*Waking the desolate Kwara PDP from its 6-year slumber*
Ibraheem Abdullateef
Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq recorded another historic feat, when he inaugurated the Osi Campus of Kwara State University (KWASU) on Wednesday. Everyone is excited about the accomplishment and the opportunities it bears for the state. Expectedly, the usual suspect, Kwara People's Democratic Party (PDP), is not happy. The feat is an indictment on them. On the one hand, it shows the political maturity of Governor AbdulRazaq, which their leaders lacked. On the other, it also brings into perspective the lack of sustainability, ineffectiveness, and mismanagement on the part of their leaders.
The latest statement by Kwara PDP was to cover the inadequacies of its leaders, and divert attention from the accolades trailing the Governor following completion of the landmark project.
The style of Governor AbdulRazaq is so unique. He is completing abandoned projects of his predecessors, building his own, and not leaving out the basic things that matter to the people in the mix. Combining all these was a tall order for the Saraki dynasty. Where they were not decimating the projects of their predecessors, they were shamelessly owing
workers' salaries, killing the basic education and healthcare systems.
Now, to the claim that the notorious liar, Olusegun, made in his latest press release. Is it true that Governor AbdulRazaq is just commissioning his first project in 6 years?
During his first term, the Governor inaugurated the Osi-Obbo-Aiyegunle road. The backstory to this is that the people had waited for some 40 years for this to take place. The people of Osi were at various times deceived on the road construction by the Saraki dynasty. The jinx was finally broken under Governor AbdulRazaq, and the 11.16km artery road that connects the state to neighbouring Ekiti in the Southwest has since been commissioned. How could Sholyment forget this important event that affects the region he claims to hail from? Is he, like his leaders, simply unconcerned about the plights of the people of Osi and neighbouring communities that the road now serves?
Also in the same Kwara South region, the Governor inaugurated the Esie Museum road which leads to the famed National Museum, Esie. Just like Osi-Obbo-Aiyegunle road, the Esie Museum road had also suffered years of neglect in the hands of Sholyment's paymasters. Governor AbdulRazaq constructed it and brought an end to the long wait.
Moving to Kwara North, HE AbdulRazaq also inaugurated the popular Kano road upon completion of construction. The road connects the Emir's Palace to Maro, a suburb of Okuta.
A big believer in empowering the vulnerable people especially persons living with disabilities, the Governor also inaugurated the refurbished school for special needs clinic.
In the same first term, the Governor inaugurated Nootia FM, the first-ever radio station in the whole of Kwara North. Before the remarkable intervention, the people of the region were listening to stations in neighbouring Benin Republic. Governor AbdulRazaq established Nootia FM to end that regime, creating employment opportunities for young people and opening up the economy of its host community of Okuta. We all were witnesses to how the Saraki dynasty treated the state-owned media with disdain. From not paying up NBC licence fees, to owing workers in the media establishments, to failing to equip them to standard, which paved the way for skeletal operations. Remarkable transformation has happened in this regard.
Similarly, the administration completed and commissioned the 2000-capacity Auditorium at Kwara State Polytechnic whose groundwork was laid by former Governor Muhammed Lawal. Due to political differences, Bukola Saraki and his acolyte Abdulfatah Ahmed failed to complete this important project. They attempted to kill it, but Governor AbdulRazaq brought it back to life and concluded it.
Of course, there are several other projects in road, healthcare, education scattered across the three senatorial districts the Governor has executed to the benefit of the people. At least we have over 300 including new, reconstructed, and interlock access roads in that fold. The Garment Factory and Sugar Film Factory, two visionary projects of Governor AbdulRazaq, are now running, having a quality number of Kwarans in their employ. The Film Factory drew the great and the good of Nollywood to Ilorin for the BON Awards late last year. That was the first time ever Kwara would be hosting the event.
If Sholyment feigns ignorance of the projects commissioned by Governor AbdulRazaq two years ago, how will he explain away the ones inaugurated just recently in the second term?
In 2024, Governor AbdulRazaq inaugurated and opened the remodelled Flower Garden to use. The facility is a great addition to our recreational facilities in the state. People now storm it to experience its aesthetics and greenery. Sholyment sure knows what those he hero-worships left there. It was already a breeding ground for thuggery, robbery and all manner of evil acts.
It was also the same day the Governor inaugurated the Yebumot-Adeta and the Adeta-Oloje roads, which were renamed General Mohammed Abdullahi Adangba and Sheikh Yahaya Muritado Agodi roads.
Representing the Governor, the Deputy Governor HE Kayode Alabi was also in Jebba about the same time to inaugurate the Jebba Waterworks, contributing to the major investments of the administration in water. We still recall how people that dwell in the state capital struggled behind water tankers to get water during the dark days of the Saraki dynasty. That has stopped with intentional and meaningful investments by Governor AbdulRazaq.
In a single breath, I have outlined at least 10 projects above that were inaugurated. This gives the lie to the desolate PDP's claim. If they have doubts, I invite them to search for any of these on Google. As we were already aware they have been dormant and slumbering in the last 6 years, one truly hopes this gives them a reawakening as to why the people of the state are firmly behind Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for bringing growth and sustainable development to them.
•Abdullateef is the Senior Special Assistant on Communication to Kwara Governor
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