Although the new All Progressives Congress (APC) government of Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq is just some few weeks old in office, events within the party have 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 the thrust of this report.
A powerful block within the ruling party in Kwara state, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has made strong allegations against Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq whom it accused of executing a plan to set up another hegemony similar to the Saraki dynasty 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 already been hijacked by his family members.
The group also alleged that the Governor was planning to revenge alleged ill-treated to the traditional institution in the state over issue of favoritism with the bequeathing of traditional titles to persons in the state.
It said it โCondemn 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 attack against the traditional institution in Ilorinโ.
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 read that: โThe 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.
โThe above-listed men of courage all went to the field spending their money, mobilizing logistics and resources while hoping for an interesting and unbiased party primaries. But interestingly, few weeks to the primaries, a thick rumor began to smoke out that there was an anointed candidate in the person of Alhaji Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq.
โAt the initial stage, we as a group did not take the rumors too serious, we thought it was a usual political jamboree from the stable of opposition aimed at dismantling the hard labour of progressives at the wake of the primary, hence, we enjoined all aspirants to discard such a rumour and proceed with their individual mobilization and preparation towards the primaries.
โAs 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 rumor was established and Abdulrahman emerged to the amazement of other aspirants who had invested so much energy and resources to the struggle. As human, we were all bittered 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,โ the group said.
Revealing how the party, APC, during the primaries neglected the feelings of bitterness expressed by the other aspirants, and how the expectations of allowing the other aspirants who lost out to Abdulrahman to pick a deputy governorship candidate from amongst themselves was again dashed, KETF said โMr. Kayode Alabi, a man with long history of family relationship with Abdulrazaq family came to the fore as running mate.
โIt is not a joke therefore that the reality unfolding so far after our victory have only been favorable to the Abdulrazaq family alone at the expense of other interest groups which make up the APC.โ
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 โhas 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.โ 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, โWe 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,โ 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.โ
The governor was also requested 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 โunder which service delivery can be guaranteed.โ
According to the Insider, efforts to get across to Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq for reactions to the allegations contained in this report was not successful adding โHowever, our contact person kept assuring us that we would receive a mail that will clarify all we wanted to know which โnever cameโ before the report was filed then.
It also said attempts to reach the Kwara State chairman of APC, Bashir Bolarinwa for comment failed โBut a young member of the party who spoke to one of our correspondents from Abuja on the issue simply said, โI don’t have details. My prayer is for Kwara not to move from frying pan to fireโ, the report concluded.
However, it would be worthy of note that since the report was first publish few weeks ago, some of the allegation of wanting 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.
Culled from Insider
