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  • Kwara: Not yet time to celebrate

    No doubt the historic crushing defeat of the Saraki political machinery, hitherto considered formidable, is bound to go down as one of the suspense-filled folklores to be narrated to our children for decades, if not centuries to come.

    The new leaders are coming at a time expectations are very high and the average Kwaran has been fully mobilized to participate fully in governance and thoroughly scrutinize every government policy. Therefore, there will be no room for flimsy excuses, despite the fact that the state’s purse is as lean as a patient battling renal failure.

    The two biggest opposition groups that’ll keep the Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq government in check are the army of unemployed youths and citizen reporters on social media. On the one hand are the masses who trooped out en masse to send the former occupants out of the village square. The two categories are expecting miracles and their wants are rather insatiable.

    Isn’t the Saraki group the only organized opposition in the state? Whoever thinks so is mistaken? Certainly not. The Saraki group is the least headache of the new administration’s headache, provided the administration never disconnects from the masses.

    As it is already getting obvious, the political class, majority of whom had been fenced off, the honey pot since the ouster of Gov. Muhammed Lawal of blessed memory in 2003, are already salivating at the new opportunity offered by the OTOGE tsunami, yet the incoming administration owes its all to the electorate. How AA handles this set of people will have a major say as to the trajectory and path his administration will take and in the long run, how history will record his days as Governor.

    The scheming for spoils of war is already manifesting, it’s visible to the uninitiated and glaring to Steven Wonder. How AA balances between competency and political correctness would have the acidic potential of making or marring the infant government.

    Bookmakers had already predicted AA will need the combined wisdom of Solomon and the trickery of Delilah to effectively contain this set of politicians that have been deprived of lucre for almost 16 years, yet he can’t afford to push them completely off the radar.

    It’s however already glaring that the honeymoon had long elapsed even before the official solemnisation, as the youths who were the canon fodder of the O TO GE crusade are already singing cacophonous melodies. How AA handles their missiles would determine the long term fate of the government.

    The youths, mainly unemployed, derive joy in criticising government and its policies mainly on social media, having realised that the only means of gaining cheap popularity and mass followership on the social media is to criticise and knock the powers that be.  So, it is no more than a popularity game to majority of the social media population. Yet, the government cannot afford to have this set of stakeholders as foes.

    Another major banana peel is the disoriented government workers, who were undoubtedly one of the major reasons why we all can gleefully call the defeated hegemony, men of yesteryears today. This vital stratum of the state only understands the language of improved welfare. But AA is coming at a time that the free goodies are drying up if not already dried.

    Kwarans have made it expressly clear that they won’t take empty purse narrative as an excuse, yet we all know the State is near insolvent and no Jupiter can command a turnaround overnight.

    With these explicit contradictions, the demands both personal and public goods keep pouring in for AA and whoever is seen as a potential power broker in the infant government.

    Sadly, majority are only interested in identifying with the new power blocs and brokers, that’s why congratulatory messages are busy flying around, with majority not sparing time to put to test their cerebellum and come up with sectoral scientific backed trajectory the administration must follow to succeed.

    It must be made clear to all discerning minds that the time to celebrate is not now, this is the time to echo and act the ISE YA mantra, we all must roll up our sleeves and work for Kwara and Kwarans and not to please AA or anybody else.

    This is no time to congratulate AA, he deserves the pity of all and sundry. He’s like the proverbial cerebellum operation specialist, going for an operation. While the operation takes hours, the recovery period requires the patience and perseverance of the patient’s relatives and even the patient himself, yet emotions wouldn’t allow patience.

    Rather than congratulate AA, we  must pray for him for having to come at this egregious time in the history of democratic governance in our dear state, with the attendant decades of manmade abject pauperization.

    Perhaps, with the oneness exhibited by all aspirants during the post primary campaigns not minding their misgivings with the primaries, the selfless sacrifice of official and unofficial members of APC, solidarity and camaraderie of the workforce and indeed the all Kwarans, we’ll be able to make merriment and celebrate after four years of people-oriented governance. Until then, celebrating Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq now will be premature. What I think we should start drumming into the ears of the new governor should be “ise ya; it’s time to rebuild Kwara!” May God guide AA aright!

     

    • Abdulrasheed Akogun, a media practitioner, writes from Ilorin.

  • Kwara: Hurdles before APC’s AbdulRazaq

    The victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the governorship election in Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, suggests that the people are fed up with the outgoing administration and that they wish to see positive signs in the new administration within a short period of time. Correspondent ADEKUNLE JIMOH highlights the challenges that will confront the incoming government.

    KWARA State Governor-elect Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq will assume office on May 29. His victory at the March 9, has been described by many as unprecedented and historic. The dismantling of the Saraki dynasty that had held political sway in the state for more than four decades was due to the determination of the people to see a different set of leaders in the corridors of power in Ilorin, the state capital.

    The people demonstrated that they were no longer going to tolerate bad governance, which the out-going administration epitomised. A vast majority of Kwarans had, before the elections, laid the blame at the doorsteps of Senate President Bukola Saraki, heir apparent of the Saraki dynasty. They claimed that Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed was and still is Saraki’s lackey.

    Abdulrazaq, who contested the governorship on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), campaigned to effect change in the North-central state, if given a chance to govern by the electorates.

    With this mindset, the people of Kwara have a mountain of expectations from the incoming administration of Abdulrazaq, in terms of regular payment of salaries, provision of infrastructural facilities and others which had been in short supply in the last 12 years.

    Different stakeholders have different expectations from the incoming government. There are expectations from the electorates and from the party members. The APC, which is the ruling party in the centre, had to throw everything at its disposal to defeat Saraki and his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) supporters. Before and during the election, the APC was – and perhaps remains — an amalgam of disparate interest groups held together by their determination to oust the Saraki dynasty.

    But, now that Abdulrazaq has triumphed, what is he going to do with this opportunity? After congratulating the governor-elect, some Muslim clerics warned the incoming governor against derailing in his administration. They said: “if you fall short of our expectations we will be at the forefront of championing your ouster from Kwara State Government House.

    “We are giving you just one year of grace. After that, your actions and inactions will come under our searchlight. We know a lot of damage has been done, but with our prayers we hope you will succeed.”

    Teachers have also made similar statements. The teachers who spoke under the aegis of Kwara State Concerned Teachers urged Abdulrazaq to place high premium on workers’ welfare to stabilise its administration.

    A spokesperson of the group, Mallam Abdulwahab Abubakar, said: “Our advice to the incoming government is that it should take workers welfare as a priority. The state government owes teachers three months salary arrears with some percentage.

    “But to our surprise, we were only paid 81 per cent of our March salary, out of the huge amount of money that came to the coffers of the state government from the Federation Account. It is uncalled for. We expect our leaders to come out and confront the government.”

    The Christian community has also spoken in a similar vein. Diocesan Bishop of the Kwara State Methodist Church, Rev Simeon Onaleke, has cautioned the incoming government to be focused and be wary of sycophants that might be milling around the corridors of power.

    Rev Onaleke said the people’s expectations are high and that the incoming government should not disappoint them. He assured Abdulrazaq that the church would continue to pray for his success.

    The clergyman said Kwara State, which was created in 1967, has remained predominantly underdeveloped, because past leaders did not live up expectations. He said there is the need to establish more industries to reduce the rate of unemployment in the state.

    Onaleke added: “There is need to have more housing units to cater for workers who do not have houses of their own. Government should create tourist centres that can attract investors. In appointing people into public office, those who are non-indigenes that have lived here for many years, contributing to the economic growth of the state, should also be considered.”

    Commenting on the APC’s victory, Information and Culture Minister, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who was one of the arrowheads of the campaign to vote out the Saraki dynasty, described the APC victory as historic. His words: “it will be an understatement to say that the Kwara State election attracted the most comments in the country.

    “The victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governor-elect, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, is historic. It is not just for the people of Kwara State, it is for the whole of the country. Of course, that also means a big burden is on his shoulders, because the expectations are high.

    “What that means is that the people’s power is more important and stronger than the people in power. What the people of Kwara State had demonstrated is that they have discovered their power and that they are going to punish any government that does not care about their welfare. They have finally realised that ultimate power resides in them.

    “If what happened in Kwara State is anything to go by, it is a warning to all governments that they must have the interest of the people at heart. What this also means is that notwithstanding the popular support we got from the people, if we fail to perform, the same people will turn against us.”

    Mohammed added that failure is not an option for the incoming APC government. But, he nevertheless called for understanding and patience from the public. He said: “The expectations are very high and we must take advantage of their enthusiasm to ensure we deliver the dividend of democracy.

    “The honeymoon may not last over three months, unless we do well. We can’t afford to fail them. In less than a year, the people of Kwara will see a difference between us and the outgoing political dynasty. We appeal to them (Kwarans) to be patient, because it is easier to destroy than to build.”

    Kwara APC chairman, Bashir Bolarinwa, thanked the party hierarchy and members for standing together while the struggle lasted. He said: “But for the perseverance and understanding of our members and leaders and with God’s grace, we couldn’t have come this far. We swallowed our pride and came together and remained united against all odds. We shunned our grievances for the greater good of our people. We thank all of you.”

    In a remark after collecting his Certificate of Return, Mallam Abdulrazaq promised not to label anybody as opposition. He said his administration would be an all-inclusive government that would embrace everybody.

    His words: “This state belongs to all. We don’t see anybody as opposition. It is Kwara for all. All hands must be on deck (to rebuild the state). This is a poor state and a lot of work has to be done. We will embrace everybody.”

    The governor-elect said the new administration has a lot of work to do to get the state back on its feet. He called on all Kwarans to support his government once he is inaugurated by the end of May.

    He added: “When you record a winning margin of 75 per cent as we did, it means that even those on the side of the PDP voted for us. So, we are going to ensure that we all work together. We are not going to label anybody. There are good people on the other side too,” he said.

    “Our members will also be taken care of and our priority will be to rebuild our state. We need to get everyone together for the task ahead and move our state forward… We have a big task ahead of us, but we will surmount the challenges by the grace of God. Once again, we thank everyone who took part in the elections — either as officials or as voters.”

    AbdulRazaq also hailed the electoral body, the security agencies and the voters for their patriotic roles while the exercise lasted.

    He rated the elections in Kwara as the most peaceful and orderly, commending the security agencies for checkmating thuggery and potential violence in the state.

    His words: “I like to thank INEC for providing a level-playing field for all in the election. The election in Kwara was the best I have ever seen so far.  The INEC was fair to all. I remember that we had many complaints… but at the end of the day they were fair to all.

    “As for the security agencies, I’m lost for words. This is the first election in this republic that no shot was fired by thugs and hooligans. We now see that with the right support, the security agencies can deliver on their mandate. When we are sworn in, we’ll give the right support to the security agencies to make sure that the state is secure. If you have a secure environment, you will have the right kind of investments. We’ll make sure things are done properly.”

    The incoming governor also promised to use his first 100 days in office to rehabilitate and empower street urchins, otherwise known as ‘good boys’.  He said his administration will grant amnesty to some of the ‘good boys’ that are willing to be rehabilitated. He also promised to help continue their education and give them vocational training, if they voluntarily renounce their anti-social behaviour.

    During the inauguration of his 80-member transition committee, Abdulrazaq said his administration would be a complete departure from the old order. He added that he would run a government that serves the best interest of the people.

    The businessman-turned politician said: “For the past 16 years, they have been running government in their own style. We have put this committee in place to engage the outgoing government to know how much we are owing and the state of our infrastructure. We cannot walk blindly into office and succeed.

    “The huge margin of our victory at the polls suggests that our people are fed up with the status quo and want a new approach to governance. We, therefore, have a historic duty to serve their best.

    “To do that, we must understand the current governance structure in the state; we must know how the current system works to be able to know where to begin, what current policy would be retained, and what policy must go. We also need to know what is in the books in terms of financial receipts, obligations, contracts and other things.

    “This is why we have taken our time to nominate some of the best hands around – in terms of competence, credibility and maturity — as members of this committee, with proper accommodation of the various political tendencies in our political party. In essence, the most crucial work of this committee is to ensure that we hit the ground running on May 29.”

     

  • Kwara: Lessons of power shift

    THE lessons of victory for the opposition in Kwara State over the entrenched Saraki’s political dynasty are instructive.

    There’s no begrudging such writings except that most of them appear to have  been designed purely to either taunt the Sarakites or build some narratives to justify why some persons should (not) get what appointment and how the sharing of the political spoil should go. Very few, if any, of the articles so far written have made the point that the victory of 2019 resulted from a long-standing struggle against the Saraki dynasty, especially what many may call its history of abuse of political power and reactionary politics which seeks to entrench a Machiavellian rule at the expense of rapid development.

    This struggle, as some have observed, started as mere grumblings within (the dynasty’s) own erstwhile foot soldiers who insisted that things were not going well. Even then, most of the soldiers were waging the war from within. A few — such as the fearless Iyiola Oyedepo and the Wole Okes — had the courage to write press statements or books to protest the parlous state of affairs. Some even recanted after a while!

    But the first and the most significant challenge to Saraki’s rule berthed in 2011 when a certain Mohammed Dele Belgore, a senior advocate, ran for governor on the platform of the now defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). It was a valiant and hugely successful challenge to the status quo in the state. The Sarakites survived that daring onslaught only because they were in the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) which afforded them the use of state machineries to tilt the balance in their favour. Even then, the huge votes recorded by Belgore (over 150,000) were the highest any opposition candidate had ever polled in the state against Saraki’s political machinery. Undiscerning analysts may say what matters is victory. But such comment can only come from persons who knew not what later transpired at the election tribunal where various mind-boggling electoral frauds were established such as votes recorded criminally exceeding the ballot papers used in the conduct of election. That is beside the cases of polling agents of the opposition being barred from collation centres and village heads, working with some pliant officials, arbitrarily allocating votes to the ruling party.

    The point here is that the Bukola Saraki’s victory in 2011 against the Belgore tsunami was largely because the former had state machineries working for him. Besides, the Belgore feat was largely driven by massive support from the hoi polloi who — like the Otoge campaign chant — bought into the ‘O n dunbo, Dele L’afe’ (roughly Kwara will be great; we want Dele) slogan of the ACN candidate.

    But there is more to credit Belgore for. As a candidate of the ACN, Belgore was coming from the central senatorial district just like the outgoing Governor Saraki whose second term tenure had just ended. Saraki had tapped Abdulfattah Ahmed, an Igbomina man from Kwara South senatorial district, to succeed him. It was a political masterstroke which succeeded in getting the Igbomina elite and other known anti-Saraki elements to drop their long-standing opposition in the belief that Saraki, who had opposed his sister, was being fair to the Kwara South by conceding governorship slot to them. Belgore and indeed other ACN top echelons had told the Kwara South establishments that Ahmed wasn’t going to serve their people’s interest. He had said Ahmed was coming to serve just the interest of his boss. Eight years down the line, it is clear Belgore saw the future. The rest is now history!

    The ACN’s hugely expository campaign (about the mis-governance and the alleged malfeasance of the Saraki years) and the huge following it enjoyed — particularly among the youth — helped to demystify the myth that no one could muster or survive a challenge to the political dynasty.

    Not only did Belgore challenge the outcome of the election up to the supreme court, he and his team kept mounting pressure on the dynasty through constant engagement of the public on how the state was being ‘mismanaged’. These engagements continued until 2013 when Saraki led his foot soldiers out of the PDP and joined the APC, an amalgam of ACN, Buhari’s CPC, ANPP and some PDP elements led by Saraki, Rotimi Amaechi, Rabiu Kwankwaso, Aminu Tambuwal and Murtala Nyako, among others.

    Because of the nature of Kwara’s struggle, Belgore and his supporters left the ACN/APC for PDP on the ground that they couldn’t cohabit with Saraki who they insisted was at the heart of underdevelopment and anger in Kwara. They insisted that Saraki was unpopular with the people and had gone to the APC to shore up his dwindling political fortune hiding under Buhari’s popularity and the clear signal that Goodluck Jonathan, then loathed at home and abroad, was going to lose the 2015 polls.

    The Belgore group had warned that APC would regret ever bringing Saraki to their fold. Again, the rest is history as the APC went ahead to win the presidency and most seats at the parliament but it never had any peace — no thanks to Saraki’s treachery in his bid to clinch the senate presidency.

    Belgore’s predictions about Saraki have come full circle. That included that Saraki was ‘finished’ politically among the people in Kwara and had needed a Buhari to survive in 2015. The 2019 polls have proven this point, as Saraki and his men were humiliated at the polls which were won 100 percent by APC. Saraki lost because he had not only lost the people, he had also been stripped of the use of state machineries with which he had always won elections for himself and his anointed candidates.

    It is important therefore for chroniclers of history to pay attention to these nuances as they write the political obituaries of Bukola Saraki.

    AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s Otoge movement was a hit ‘back-to-back’,  but it partly owes its success to pent-up anger which had rightly been instigated and sustained in people’s consciousness by the likes of Belgore, Iyiola Oyedepo and a few others who had been at the forefront of the struggle to dethrone Bukola Saraki and end the political tyranny in the state.

  • Ekiti, Ondo, Kwara, Benue ready for N30,000 minimum wage

    GOVERNORS Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (Ondo), Abdulfatah Ahmed Kwara) and Samuel Ortom (Benue) have assured workers of their readiness to pay the N30,000 new minimum wage.

    They spoke yesterday at different fora on the minimum wage, which was signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari

    Fayemi said the welfare of the workers had always been his concern, stressing that his government would pay  the minimum wage for effective and efficient service delivery.

    The governor, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Mr. Biodun Omoleye, spoke in Ado-Ekiti at the Nigeria Labour Congress  (NLC) delegates’ conference, where Olatunde Kolapo was elected as the new chairman of the state NLC.

    He said the newly elected leadership of the trade unions would be invited soon for a meeting on the modalities to ensure the payment.

    He announced that facilities at government offices would be upgraded and conducive environment would be provided to ensure the optimal performance of workers.

    At the event, NLC National President Ayuba Wabba, who was represented by an ex-officio, Maureen Onyia-Ekwuazi, stated that the workers would not accept any minimum wage that is less than N30,000 from the governors.

    Read also: Minimum wage ‘ll give workers sense of belonging, says TUC

    Wabba said the new minimum wage has become binding, having been signed into law by the President, stressing that the excuses by some governors that they would not be able to pay was not tenable.

    But, Akeredolu pleaded with the Federal Government to review the present revenue sharing formula to enable states to cope with the new increment.

    He spoke through the Head of Service (HoS) Toyin Akinkuotu during the election of Mr. Sunday Adeleye as the state NLC Chairman.

    The governor said: “We are not against the new minimum wage and if we are not against it, we are in support. Our prayer is that the Federal Government should look into the revenue allocation sharing formula, by giving more money to states and local governments to enable them to implement the new minimum wage”.

    Congratulating the new NLC executives, the governor, who hailed the peaceful conduct of the election,  advised workers to cooperate with the new executives.

    To Ortom, workers deserved more than N30,000 minimum wage if funds were available to pay.

    The governor said consultations would soon begin towards successful implementation of the new wage.

    The governor, however, called on the Federal Government to review the Revenue Allocation Formula in favour of states to facilitate the smooth implementation of the new wage.

    He spoke at the JS Tarka Foundation, Makurdi while opening the Benue State NLC Council delegates’ conference.

    Ortom urged those that would be elected at the conference to brace and provide selfless service to the organised labour, stressing that they should be servant leaders.

    Ahmed said his administration was also committed to paying the new minimum wage.

    Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Media and Communications Dr. Muyideen Akorede said “in this regard, the government set up a committee headed by the Head of Service, Mrs. Modupe Susan, to work out the modalities and sources of revenue for the payment months before the President signed the new minimum wage into law”.

    “The committee is expected to submit its report to Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed next two weeks,” the media aide said.

    Ahmed said the state government did not owe core civil servants any salary arrears.

    But, he stated that the state government is owing junior secondary school teachers and local government workers some months’ salaries.

    The state is claiming that the junior teachers and council workers are in the payroll of Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB).

    Teachers under the aegis of Kwara State Concerned Teachers have blamed their predicament on Nigerian Union of Teachers’ (NUT) leaders.

    The group said the NUT leaders had mortgaged the welfare and interest of its members.

  • Abdulrazaq reclaims his glory in Kwara (Part 1)

    On March 29, the body of benchers honoured One hundred and thirty-two outstanding lawyers in Abuja. The Body of Benchers is a statutory body established by the Legal Practitioner Act of 1962 responsible for the call to the bar of persons seeking to be legal practitioneers.as well as discipline of the erring lawyers. Among those honoured by the body was Alhaji Abdul Ganiyu Folorunsho Abdulrazaq (91).

    He is number 460 in the Nigerian Legal Practitioners list and the first lawyer from northern Nigeria. He was ‘call to bar’ on February 8, 1955 but was enrolled to practice on April 1, 1955. Among his colleagues at that time were Mr. Justice Victor Orereko Ovie-Whiskey, who was number 437 call to bar on August 6, 1954 but was enrolled on December 18, 1954. Chief Michael Adedapo Omisade was number 513 call to bar February 7, 1956 but enrolled on March 23, 1956. Chief Richard Osuolale Abimbola Akinjide was number 509, call to bar on February 7, 1956 but enrolled on March 12, 1956, Chief Adeniran Ogunsanya was number 535 call to bar on June 19, 1956 but enrolled on September 15, 1956, Chief Akin Olugbade was number 402, call to bar on November 24, 1953 but enrolled on January 2, 1954, Mr. Justice Francis Ome Nwokedi was number 459, call to bar on November 23, 1954 but enrolled on March 26, 1955. Chief Nabo Bekinbo Graham Douglas (1926-2006), that tall imposing figure from Abonema, was number 493, call to bar on June 28, 1955 but enrolled on December 3, 1955. Chief Graham Douglas was the second Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) after Chief Alade Rotimi Williams (1920-2005) while Chief Obafemi Awolowo (1909-1987) was the third SAN. Chief Awolowo was number 168, call to bar on November 18, 1946 and was enrolled December 24, 1946. Justice Sir Louis Nwachukwu Mbanefo (1911-1977), the first lawyer from the old eastern region, was lawyer 127, was call to bar on November 18, 1935 and enrolled on August 13, 1937. Justice O. Shomolu was lawyer number 178, was call to bar on January 27, 1947 and enrolled on March 27, 1947. Justice Godfrey Charles Ubaka Agbakoba was lawyer number 303, was call to bar on June 6 1951 and enrolled on August 7, 1951. Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola (1910-1966) was lawyer number 262, was call to bar on January 26, 1950 and enrolled on March 31, 1950. Justice Timothy Akinola Aguda (1923-2001) was number 339, was call to bar on July 1, 1952 and enrolled on July 19, 1952.He was number 339. Chief Olu Akinfosile was lawyer 665, was call to bar on November 26, 1957 but was enrolled on May 12, 1958.

    It was a deserving honour for Alhaji Abdulrazaq, who because of his health was represented by his first son, Dr. Alimi. But equally deserving was the award given to him by the people of Kwara state when they elected his son, Abdulraham Abdulrazaq as their governor on March 9, which was a collective effort involving prominent people of Kwara state, including Alhaji Lai Mohammed (67) from Oro and others. The governor-elect is the Managing Director of first fuels limited and and an ex-student of Government College, Kaduna.

    Nothing will please Alhaji Ganiyu Abdulrazaq as a proud father than for his son Abdulrahman to perform in terms of governance in Kwara state. There is a wall of difference between winning election and governing well. Elections make fundamental contributions to democratic governance. The main purpose of democracy is not only to win elections but good governance. What the people of Kwara state want is not a mere change from Saraki dynasty to Abdulrazaq dynasty but a positive change for the better. The OTOGE movement was a clarion call for good governance. The same forces that drove the Saraki dynasty out of power are still around and more reinforced and alert.  Between 1952 and early 70s, two important figures played prominent roles in the sub-region that we now call Kwara. They are Alhaji Abdulrazaq and Chief Josiah Sunday Olawoyin who died in 2000 at the age of seventy-five. Chief Olawoyin was an ally of Chief Obafemi Awolowo and the Asiwaju of Offa. Then came Dr. Abubakar Olusola Saraki, the late Waziri of Ilorin. Then came Chief Cornelius Olatunji Adebayo (78) from Okeonigbin in Kwara state, who became a Commissioner in the state, elected Senator in 1979 and elected governor in August 1983. He became a Minister under President Olusegun Obasanjo. Then came Chief Ayo Opadokun, the former Secretary of NADECO and now Alhaji Lai Mohammed. With the gubernatorial election last month, the torch has now been passed to the Abdulrazaq family.

    Public Service runs in the family of Abdulrazaq in Ilorin. Twenty years ago, the first daughter of the family, Khairat Abdulrazaq Gwadabe was elected a Senator in Abuja.

    Abdulrazaq himself entered politics as early as 1952. Between 1957 and 1960, he was a member of Northern house of Assembly. He became the Nigerian Ambassador to Cote Ivoire between 1960 and 1962. Between 1962 and 1964, he was a cabinet Minister of Nigeria Railway Corporation and a Member of Parliament.

    Following the creation of Kwara state in 1967, he was appointed commissioner for Finance and later Commissioner for Health and Social Welfare by Governor Femi David Lasisi Bamigboye (1940-2018). In 1975, General Murtala Mohammed appointed him as a member of the 50-man Constitutional Drafting Committee. He was later made the Chairman of the sub-committee of the Executive and the Legislature. Other members of the sub-committee were Dr. E. Eleazu, Alhaji Sule Ganiyu, Dr. I. Ahmed, Dr. Kole Abayomi, Alhaji Femi Okunnu, Dr. G. A. Odenigwe, Mr. S.G. Ikoku, Alhaji Shehu Malami and Dr. K.O. Mbadiwe.

    It was at the Constitutional Drafting Committee that I first met Alhaji Ganiyu Abdulrazaq. He is a very simple individual. A gentleman to the core with high intellect. He lives in a world of ideas.  I met him at the time he was losing grip on Kwara state politics. Dr. Abubakar Olusola Saraki (1933-2012) alias OLOOYE was emerging as the leader of Kwara state politics. Before 1974, Alhaji Abdulrazaq was the leader especially in Ilorin. In 1976, I wanted to write a book on Alhaji Abdulrazaq. He insisted I should not pleading that “my story is not yet over”. Because of Dr. Saraki’s dominance in NPN at that time, Alhaji Abdulrazaq opted for the GNPP of Alhaji Waziri Ibrahim in 1979. It was at the Constitutional Drafting Committee that he served the nation best.

    He seconded the bill on the Presidential system of Government in the Constituent Assembly. Nothing will please him today than seeing his son, Abdulraham being sworn-in as governor of Kwara state on Wednesday, May 29. The inauguration will no doubt bring back his glory in Kwara State.

     

    • Eric Teniola, a former director at the presidency wrote from Lagos

  • Wanted: Competent Speaker for Kwara

    Founding members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State have urged President Muhammadu Buhari, Adams Oshiomhole, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Governor-elect Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq and APC chairman Bashir Bolarinwa to allow the best candidate to emerge as the next Speaker of the House of Assembly.

    They said the rule of law and legislative experience should not be sacrificed on the altar of sectionalism when electing the Speaker.

    The chieftains said that it would be counterproductive, if rule of law and legislative experience were jettisoned.

    Kwara Central Senatorial District Chairman Alhaji Gani Saka counseled the APC leadership to ensure that members, who had laboured were not subjected to further injustice.

    Saka said: “In as much as we will want to appreciate efforts of our dear brothers and elected members from the Kwara North, we cannot but be guided by a Yoruba proverb that says, “the blind cannot successfully lead the blind”. Therefore, we will like to declare our support for the rule of law, by clearly encouraging our party leaders to do the needful by declaring Hon. Saheed Popoola, who is the only re-elected House member among the 24 House of Assembly members-elect, as the next speaker of the House.

    “Hon. Saheed Popoola, who has the best political experience as former council secretary, member of Kwara state polytechnic governing council, Offa local government council chairman, former commissioner and the only returning House member, is qualified to be the next speaker of the House where all other members are fresher.”

    Saka called the attention of the party leader to alleged injustice saying that emergence of APC candidates for the just concluded general elections was lopsided.

    He said that members that decamped to the party were allotted 95 percent in elective positions.

    “From the position of governor-elect, deputy governor-elect, senators and House of Representatives members, down to the House of Assembly members, almost all are from the camp of our decampee members, while the foundation members were left with next to nothing in the whole arrangement.

    “It will be great injustice to again sacrifice Hon. Saheed Popoola who has sacrificed so much for the party when it was an act of political suicide for any elected party man to stand with the party against Dr. Bukola Saraki’s position, he stood with the party.

    “When all other members of the current House of Assembly members decamped to the PDP with Saraki, he stood alone with the APC in the state”, he said.

  • Rainstorm wrecks havoc in Omu-Aran, Kwara

    Not less than 50 houses had their roofs  blown off following a torrential rainstorm in Omu-Aran, Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara, on Wednesday night.

    The rainfall, which first started on a peacefully around 7 pm, lasted for about three hours.

    It was later accompanied by heavy storm destroying roof tops, uprooting tree branches and damaging electricity poles and cables in the process.

    Some of the houses affected are those located along Taiwo road, Agan-Oru market and Okore, Ile-Nla Area in the town.

    Two elderly persons were said to have been injured by falling roofing sheets and planks during the rainfall and were immediately rushed to a nearby private hospital for treatment.

    A correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) who went round to monitor the development on Thursday reports that some of the victims were seen salvaging their property from the affected houses.

    Other victims had already hired the services of carpenters to remove the damaged roofing sheets and planks in readiness for proper renovation.

    Some of the buildings also had their walls cracked or pulled down following the impact of the storm.

    Mr Abiodun Ogun, the Bussiness Manager, Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), Omu-Aran Bussiness Hub, reacting, said his men had swung into action in order to repair the affected poles and cables.

    “My men from the Fault Detection and Repair Section are already on the field and it is hoped that electricity supply will be restored very soon.

    “We are therefore appealing to our teeming customers for their understanding in this circumstance,’’ he said.

    Mr Adelodun Adewale, a victim of the rainstorm said that it was a divine intervention that his family escaped the impact of the falling roofing sheets and planks by whiskers.

    READ ALSO: 48 houses destroyed, 285 persons homeless in Plateau rainstorms

    “We had already retired to the bedroom when the rain first started normally.

    “After about two hours, the storm started and we decided to leave for the inner room and not quite five minutes later, the roof the building was blown off.

    “But we thank God that everyone in the house escaped unhurt.

    “Our appeal is to ask for assistance from all tiers of government, spirited groups and wealthy individuals in order alleviate our suffering,’’ he said.

    Mr Muyiwa Oladipo, the Chairman of Irepodun Local Government Area, during an on-the-spot assessment of the development, praised God that no life was lost during the incident.

    He commiserated with victims and promised to contact the relevant state government agencies for possible assistance.

  • Kwara teachers accuse leaders of sell-out

    Teachers under the aegis of Kwara State Concerned Teachers have accused the leadership of the state Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) of hobnobbing with the state government.

    The group said the NUT leadership has mortgaged the welfare and interest of its members.

    Speaking with The Nation, spokesperson of the concerned teachers, Mallam Abdulwahab Abubakar, therefore, urged the state incoming government to place a high premium on workers’ welfare to stabilise its administration.

    Abubakar said: “The motive of gathering is to tell the labour leaders in Kwara State that this is the time for them to come together and form a formidable power. The essence of having unions is to cater for the welfare of workers in the state.  But in Kwara State, it is as if labour leaders are not there for the workers at all.

    “The labour leaders have been hobnobbing with the government. This time around, we need virile and vibrant labour leaders that will fight for workers’ welfare in the state.

    “Besides, most of our benefits are being denied us. The benefits include leave bonus, promotion etc. Whenever these things are not being paid to workers, it behoves labour leaders to come out and demand for them. It is injurious to workers for labour and government to have a friendly relationship. In a situation where labour leaders and government have a good rapport, it means the labour leaders are not there for workers’ interest.

    “As we await the incoming government in the state, we want a formidable labour leader that will be there for the workers. The labour leaders in the state, candidly speaking, are not there for us.

    “I am making reference to NUT. NUT should close rank and form a formidable force so that teachers in the state will have relief.

    “Our advice to the incoming government is that it should take workers’ welfare as a priority.”

  • Group wants speakership position zoned to North Central

    A group, North Central Progressive Forum, (NCPF) has urged the leadership of the All Progressives Party (APC) to zone the position of Speaker of the House of Representatives in the 9th Assembly to the North Central zone.

    National Coordinator of the group, Godwin Meliga and its National Secretary, Emmanuel Abbah, in a statement in Abuja on Wednesday, said that north central remained the only zone that had not produced either the Speaker or Deputy speaker since 1999.

    The duo said the group will support the ambition of Mohammed Bago to become the speaker of the 9th Assembly.

    They urged President Muhammadu Buhari, APC Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole and members of the 9th assembly to support Bago who is from Niger state.

    Meliga said: “We have borne it upon ourselves to express to the whole world the political injustice that has been meted out against the people of this zone, even in the ongoing political calculations and scheming happening in the ranks and files of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    “It requires no further political clarification to assert that the North Central Nigeria occupies a sensitive place in not only the geographical division of the country, but also a critical political status, comprising the following states; Kogi, Kwara, Benue, Niger, Nasarawa, Plateau and the Federal Capital Territory. This logically places the zone on the same number of states as the North West zone, at seven states, with the inclusion of the Federal Capital Territory.

    Read Also: Group slams police for killing Kolade Johnson

    “It will therefore not anything close to being a misnomer or economical with the truth, if one could affirm that the North Central zone rightly deserves a special political status and consideration, in major national political discourse and decisions.

    “We therefore call on Mr. President, the National Chairmen of APC, State Governors and Honourable Members of the 9th House of Representatives to uphold the principle of natural justice and give due support to the call for an end to this political injustice against the people of North Central zone.

    “Mr. President, as a man who profess and uphold high integrity, should prove once more his unbroken commitment to the common benefit of all Nigerians, by recognising that it will be least unfair and politically incalculable, to say the least, that a North Central zone that produced the third highest votes for the President’s reelection, with  almost 2.5 million votes, winning an additional state for the APC, with many more Senators and House of Representatives Members, will again be denied the right of producing the Speaker of the 9th House of Representatives, in favour of a zone that already has the Vice President and also delivered a lesser number of votes compared to North Central zone,” he said

    Mr Abbah said the group was presenting Bago as the golden horse of the zone as the Speaker of the 9th Assembly.

    He said the north central has relinquished the position of the Senate President in strong support of a fair rotation policy.

    According to him, it will be considered as a betrayal on the efforts and support of the people of the zone, if the ruling party failed to consider and rightfully support the speaker of the House from the North Central zone.

    “Therefore, as the 9th Assembly is billed to be inaugurated by June, with all permutations playing out, the leadership of the North Central Progressive Forum uses this medium to call on all House of Representatives Members-elect, the leadership of APC and the Presidency to tow the path of honour and duly give regard to the North Central zone, if they truly believe in the overwhelming support of our people.

    “We therefore call on all Nigerians, the 9th House of Representatives Members-elect and the leadership of all the political parties in the House to give him the maximum support. A support for Hon. Bago is a support for the North Central, justice and fairness,” he said.

  • Kwara teachers accuse leaders of hobnobbing with govt

    Teachers under the aegis of Kwara state Concerned Teachers have accused the leadership of the state Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) of hobnobbing with the state government.

    The group said that the NUT leadership in the state has mortgaged the welfare and interest of its members.

    Speaking with THE NATION, Spokesperson of the concerned teachers, Mallam Abdulwahab Abubakar, urged the incoming government in to place high premium on workers’ welfare to stabilise its administration.

    Abubakar said: “The motive of gathering is to tell the labour leaders in Kwara state that this is the time for them to come together and form a formidable power.

    “The essence of having unions is to cater for the welfare of workers in the state. But in Kwara state, it is as if labour leaders are not there for the workers at all.

    “The labour leaders have been hobnobbing with the government. This time around we need virile and vibrant labour leaders that will fight for workers’ welfare in the state.

    “Besides, most of our benefits are being denied us. The benefits

    include leave bonus, promotion etc. Whenever these things are not being paid to workers, it behoves labour leaders to come out and demand for them. It is injurious to workers for labour and government to have friendly relationship. In situation where labour leaders and government have good rapport, it means the labour leaders are not there for workers’ interest.

    Read Also: Kwara workers to receive salaries this week— Governor’s aide

    “As we await the incoming government in the state, we want a formidable labour leader that will be there for the workers.

    “The labour leaders in the state, candidly speaking are not there for us. I am making reference to NUT.

    “NUT should close rank and form a formidable force so that teachers in the state will have a relief.

    “Our advice to the incoming government is that it should take workers welfare as a priority.”

    He added: “The state government was owing the teachers in the state three months’ salary arrears with some percentage. But to our surprise, we were only paid 81 percent of our March salary out of the huge amount of money that came to the coffers of the state government from the federation account.

    “It is uncalled for. We expect our leaders to come out and confront the government.”