By: TITILOPE T. ANIFOWOSHE
Something weird is brewing in Kwara politics lately. I am certain that I am not the only one seeing these things. Scroll through your socials or hang out at any “political gist” spot or “assembly” and, boom, the same handful of names are flying around. One of them is Yakubu Danladi. The young man who seems to be just chilling, barely campaigning (at least not in-your-face), yet somehow he has become this lightning rod for attention, rumors, and honestly? Some wild, totally unprovoked hits. It is almost comical.
Turns out, he is the Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly. Basically, the main guy in the room, first among equals by law and, you know, a bit of strategic elbowing. He is also about to hit 40, which, in politics, is like when your ping pong paddle finally breaks in, and you start smacking shots with scary confidence.
Let us just take this to my happy place: the table tennis table. This gist makes more sense with a bit of topspin and side-step than it does on the pages of newspaper. Kwara is split into three neat zones: North, Central, and South. Like a regulation ping pong table; exact measurements and all. Except, politically? The weight is way off balance.
Since 1999, it has been mostly Kwara Central hogging the serve, 19 years running the show. Kwara South had a solid 8-year rally. Kwara North? Still waiting for their first swing. Absolutely wild.
Now, we have about 630 days left till the next “knockout stage” (2027, if you are counting), and folks are already picking sides, pre-taping their paddles, and tossing warm-up balls. The funny part? The match has not even started, but the crowd has already decided who is winning and who is getting booed off the court. Noisy, hilarious, sometimes straight-up offside.
Anyway, every serious match needs a main player, right? Right now, that is Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq. Walahi, Alalade got moves; he is not just a politician, he is a tactician. Built bridges (for real and metaphorically), fixed up schools, got governance back on track. AA hardly speaks or make noise, he just puts the ball where it needs to go. Low-key, but effective. As his second term winds down, his achievements are like a killer topspin that is almost impossible to return. Clean, sharp, no drama.
I am aware of the image of another cute older man with a firm grip of the bat pacing and running round the court so early in the game. I can see other athletes peeping through the changing room, some unsure of what jersey to adorn themselves with. Stylishly rearing their heads in conversations about good governance and politics but unsure whether to join the germans who love the Butterfly brand, or to go Chen Chen-an way with Tibhar sponsorship or to opt for Gantenwho is Premier Partner of WTT.
But then we have this Danladi guy, just hanging out in the warm up area, not even announced, not swinging yet, but somehow getting all the attention. He is like that athlete who is always ready, focused, nothing flashy, no media e-rats, bambooze show of wealth, but you just know he got game. Some folks say he is just stretching, but if you have watched House of Assembly sessions, you know he has been quietly running drills; backing policy, hyping up the youth, showing politics does not have to be a cage match. It can be clean, competitive, even fun. It is honestly bizarre how people get flak just for warming up and rooting for their own side.
Let us get real! Table tennis is not like my father, AlhajiYahyah Anifowoshe’s favorite game- WWE. There are rules, a net, both sides get respect. No one is climbing the ropes and smashing chairs. Out here, arrogance loses you points, not the other way round.
And yes, some folks are already spinning tribal stuff or blaming innocent ball boys for plotting some grand conspiracy. I know that it is part of the circus, but also, I find it quite saddening.
Here is the real kicker: in ping pong, everyone gets to serve. You win by skill, not by just hogging the paddle forever. Yet, since 1999, one chunk of the table, Kwara North, has not even gotten a turn. They have been right there, paddles in hand, but somehow never called up to serve. That is just…off. Fairness, whether in sports or democracy, means rotation. Means everyone gets a shot.
Like someone rightly accused me on Kayode Ogunlowo’sfunny Facebook post, I am just from Igbonla in IrepodunLGA, deep Kwara South. I love my people. I love our vibe, our legacy, our flair. And damn, I love a fair game of ping pong. But what I love even more is justice. And justice says: it is time for Kwara North to serve.
As 2027 creeps up, let us not rip down the net just to win. Let us not act like some folks are born with paddles while others have to watch from the bleachers. Give everyone the respect of participation, the hope of leadership.
To the 40-year-old warming up on the sidelines, keep doing you. Your game is louder than the haters. And if you get called up, remember: you trained for this!
Happy Birthday Yakubu Danladi!
MAY KWARA SUCCEED
MAY THE NET HOLD FIRM
AND MAY THE NEXT SERVE GO WHERE IT’S LONG OVERDUE.
Titilope Anifowoshe writes from White House, Igbonla
