TO SPEAK AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT OF MAL. ABDULRAHMAN ABDULRAZAQ SINCERELY REQUIRES A DEGREE OF SHAMELESSNESS

 *TO SPEAK AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT OF MAL. ABDULRAHMAN ABDULRAZAQ SINCERELY REQUIRES A DEGREE OF SHAMELESSNESS*

I came across a press release in which someone stated that he or she left the APC because they were ashamed of defending the party. The question that immediately comes to mind is: which APC government is this person referring to—the state government or the Federal Government?

Another question naturally follows: what, exactly, is this person ashamed of in the APC?

Whatever the answer may be, everyone is entitled to an opinion. However, that press release reminds me of a basic political reality: it takes a considerable degree of shamelessness for any Kwaran politician who once operated either as an OtoGe or an Otunya supporter to openly speak against the APC government in Kwara today. You may ask why.

For an OtoGe supporter who not only witnessed but actively exposed the decay of the previous administration, and who is now witnessing the development strides Kwara has recorded in the last seven years—not to mention the testimonies of civil servants whose working conditions have considerably improved—to turn around and speak against this government would suggest that good governance was never truly their priority.

It would amount to an open confession that such a person was not genuinely opposed to the alleged looting they condemned under the Dynasty, but merely coveted the opportunity to take over the system and loot even more, without contributing anything meaningful to the development of Kwara. Yet, it takes a special degree of shamelessness for anyone to openly assume such a position.

For the Otunya supporters, the performance of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has equally exposed the mismanagement, misappropriation and waste that occurred during the tenure they so passionately defended. Even the blind can see the difference the present administration is making.

Ordinarily, every committed supporter of Otunya should be covering their face in shame at what the present government is accomplishing—if this were an environment where sound judgement and political honesty prevailed.

Instead, Otunya supporters will continue to hide behind differences in allocations as an excuse for their failures. But if salaries have increased fourfold and the cost of materials has increased fivefold, then it is reasonable to establish the comparison: what Dr. Bukola bought for ₦1 billion and Alhaji Abdulfatah bought for ₦2 billion is reportedly what Mallam AbdulRahman is buying for ₦10 billion today.

The implication is straightforward: the allocations received by AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq as governor are still far below those received by Bukola Saraki or Abdulfatah Ahmed, despite the dramatically higher cost of governance and materials.

Someone suggested that the person may be referring to the hardship being experienced by people in the country. But that explanation cannot reasonably hold, because a PDP politician in Kwara has already signed up to be associated with the economic policies of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, under which these hardships are being presented as necessary sacrifices.

There is no prevailing situation in Kwara that can reasonably be attributed solely to the failure of the governor. Anyone who leaves the APC for the PDP cannot condemn the APC government without also acknowledging that Wike, as a prominent figure within the political structure supporting their new political platform, is part of the Federal Government and therefore among those who must share responsibility for any perceived failure at the federal level.

Therefore, claiming to be ashamed of defending the APC after decamping to the Kwara PDP is not merely an expression of shamelessness; it is also a glaring display of political inconsistency, if not outright confusion.

Someone may argue that the reason is connected to the way the governor handled the party primaries. But I would ask: is that based on the narrative being promoted by those who deliberately engineered a crisis to justify their defection, or is it based on the actual reality?

I remember that it was captured on video that the Olofa removed Ashiru as senator; a Kwara North traditional ruler removed my good Senator, Sadiq; and Saliu Mustapha had reportedly agreed to serve only one term before taking the Kwara Central Senatorial seat.

The only “sin” Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq is reported to have committed is his support for the zoning of the Kwara State governorship to Kwara North.

Blaming him for all these developments is simply convenient because the governor has chosen not to join issues with them by going on radio or social media to publicly debunk every allegation and narrative being circulated against him.

Simply put, virtually everyone who has left the APC today has, in one way or another, confessed that they left because they were defeated in the primaries.

You left your party because you lost a primary?

How glorious is that?

It is certainly not a badge of honour. Rather, it reflects a level of political greed that produces a self-centred disposition and a “get it by all means” mentality.

No serious politician would willingly build a political partnership with people who cannot accept the outcome of a fair primary but instead seek to invalidate the result whenever it does not favour them. Such a disposition only creates the expectation that they will attempt the same thing again whenever circumstances change.

But the greatest act of shamelessness of all is returning to the very vomit you once condemned—joining the Dynasty you previously exposed as looters, while effectively telling Kwarans that good governance is less important than your personal ambition for power.

It means telling the people that, for the sake of your selfish political ambition, you are prepared to return Kwara to the very people you once accused of looting it.

Sincerely, it takes an extraordinary degree of shamelessness for anyone to openly speak against the government of Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq in Kwara today.

And, to be honest, many self-acclaimed Kwara Progressives are now redefining political integrity and honour while simultaneously rewriting the aims and objectives of what the Kwara Progressives Pioneer represented into nothing more than an avenue for greed and selfish political pursuit.

That, to me, represents the highest level of shamelessness a politician can display.

Just passing by,

Bisi Kristien