Date: 2019-06-23

After 34-year-old freshman, Salihu Yakubu-Danladi emerged Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly; he assured the state that the Assembly would justify the confidence reposed in it by the electorate, and work towards engendering robust cooperation with the executive.

He also described his election by other 23 colleagues as their Speaker as "divine," adding that he would lead the House with the full support of his colleagues to promote policies that would lift the youths out of their present state.

Yakubu-Danladi's nomination was moved by member representing Ojomu-Balogun Constituency, Saheed Popoola, and seconded by Abdullahi Danbaba, from Kaiama/Kemanji/Wajibe Constituency.

At the inaugural session, the Speaker of the 9th Assembly, who represents Ilesha-Gwanara in Baruten Local Council, after emerging through consensus, said the new lawmakers were determined to work toward bringing government closer to the people, as well as ensure the delivery of dividends of democracy, and initiate people-oriented projects.

He specifically noted that state and the federal governments should adopt participatory budgeting in order to encourage active governance.

Yakubu-Danladiusor, was born on May 31, 1985 in Gwanara, Baruten Local Council. The 34-year-old attended LGEA Primary School, Gwanara from 1988-1993, from where he proceeded to St Anthony Secondary School, Ilorin for his secondary education, at the end of which he obtained his SSCE in 2001.

He later attended the Kaduna Polytechnic, where he obtained his National Diploma and Higher National Diploma in Electrical/Electrical Engineering in 2008.

In 2016, he earned a B.Eng in Electrical/Electronics Engineering from the Federal University of Technology (FUTA) Minna, Niger State. He served his one-year compulsory National Youth Service Corps at the National Water Resources Institute, Kaduna.

Yakubu-Danladi, who was on the staff of his alma mater FUTA, from 2010, voluntarily withdrew his services in 2018.

Before venturing into mainstream politics, he served as the Secretary, National Union of Baruten Students, Kaduna Polytechnic Chapter in the 2005/2006 session.

In 2008, he was a member of the Constitution Review Committee of the National Association of Kwara State Students (NAKSS). He was later elected vice president of Kwara North Students' Union of the Kaduna Polytechnic Chapter in 2007/2008 session.

In the 2007/2008 session, he also served as the Secretary of the Kaduna Polytechnic Chapter of the National Association of Kwara State Students.

In 2011, he was the youth coordinator of Buhari Campaign Organisation under Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Kwara North Senatorial District.

Also, in 2015, he was the youth coordinator for Yinusa Yahaya Campaign Organisation on the platform of the PDP in Kwara North Senatorial District.

He was the Secretary NYSC Tourism Club, Kaduna from 2009-2010.

In February 2019, he contested and won election as member, House of Assembly representing Ilesha/Gwanara Constituency on the platform of the APC.

Yakubu-Danladi's antecedents as a student union leader, many believe could come in handy or serve as the much-needed catalyst for the prompt resuscitation of the age-long moribund bursary and scholarships schemes for Kwaran students.

Danladi a football enthusiast may also be in support of policies geared towards reviving youths' interest in sports in the state.

The Speaker apart from holding positions as a youth leader has not held any political post at such high level prior to his election.

How he steers the legislature in a state that has many political bigwigs, as well as home of the Saraki political dynasty remains to be seen.

According to an elder of the APC in the state, Dr. Rex Kola Olawoye, "Danladi has the intellectual capability if you look at his curriculum vitae, but I don't think he's held such high leadership role in politics before now. "