Although the new All Progressives Congress (APC) government of Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq is just some few weeks old in office, events within the ruling party has prompted reports of internal rife and bickering especially as regards the recent report by some party stakeholders accusing Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq’s family members of undue domination of the government. That narrative forms thrust of this report.
A powerful bloc within the ruling party in Kwara State, APC has made strong allegations against Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq whom it accused of executing plan to set up hegemony in the state.
In a strongly worded statement released recently in Ilorin, the group, which goes by the name Kwara Elites for Total Freedom (KETF), expressed fears that the (recent) administration of Governor Abdulrazaq has been hijacked by his family members.
The group also alleged that the Governor was planning to revenge alleged ill treatment by the traditional institution in the state over issue of favouritism by bequeathing of traditional titles on some people in the state.
It said it “Condemn in strong terms the strategic takeover of Government by only Abdulrazaq family at the expense of other progressives. We also request that the Abdulrazaq family should restrain from its planned vengeance against the traditional institution in Ilorin”.
Detailing the intrigues that preceded the APC governorship primaries, the group recalled how many of the APC leaders who invested their resources and risked their lives in the struggle for the political freedom of Kwara State were shoved aside, while Abdulrazaq Abdulrahman (one of the aspirants then) was imposed on the others.
The statement further reads “The plot to build a political dynasty for the Abdulrazaqs dated back to the pre-primary elections of our party where several aspirants indicated interest in the gubernatorial contest, some of these aspirants include: Professor Oba Abdulraheem, Hon. Moshood Mustapha, Akeem Lawal, Mallam Saliu Mustapha, Sobi FM boss, Lukman Mustapha, former Commissioner, Kale Belgore, Yaman Abdullahi, Mallam Gobir and Ambassador Abdulfatai Yahaya Sheriki.
“The above listed men of courage all went to the field spending their money, mobilising logistics and resources while hoping for an interesting and unbiased party primaries. But interestingly, few weeks to the primaries, there was the rumour that there was an anointed candidate in the person of Alhaji Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq.
“At the initial stage, we as a group did not take the rumours too serious, we thought it was a usual political jamboree from the stable of opposition aimed at dismantling the hard labour of progressives in the wake of the primary, hence, we enjoined all aspirants to disregard it and proceed with their individual mobilisation and preparation towards the primaries.
“As part of the drama which marred the primaries, direct and indirect primaries became subject of argument in which the former was later adopted by the NWC of the party. Alas! The rumours was established and Abdulrahman emerged to the amazement of other aspirants who had invested so much energy and resources into the struggle. As human, we were all embittered by this ugly development but because of our zeal and commitments to the struggle ahead of us, we set our individual grievances aside and joined hands with the party’s decision to support Abdulrahman’s bid,” the group said.
It revealed, the party, APC’s insensitivity to feelings of other aspirants, and how the expectation of picking a deputy governorship candidate from amongst the aspirants that lost out was again dashed, KETF said “Mr. Kayode Alabi, a man with long history of family relationship with Abdulrazaq family came to the fore as running mate.
“It is not a joke therefore that the reality unfolding so far after our victory has only been favourable to the Abdulrazaq family alone at the expense of other interest groups which make up the APC.”
While providing details of the alleged plot to build an Abdulrazak hegemony in Kwara State, the statement disclosed that it obtained information to the effect that Governor Abdulrahaman’s older brother Isiaka Abdulrazaq “has already penciled down one of their immediate cousins, Dr.Yusuf Lawal for the position of Chief of Staff, while one 79 year old Engineer Adisa Logun was billed to be the Secretary to the State Government.” The assertion was slightly tinkered with as Logun instead emerged the Chief of Staff and Lawal lost out from the SSG race.
According to the group, “We condemn in totality the attempt of Abdulrazaq family to dominate the government and deprive other progressives the opportunity to be identified in a government they suffered to entrench,” the group emphasized.
Coming to the allegation of an alleged plan to tinker with the traditional institution in the Emirate, the APC stakeholder group claimed the reason was as a result of a supremacy battle between
Closing with a warning, the group reminded Governor Abdulrahman that the liberation struggle that brought him to office was primarily for Kwarans and development of Kwara and not for the sole interest of the Abdulrazaq family.”
The governor was also asked not to use a collective mandate won by hardworking progressives in Kwara and beyond for vengeance, but instead deploy it to promote peace and harmony in the state “under which service delivery can be guaranteed.”
According to the Insider, efforts to get across to Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq for reactions to the allegations contained in the report was not successful, adding “However, our contact person kept assuring us that we would receive a mail that will clarify all we wanted to know which “never came” before the report was filed.
It also said attempts to reach the Kwara State chairman of APC, Bashir Bolarinwa for comment failed “But a member of the party who spoke to one of our correspondents from Abuja on the issue simply said, “I don’t have details. My prayer is for Kwara not to move from frying pan to fire”.
However, it would be worthy of note that since the report was first publish few weeks ago, some of the allegations of attempting to tinker with the tradition institution of the emirate has not only been disproved, the Governor has gone ahead to show tremendous respect for the traditional institution in the state and has revered the Emir of Ilorin and the Head of the traditional institution in the state, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari.
On the other hand, the allegation of him running the government with greater input from some members of his family considered as very influential has continued to gain momentum in the polity which some stakeholders have warned should be corrected to avoid further distraction for the new government to meet the huge expectation of the people in line with the party’s various campaign promises.
