The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Kwara State for 2027 election, Engr. Suleiman Kale Kawu on Saturday pledged to embark on the decentralisation of power systems among rural communities in the state in order to accelerate the economic development of the rural populace if elected governor of the state during the next year general elections.
Kawu who spoke with journalists in Ilorin on Sunday on the sideline of his recent visit to Europe after returning to Nigeria said that, the initiative also include power grid extension optimisation techniques and preventive maintenance protocols for electricity distribution networks.
He said that, his trip to Europe was a strategic technical mission aimed at studying global best practices in infrastructure development, governance, public asset management, and service delivery.
Kawu said that, the visit was also deliberately scheduled after he had secured his party’s governorship ticket and completed the necessary nomination processes with both the PDP and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
According to him, “the study mission focused on rural infrastructure delivery, utility maintenance frameworks, public asset management, and institutional governance models that could be adapted to improve service delivery in Kwara State”.
Kawu, a former Director at the federal owned Rural Electrification Agency (REA)., Abuja stated that, he studied decentralised rural power systems, grid extension optimisation techniques, and preventive maintenance protocols for electricity distribution networks.
He said that if elected governor, his administration would deploy modular power stations in agrarian communities, establish a statewide digital asset management system for public infrastructure, and introduce a community-based maintenance model that would empower trained local technicians while ensuring government oversight.
Kawu also revealed plans to establish a Kwara State Performance and Delivery Unit within his first 90 days in office to monitor government performance and publish quarterly scorecards for ministries, departments, and agencies.
Drawing comparisons between governance systems in Europe and Nigeria, he noted that European countries maintain institutional continuity by separating policy implementation from political cycles and holding public officials accountable through measurable performance contracts.
On public procurement and project execution, the PDP candidate said his administration would introduce greater transparency by publishing all government tenders and contract awards, creating a real-time project monitoring dashboard, and ensuring contractors provide maintenance guarantees before receiving final payments.
Kawu further disclosed that his engagements with European engineering firms resulted in preliminary technical partnership frameworks designed to support rural infrastructure development in Kwara State.
Addressing the role of traditional institutions, Kawu said that, modern governance should complement, rather than replace, traditional leadership.
He proposed establishing a Council of Traditional Advisers to meet regularly on issues relating to security and development while strengthening record-keeping and dispute resolution systems.
On security, Kawu said he examined rural community policing models based on local intelligence gathering and rapid response mechanisms.
He pledged to establish a Kwara Community Safety Corps, recruit local youths as auxiliary security personnel, deploy a mobile-based early warning system, and introduce mediation committees to address recurring farmer-herder conflicts.
He identified transparency as the cornerstone of his proposed administration, announcing plans to launch a Kwara State Project Transparency Portal within 60 days of assuming office.
According to him, the platform would enable citizens to monitor budgets, procurement processes, and project implementation in real time.
To demonstrate the seriousness of the Europe mission, Kawu pledged to publish a comprehensive report of the trip and any partnership agreements within his first 100 days in office if elected.
He also promised to appoint a Special Adviser on International Partnerships to convert the technical engagements into development projects and commence two pilot rural infrastructure projects—one each in Kwara North and Kwara South Senatorial Districts—within six months of assuming office.
“Engineers are measured by what they build, not by what they say,” Kawu stated, insisting that the Europe trip was a deliberate preparation for governance rather than a political excursion.
Hammed Shittu
