task before us now is to protect what has been achieved, expand what has begun, and boldly move Kwara into a future of shared prosperity.
That is why our vision is clear, and our mission is urgent:
Sustainable Progress for Kwara’s Shared Prosperity is not just a slogan. It is a covenant. A covenant with the farmer in the village, with the trader in the market, with the teacher in the classroom, with the nurse in the clinic, with the artisan, the entrepreneur, the athlete, the creative young mind, the civil servant, the traditional institution, and every family that wants dignity, opportunity, and peace.
For over two decades, I have worked as a development expert, designing and implementing practical solutions that improve lives across communities. In the last seven years, I have had the honor of serving as Senator representing Kwara North Senatorial District. That experience has deepened my understanding of the dreams of our people and the demands of leadership. It has shown me that good intentions are not enough. What matters is the courage to act, the wisdom to listen, and the discipline to deliver results.
My dear people, the next chapter of Kwara must be one where development is not occasional, but consistent; not selective, but inclusive; not loud in promise, but visible in impact.
We must build a Kwara where power reaches homes, businesses, schools, health centers, and communities more reliably. We will pursue a practical energy agenda with strong emphasis on solar power expansion for public institutions, rural communities, productive clusters, and underserved areas. We must become a state where clean and sustainable energy helps our children learn better, our hospitals function better, our businesses grow faster, and our communities live with greater dignity.
We must build a safer Kwara. Security is not only about responding to danger; it is about creating confidence in daily life. We will strengthen community-based security collaboration, support intelligence gathering, deploy technology where necessary, and work closely with all relevant institutions so that every parent can sleep with peace, every trader can move with confidence, and every community can feel protected.
We must raise a new generation through quality education. The future will not wait for us, and our children must not be left behind. We will continue to improve learning environments, strengthen teacher support, deepen digital education, expand technical and vocational opportunities, and ensure that education prepares our young people not just to pass examinations, but to lead in the modern world.
We must also strengthen healthcare by providing health insurance, because no society can prosper when its people are weak. Our goal is simple: healthier families, better-equipped facilities, more responsive primary care, stronger maternal and child health systems, and a healthcare structure that reaches both urban and rural communities with compassion and efficiency.
We will accelerate infrastructure development because roads, bridges, public facilities, and connectivity are not luxuries; they are the pathways of prosperity. But beyond physical structures, we will build economic infrastructure — the kind that supports enterprise, opens markets, reduces waste, and attracts investment.
In agriculture, we will move from subsistence to prosperity. Our farmers deserve more than praise; they deserve support, modern inputs, storage systems, irrigation, access to markets, processing opportunities, and value chains that reward their labor. Kwara has the land, the people, and the potential to become a major force in food production and agro-industrial growth.
In mining, we will pursue responsible development that creates jobs, attracts investment, and adds value to our natural resources while protecting communities and the environment. Our mineral wealth must become a source of lawful prosperity and structured opportunity.
In tourism and culture, Kwara must tell its story to the world. Our history, our heritage, our festivals, our hospitality, and our unique identity are not relics of the past; they are assets for the future. We will unlock tourism as an engine of jobs, pride, and economic growth, while preserving the traditions and values that define us as a people.
We will reposition sports as a platform for unity, discipline, youth empowerment, and talent discovery. Kwara is rich in gifted young men and women whose dreams deserve structure and support. Sports can inspire hope, create careers, and unite communities across every divide.
We will pay serious attention to urban development so that our cities grow with planning, order, beauty, and opportunity. We will support cleaner communities, better layouts, improved public spaces, and a more livable environment for families and businesses.
Water is life, and water resources must remain a priority. We will pursue sustainable water access, smarter resource management, and long-term solutions that support homes, health, agriculture, and industry.
We will invest in technology development because the future belongs to those who prepare for it. We will support innovation, digital enterprise, tech-driven governance, and youth-centered opportunities that connect Kwara to the emerging global economy. Our young people are not short of talent; they simply need platforms, tools, and belief.
We will strengthen transportation and logistics so that movement across our state becomes more efficient, safer, and more economically productive. When people, goods, and services move well, opportunity moves with them.
We will also support the creative industries — film, music, fashion, media, design, storytelling, and the wider cultural economy. The creativity of our youth is not a side conversation; it is a major frontier of jobs, identity, and influence. Kwara must become a place where talent is discovered, refined, and rewarded.
My dear people of Kwara, this campaign is about more than an election. It is about building a state where no one feels forgotten, where no community feels too far, where no young person feels condemned to small dreams, and where every citizen can say with confidence: this state belongs to me too.
I do not come before you as one who claims to have all the answers. I come before you as one who is ready to listen, ready to work, and ready to lead with humility, courage, and sincerity.
I believe in a Kwara where progress is measured not only by what government says, but by what families feel. A Kwara where governance is humane. A Kwara where development has a human face. A Kwara where prosperity is shared, not concentrated. A Kwara where leadership is accountable, visible, and close to the people.
Let it be said that when our generation was called to choose between comfort and courage, we chose courage. Let it be said that when the moment came to lift Kwara higher, we did not hesitate. Let it be said that we came together — across district, across community, across age, across background — to build a stronger state of harmony.
To our traditional rulers, elders, party leaders, women, youth, professionals, workers, farmers, artisans, business community, and Kwarans in the diaspora, I ask for your prayers, your support, and your partnership.
This journey belongs to all of us.
Together, we will preserve the gains of today.
Together, we will confront the demands of tomorrow.
Together, we will build a Kwara that is stronger, safer, healthier, smarter, more prosperous, and more united than ever before.
Let us move forward with hope.
Let us move forward with purpose.
Let us move forward with faith.
Let us move forward for every child, every family, every community, and every dream.
This is our moment.
This is our mission.
This is our Kwara.
May Almighty God bless you all.
May Almighty God bless Kwara State.
And may Almighty God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Thank you.
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