The emergence of the candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Hon Razak Atunwa and his All Progressives Congress (APC) counterpart, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has generated reactions from members of the public who have argued that the election is going to be a two-horse race. However, political pundits in the state have began drawing comparism between the two contenders to evaluate who stands a better chance to emerge as governor come 2019. HEAD POLITICS, MUMINI ABDULKAREEM, writes on the issue.
The race for who becomes the governor of Kwara state in March 2nd is set. This follows the lifting of electioneering campaigns after the conclusion of party primaries in line with the directive of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). In view of the present situation, the issue of who emerges the next governor in the state is centred on the candidates of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) and the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the two main parties in the state. To this end, the contest has been limited to a straight fight between billionaire businessman and oil magnate, AbdulRazaq AbdurRahman and former Speaker of Kwara State House of Assembly and chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Judiciary, Hon Razak Atunwa.
The events that led to the emergence of the duo presented a contrast of sort in the political narrative of the state. While the PDP went for Indirect Primaries which gives the delegates the power to decide the party’s candidate, the APC went for a somewhat fresh concept with the Direct Primaries that is supposed to give the ordinary party members across the state the authority to elect the party’s contestant.
But following the emergence of the two flag bearers, the narrative has shifted to who between the two gladiators will be a better candidate in the arena considering their political antecedents and pedigree in relation with their understanding of the political terrain of the state. That analysis forms the thrust of this report.
RAZAK ATUNWA
Structure: Although, Hon Razak Atunwa lived most of his formative years in London where he bagged his first and second degrees in Law, he has learned the ropes very fast since he first emerged in the political scene in Kwara State and has seamlessly keyed into the philosophy of the political dynasty of late Baba Saraki. Under the leadership of Bukola Saraki, the inheritor of the late Oloye’s structure, Atunwa has a very formidable dynasty to rely on for electoral victories and has never lost a single election since then. With such support, he became the Commissioner for Land and Housing, Information and Home Affairs, Works and Transport and then Finance before his election as Speaker of the 7th Kwara State House of Assembly to represent Owode/Onire state constituency. It was that structure that he also rode to the House of Representatives and he is expected to benefit from in 2019.
Experience: After working in four different ministries in his thirties, Atunwa’s constancy in government since 2003 when he was first appointed has benefitted him with executive and legislative experience. Coupled with his stint at the National Assembly as the chairman of the House Committee on Judiciary and member of many investigative committees, he comes into the picture with a very rich executive, legislative and judicial experience that stands him very tall above his fellow contestants. He also has the wherewithal to operate at the highest level of governance. Although, he entered the race late, Atunwa indicated his preparedness for the job and demonstrated he understands the dynamics of grassroots politics when he flagged off his solely funded Atunwa Road Restoration Projects to grade roads in the state and complement the efforts of the government in provision of infrastructure which has been applauded by residents across Kwara Central. He has also adopted the slogan of Kwara First which many of his apologists say demonstrates his loyalty to develop the state.
Past Records/Achievements: In all his previous positions where he had served, Atunwa has demonstrated the real essence of good representation and provision of dividends of democracy to the electorates. As the Honourable member representing Ilorin West/Asa Federal constituency, Atunwa empowered and provided scholarships for over 542 beneficiaries across the two local governments. He constructed classrooms and boreholes across wards in the two local governments in Adewole, Badari, Wara Osin, Alanamu and Efue Berikodo among others. He also constructed Ogundele Mandi road in Asa/Ilorin West. During his period as Commissioner for Works and Transport, the first ever fly over in Kwara State was initiated and completed including the reconstruction of Ahmadu Bello Avenue dual carriage way, the dualisation of Offa Garage/Dangote road and construction of Ilorin International Aviation College. He also supervised the construction of Mandate Housing Estate in Omu-Aran, Offa and Kaiama, repositioned the state owned radio and television stations as Commissioner for Information. While at the Finance Ministry, the Kwara State financial transactions were adjudged the best in Nigeria by Fitch ratings, one of the biggest globally recognised credit rating agencies in the world. His tenure as Speaker saw to the passage of far reaching laws that positively impacted the state and made the legislature platform for good governance through consistent oversight functions, quality legislation and effective mechanism for passage of Appropriation Bill into law
Dynamism/Welfarism: Born in October, 1969, Atunwa at 49 belongs to the class of young Kwarans in governance who represents the clamour for a paradigm shift being accentuated with the Not-Too-Young-to-Run concept playing out in the country right now. He possessed the requisite strength and energy to upscale the pace of governance in Kwara State. Atunwa is generous and very popular with the “Atunwa One” slogan that had stuck with him since 2011 when he initially indicted interest to run for governor and he is regarded as a core welfarist. He has also shown to be a very loyal party man and he is seen as a fitting personality to balance party politics with government policies for the interest of the state and citizens. With his version of stomach infrastructure and top welfarist policies that have qualitatively empowered and impacted beneficiaries, Atunwa still has the grassroots support and appeal to rally the people to support government policies. Since his emergence, he has rallied and enlisted the support of his fellow contestants and his constituency back home in Asa to support the project towards a historical emergence of an indigene as governor.
ABDULRAHMAN ABDULRAZAQ
Faulty Primary: For Alhaji Abdulrazaq AbdulRahman, the billionaire businessman and oil magnate, his emergence as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the gubernatorial election in Kwara state next year was majorly based on two factors. According to sources in the party, the son of the first lawyer from northern part of Nigeria from Ilorin, Alhaji AbdulGaniyu Abdul-Razaq (SAN) is believed to possess the deep war chest to prosecute the election and also has the support of the Tinubu Lagos axis who has reportedly vowed to defeat Saraki dynasty at home. However, the party governorship primary that produced him has left the party more divided than united and the cracks from that exercise is yet to be fully mended.
Lack of Structure: Unlike Atunwa who has consistently won elections, AbdurRahman has constantly lost all the elections he had contested. Although the party has stuck with him as their candidate, the process that produced him polarised the party with the attendant bitterness yet to be completely healed. Except making himself available during period of elections, the Adewole ward politician is legendary for dumping the people and the party after every election and it is believed the 2019 contest will not be different. In term of structure, his supporters believed his money will do the magic, but that narrative is not encouraging with many questioning his commitment and loyalty to the course of the community. In terms of having a solid political structure that can challenge Saraki’s dynasty, the APC candidate is way off the pack. Except now that he has made few overtures to people like Lukman Mustapha and Kawu Modibo who contested with him, his previous foray had always ended in disaster and division with his fellow party men. Up till this moment, there are some of his family members who have vowed to vote for Saraki’s candidate than their kinsman because they have benefitted more from the latter than the former.
Societal/Social Impact: Although AbdulRazaq is said to have impacted the lives of some younger businessmen outside the state, same cannot be said about his constituency back home where he has no business interest whatsoever. When he dumped the oil business for politics at a time because of some issue of management, he floated a football club known as FC Abuja, which was said to have recorded some modest success in the sporting world according to report. But comparing that with ABS football club which has impacted Kwarans says a lot about his commitment to Ilorin community and its economy.
Lack of Experience: As a politician, AbdurRahman lacks political experience (he has never been in government) to govern the state. He has also not demonstrated the commitment as somebody who is in politics for service. For many Ilorites, his choice by the party goes beyond just money but his connection with the Tinubus in Lagos. That may also count against him in the perception of some people back home. According to some Ilorin indigenes, a vote for Rahman is a vote to trade the revered traditional institution represented by the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu Gambari.
