Kwara 2027: Prof. Wale Sulaiman’s entry raises stakes in governorship contest
The political landscape of Kwara State is gathering momentum as Professor Wale Sulaiman, a renowned neurosurgeon and former Special Adviser on Health Matters to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, signals interest in
- By Com Ishaq Adewara
The political landscape of Kwara State is gathering momentum as Professor Wale Sulaiman, a renowned neurosurgeon and former Special Adviser on Health Matters to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, signals interest in the governorship race.
Sulaiman, who emerged as a prominent figure during the 2023 Kwara South senatorial contest, brings a record of impactful service and professional accomplishment. He left notable marks during his time in Governor AbdulRazaq’s administration, particularly in the management of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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The respected medical expert, according to the APC Kwara Progressives Forum, has pledged to deploy his years of global experience and deep commitment to improving the welfare of the people of Kwara State.
Prof. Sulaiman built a distinguished career within the international medical community. He served as Professor of Neurosurgery at Tulane University and held key leadership positions within the Ochsner Health System in New Orleans, United States, where he functioned as System Chairman of Neurosurgery and Co-Medical Director of a Neuroscience Institute.
While serving in Kwara State, he worked closely with the state government and other critical stakeholders to develop strategies that helped curb the spread of COVID-19. One of the enduring interventions during that period was the restoration of the long-abandoned oxygen plant at Sobi Specialist Hospital, which had been inactive for nearly a decade.
Beyond infrastructure rehabilitation, he also proposed a comprehensive healthcare master plan aimed at improving access to affordable and quality medical services across the state. The plan included initiatives to transform the Harmony Advanced Diagnostic Centre into a medical tourism hub capable of attracting patients and medical partnerships from within and outside Nigeria.
Sulaiman also played a significant role in strengthening the relationship between the state government and Kwarans living abroad. Diaspora associations were harmonised into a unified body known as Kwarans in Diaspora (KID), which subsequently collaborated with the state government on several development initiatives.
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Through this collaboration, diaspora groups donated essential equipment, including hand-sanitising machines, to support the state’s response to the pandemic.
Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq once publicly acknowledged Prof. Sulaiman’s contributions, describing him as an expert whose ideas and guidance helped shape key health policies and interventions in the state.
The governorship aspirant has also built considerable political goodwill across Kwara State. He is widely recognised for maintaining cordial relationships with leaders and stakeholders within the All Progressives Congress (APC) and is often described as a bridge-builder capable of fostering unity within the party.
His political credentials were further demonstrated during the 2023 Kwara South senatorial election, where he attracted more than 27,000 votes. Political observers described the performance as remarkable within the state’s political landscape, highlighting both his growing political base and the level of acceptance he enjoys among different segments of the electorate.
Analysts note that his ability to combine professional excellence, political inclusiveness, and grassroots engagement positions him as one of the emerging figures to watch in Kwara’s evolving political environment.
…Ishaq Adewara is a Political Activist based in Ilorin
