You’re not elected to fight political battles, erase Saraki, Ahmed footprints, group tells Gov Abdulrazaq

By Mumini Abdulkareem

A group, Kwara Advancement Initiative (KAI), has advised the Kwara State Governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq to shun pettiness and politics of bitterness, rather focus on governance and delivery of dividends of democracy to Kwarans.
In a statement signed by Suleiman Rasheed on behalf of KAI, the Governor was reminded that he was not voted to fight political battles or erase footprints of his predecessors in office.
“Your election was to (come) and address identified challenges confronting the state.” adding that change in the state emblem lacked economic sense and amount to “waste of resources.”
The statement which highlighted major decisions of the governor since his inauguration, noted with concern, the recent statement by the Abdulrazaq-led administration in Kwara State regarding payment of salaries and arrears of Local Government workers and SUBEB staff in the state.
“This is surprising and shocking to many Kwarans as the immediate past government of Abdulfatah Ahmed was vehemently criticised by the then opposition APC for making same excuse.
“The Maigida-led administration on different occasions said the state government was not responsible for paying LG workers, and also explained that drastic drop in federal allocation was the cause of salary delay/arrears at the local councils.
“All these explanations were refuted by the then opposition figures who lied to Kwarans that the LG funds were looted by Maigida and Saraki. We wonder why the APC government is now giving the same excuse. Is Saraki still withdrawing from LG funds as claimed by the APC in the past?
“We therefore, reject the claim by the Abdulrazaq-led government that it is not responsible for payment of LG/SUBEB workers, and demand that the government find every means to offset the arrears of the affected workers and also ensure the workers get 100% salary every month.
“Kwarans will never welcome the ridiculous excuse of State government not responsible for payment of  LG workers. It was never accepted in the past and will not be accepted now. Or better still, the likes of Akogun Oyedepo, Baba Rex and the likes must come out to apologise to Kwarans for misleading and misinforming them on the state of things,” the group said.
On the change of state’s emblem, KAI said, “We view the recent unjustifiable change of the State emblem by the Abdulrazaq administration as petty, ludicrous and counterproductive. This change is of no value to Kwarans and also undermines our collective interests and distinct values as a people.
“Changing the state emblem with no justifiable reason makes no economic sense and amounts to waste of resources. Of what essence is the change of emblem to the development and progress of the state? How will it put food on the table of masses in the state? The millions of tax payers’ money that will go into effecting the new change could be used for something more productive and beneficial to ordinary Kwarans.
“Instead of engaging in pettiness and politics of bitterness, Governor Abdulrazaq is advised to focus on governance and delivery of dividends of democracy to Kwarans who elected him. You were not voted to fight political battles or erase the footprints of your predecessors in office, but to address identified challenges confronting us – emblem is definitely none of those challenges.
Concerning the allegation of fake schools, the group said, “It was recently alleged that there are over 200 fake schools across Kwara which were reportedly used by officials of the immediate past government of Abdulfatah Ahmed to loot state funds. The allegation was, however, dismissed as untrue by the Permanent Secretary of the state Ministry of Education.
“We invite Kwarans to note these counter accusations and demand the state government to set the records straight. Kwarans deserve to know. We also urge the government to publish the outcome of the screening exercise.
It added that on the ‘Operation No Pothole’, “We were delighted when the state government commenced fixing of potholes on roads within the metropolis. It is however, disturbing that the rehabilitation works on our roads have since stopped, and the government has not deemed it fit to give any explanation.
“We, therefore, demand explanation and ask the state government to resume work immediately as some of our roads are in bad shape.