By
Dare Babatunde
Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq brings to mind many old memories of the comedy ace, Prince Gbenga Adeboye Funwontan. His episodic propaganda in the last couple of days brings to mind the Itu Baba Ita, Alagba Lasisi Abesupinle, and Iroyin Orun kind of vibe. Who wouldn’t laugh when Adeboye is on the microphone? I doubt there is any, alive or dead. Again, the media was flooded with videos of the Governor alleging that between 2015-2018, the PDP government in Kwara State got more allocation than his administration; while threatening to release documents to back up the claims.
Perhaps, the Governor lacks critical self-evaluation of happenings in the state and is making his last Peter Orubebe efforts to persuade Kwarans not to send him away from Ahmadu Bello way in few months time. Between 2015, 2016 and 2017, Kwara share from federal allocation is between 1.8bn and 2bn compared to the consistent average 3.8bn to 4bn naira Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq received between 2019 till date. It is on record. Therefore, I am certain Kwarans are curious and anxious to see where Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq will manufacture his documents to back up his claim.
Fortunately for the state, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq recent posture of speaking when election is fast approaching continues to expose him and his limitations. He continues to set himself up in broad daylight, because if he fails to prove that Kwara got more allocation between 2015-2019 with the country experiencing its worst recessions within those years, Kwarans can hold him directly to his words. Unlike in the past when he rarely speaks and third parties doing so on his behalf.
In Abdulrazaq’s “Iroyin Orun” episode of his comedy extravaganza, he said they paid gratuities owed between 2009/2010 but mischievously left out that he received a refund amounting to billions from Federal Government which made that possible. Additionally, that the refund is part of wrong deductions from both Dr. Bukola Saraki and Abdulfatai Ahmed administrations in the State. Kwara State recently received 15 billion naira more in refund from Federal Government. Unfortunately for Kwarans, reports emerged from a reputable Civil Society Organization that the large part of the refund has been diverted for vote buying and election rigging. Not even the Commissioner for Finance knows the destination of the money as it is not in Kwara State Government purse.
Abdulrazaq Abdulrahman borrowed over 52 billion naira for projects and not a single project exists in the state. In attempting to justify his failure to commission any project in the last four years, he alleged that he is paying debts left by previous administrations. President Muhammadu Buhari has paid Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq billions of naira in refund for projects executed on behalf of the Federal Government, likewise many grants for budget performance under the administration of Abdulfatai Ahmed. It was disclosed that close to 600 billion naira has come to Kwara between 2019 till date. Can Kwarans point to projects or welfare packages that compliments this improved revenues? Beyond that, Abdulrazaq Abdulrahman is part of the Governors indicted by the Federal Government to have siphoned local government funds. Till today, Kwara State Government has refused to come out clean and prove President Muhammadu Buhari wrong.
Is Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq not aware that he is insulting the sensibility of Kwarans? Not only is he bold about it, he disrespects every efforts committed to building Kwara State and has stalled its development, hiding under immunity, billions of naira have been diverted to his bankrupt company. On numerous occasions, officers of his administration have been alleged of contracts racketeering and diversion of funds. Many appointees are company directors and directly use their companies for project execution. According to reports, Kwara risks being blacklisted by UBEC once more as SUBEB and Kwara State Government are grossly violating its guidelines.
You will note that Abdulrazaq Abdulrahman was on his feet while delivering his uninspiring address at Saliu Mustapha’s Campaign Council inauguration while claiming to be a victim of propaganda on social media. What a stand up comedian! He is the one who armed youth in the state and labelled them as “data boys” and encouraged them to embrace the label, it must be part of the indirect job creation of AA administration. Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq is Itu Baba Ita! You can’t help not laughing.
Quite sad for Saliu Mustapha, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq polluted the atmosphere with his comedy. He successfully made the event about himself and attached himself so dearly to Saliu Mustapha. Seeing how clingy Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq is to Saliu Mustapha, it is another testament that he knows he stands no chance in the upcoming election. It is right to regard AA as Saliu Mustapha’s boy, I am sure he will be pleased. Afterall, he has nothing to offer Saliu Mustapha both in votes and value, what more could he have offered than pure entertainment and comedy at such event?
In the APC’s fantasy, Governor AbdulRazaq is embarking on landmark capital legacy projects. This has to be the Alagba Lasisi Abesupinle episode of the stand up comedy extravaganza because how will projects such as Garment Factory that will be filled with tailors turn the state around? What purpose will the International Conference Centre that is kilometres away from the capital serve? What economic benefit will the Flyover in Tanke offer? From health, education, sports, what hasn’t lost its value under the present administration? There is only one doctor in the entire emergency unit of the state university hospital, what is there to boast about with such statistics?
Abdulrahman can continue to lie for as long as he wants, it is exactly what the oppositions need him to do, and they got him where they wanted him. Kwarans now know they have the greatest liar in the helms of affairs of the state.
How can Abdulrazaq Abdulrahman get 8.2 billion yet expend only 1.2 billion to settle LG workers and arrears in the state. Go to newspaper joints, local joints in Ilorin and hear what people are saying about you. Do you think they don’t know 17 billion of the 27 billion that was borrowed is untraceable? Some even have the suspicion that it must have been channeled to the Governor’s companies. Go to Idigba and tell them how much Tanke Bridge costs then hear their evaluation of you. Tell your kinsmen that you repainted a single school with over 300 million naira and watch them clap that you represented their community well.
For someone who will lose his polling unit in few months time, wasting time lying and dishing out fake figures won’t generate any sympathy or votes. Alagba Lasisi Abesupinle can continue his antics, lies, propaganda and get cheered by those who are with him to get a piece of the cake. In few months time, he will know how well he is valued and how much he worths in Kwara state. Especially those who crawl at night to see his worst enemies in the state begging to be adopted into the fold, and are still seen behind him the very next morning.
Itu Baba Ita, Alagba Lasisi Abesupinle, and Iroyin Orun have been the recent episodes Abdulrazaq Abdulrahman released to Kwarans, I am sure they are waiting for more.
