By
David Titiloye
A wise man once said “Any government that you see reeling out massive appointments instead of commissioning projects during the electioneering period is a failed government and such government shouldn’t be considered for reelection. The government has lost popularity amongst the people.”
These words best describes the case of the embattled Kwara state governor, HE AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq who has lost all his experienced “war generals” and is now mobilizing “youth corp members” for war following the line of argument that corp members are part of the national defense policy having gone through the 3 weeks drilling at their orientation camp.
One noteworthy fact I have observed about Nigerian politicians is that failure brings out the ingenuity in them. Although Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has gotten a backlash for the recent appointment bazaar, I’ll be uncritical of him in this piece for selfish reasons because I believe if I sing his praises well enough, I most likely will be the next person to be appointed from my family, after all “Emi lokan”.
After all, the CPS to the governor, Mallam Rafiu Ajakaye whom I hope won’t send me to Oke Kura prison for mentioning his name, in a recent conversation online unapologetically confirmed that the appointments by the governor is purely political while insisting that it is done in saner climes. He literally confirmed to us that the administration of our dear state is no longer in the hands of technocrats but a free for all cake as long as you are able to kiss the ring of the governor.
Everyone criticizing my dear governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq is only myopic and failing to see the big picture of the good His Excellency is doing. Thanks to the “appointing governor”, every youth in Kwara is now able to dream that irrespective of your qualifications and competency, you can some day find yourself in the government house, after all he laid the template for anyone with questionable SSCE certificate to become governor, he also set the pace for appointing university undergraduates into office. Infact, record has it that his former commissioner for sports was still a serving corp member when she was appointed.
If we are patient enough a secondary school student will soon partake of this appointment bonanza, after all, it’s ijoba mekunu, ajosepo wa ni. Nothing speaks better to inclusivity than this.
The good governor has also taught us a new way of taking government to the grassroot which is that you don’t have to do anything spectacular, commission projects, provide social amenities, or lift the people out of poverty, just appoint someone from each town or ward depending on their population and you’ve successfully brought government closer to the people. Knowing how clannish Nigerians can be, is it possible that my people will hear that I have been appointed by the state governor and not vote for us in 2023 because their “son” is in government while forgetting that no significant development has come to them in 4 years?. I must commend the governor for truly believing that Kwarans are suffering from selective amnesia and tossing them a bone is enough reason for them to forget his misdeeds.
Conclusively, heading to the 2023 elections, Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and his party APC, have successfully conducted a voter mass sensitisation program by ensuring that when next politicians come to campaign with a buzzword, we must not make the error of assuming we understand what they mean. APC promised “Change” but we failed to ask if it was positive or negative change or a change that moves us from prosperity to poverty. AbdulRahman in the same vein promised us “Ijoba Mekunu”, little did we know that his mantra doesn’t translate to taking the good dividends of government closer to the people but bringing the mekunu to the government house since that is the best place in Kwara state.
Thank you Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, I am David Titiloye from Owu-Isin just incase you wish to send my appointment letter sir.
