All the seven local governments in Kwara South, on Sunday held a political hangout to address insecurity and strengthen political cooperation in the region.

As fondly called, ‘Kwara South G7’ that includes: Ekiti, Oke-Ero, Offa, Ifelodun, Irepodun, Oyun, and Insin local governments, held the meeting at Omu-Aran, the headquarters of Irepodun local council.

The event that brought together political stakeholders including community leaders, and youth representatives across the senatorial district deliberated on security, political, and developmental issues confronting the area.

In his welcome address, Prince Shuaib Olanrewaju, explained that the hangout was to create a platform for dialogue and collective action toward peace, unity, and good governance.

According to him, the region could only thrive if leaders and citizens worked together beyond party lines.

According to him, the G7 initiative was born out of patriotic concern for the district’s declining political cohesion and worsening insecurity. “Our people are living in fear. Communities have suffered repeated attacks, and our farms and roads are no longer safe,” he said.

He commended Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for his efforts in combating criminality.

He also applauded the Deputy Senate Leader, Sen Oyelola Ashiru, for raising the insecurity matter at the National Assembly, noting that both actions signified a growing attention to the plight of the district.

Delivering his lecture, the first guest speaker, Femi Falade said politics remains central to solving the region’s security and umderdevelopment issues. “We must get it right politically because leadership emerges through political means. Elected leaders must not play politics with security; the protection of lives and property is their primary duty.”

He identified money politics, godfatherism, and youth marginalisation as bane of inclusive leadership, urging governments at all levels to act decisively on insecurity and youth empowerment.

He said: “What we are facing now is not a problem but a challenge. We have great minds at home and abroad. Let’s unite and develop our forests and communities to drive away insurgents and create opportunities.”

The Deputy Senate Leader, Sen Ashiru later told newsmen that insecurity in Kwara South could be drastically reduced through coordinated local government action.

According to him, local councils have a constitutional duty to safeguard lives and property in their areas.

Ashiru advised the state government to adopt a “more hands-on approach,” saying: “security is everyone’s business. The state must empower local authorities and vigilante networks to strengthen grassroots intelligence and protection.”

Also speaking, Prof. Wale Sulaiman, a neurosurgeon and community development advocate, emphasised unity and shared purpose among the people of Kwara South. He said peace and progress could only be achieved if citizens revived the values of cooperation and self-help that once defined the region.

“Unity is the foundation for development,” Sulaiman noted. “We must return to our tradition of working together, rebuilding our infrastructure, and creating job opportunities for our youths. That is how we can secure our future.”

Other speakers at the event also echoed the need for political inclusiveness, economic renewal, and moral reorientation, urging the people to look beyond partisan divides in pursuit of common goals.

In his closing remarks, Prince Olanrewaju paid tribute to past political icons of Kwara South, including Chief J.S. Olawoyin, late Sen Cornelius Adebayo, and Chief J.T. Obaoye, among others, describing them as beacons of progressive politics.