Of Abdulrahman's Bullying, Arrests And Total Collapse Of Democratic Institutions
By Dare Babatunde
Sometimes, I wonder what the cabinet members and aides of Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq will write in their book after leaving office. What will they write on him? Will they take the path of Segun Adeshina who dedicated an entire book to tell us how nice and meek Buhari was as President, not his achievements and sagacity while in office?
Will Academia ever find any merit and original ideas, worthy of documentation, study, policy evaluation, and administration during Abdulrahman's reign? Many of his appointees that I know speak well of his person which some people believe is because they paid for the love though I barely argue with them, why? Because I see the Governor as Brymo, a renowned Nigerian musician, very controversial and infamous, but gifted. You can admit on his talent, and also embrace the fact that he is uniquely dull and unsound as a person.
Therefore, the Governor can be a very nice person truly, but governance wise, he sits at the mountain top of the dullest Nigerian Governors ever seen. It hurts me to present this reality as crude and raw as possible. Believe me, I tried to borrow a better description from John Grisham, Hardley Chase and even our dear Chinua Achebe, all of them frowned at me for attempting fraud, saying anything otherwise than the reality that stares at us under this administration is a fraud attempt.
So far, many journalists have been put behind bars, members of opposition have had their share, patriotic citizens have suffered similar fate, why? Because the present administration can't embrace criticisms. The format of slamming a lawsuit on an Islamic cleric in Ilorin is familiar, the person to first do that was Muritala Muhammed, who slammed a lawsuit against a journalist who allegedly defamed him. Many were surprised that a sitting military head of state would file a lawsuit in court instead of picking up the person, with all the power at his disposal. While Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq's recent vocation and exploration could have been attractive, the departing point is that he doesn't possess Muritala's credibility and public trust, nor are people critical of the former head of state's antecedent, but everyone knows Mallam Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, he needs to be reminded of this.
Nobody distracts Mallam Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq as much as he distracts himself. There is a popular Indian movie tilted "Like Stars on Earth," the story of a dyslexic pupil, whom no matter how much they try to simplify a topic for him, in his head, scenarios and different ridiculous imaginations are created to the point that he smiles at himself in satisfaction. A teacher was kind enough to understand his problem, how was he able to? The teacher was dyslexic as a child and ridiculed for it. Thus, we all have to soak ourselves in Mallam Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq's thought process, if not we will never understand him, there is a defect in that mind that amazes us, curious minds must attempt to sit in that muddy thought factory of the present leader of the state.
Throughout the peak of the Kwara Hotel saga, the Abdulrahman-led administration, having failed to convince the public on the ridiculous amount budgeted for the renovation of Kwara Hotel embraced silence, expecting the issue to die a natural death, banked on events covering it, and wait till it perhaps runs out of relevance. None of the critical questions asked were answered. Instead, a crude attempt was made to colonise people's mind, and like a magician, they created numerous illusions to the point that citizens almost forgot where the discussion started, or what the issues were to begin with. In their geniuses, they quickly label great concerns as opposition, even if it comes from within their party.
Benue State has scheduled July 6 for its local governments election, that is a troubled state, less peaceful than Kwara. Borno has concluded its local government election months ago, despite insurgency in the State. However, Kwara that is relatively peaceful, citizens of the state have consistently called for LG elections year-in-and-out. Yet, the Government continues to act deaf, the assurance of February by KWASIEC has expired likewise that of march we are in April, neither the Government nor the people know when LG election will hold in Kwara State. This does not bother the Governor, but all criticisms, no matter how relevant or irrelevant get responded at the speed of light. They act like a bird hunter who can't bear to see a single bird escape or fly without being shot, that is how they treat criticisms amidst collapse of institutions in the state.
No details on Tanke flyover, ongoing Unity bridge, Adeta road remains a menace, you beautified a roundabout instead that has grown grasses again, so many sponsored projects without details. No one knows what comes in allocation for both state and LGs, except they go extra mile to obtain details. Details of loans obtained, what they were used for, how they were expended are shrouded in secrecy. In fact, applications and approvals of those loans happen without informing the public. Yet, you don't want criticisms?
Millions can be spent on projects today, and they get pulled down tomorrow by same Government. Yet, you don't want questions asked. What a pity! What a pity! What a pity!
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