By Wahab Oba
In the face of mounting accusations of tyranny, vindictiveness, despotism, and a glaring lack of empathy, Governor AbdulRahman continues to respond with lies and empty allegations, completely ignoring the overwhelming evidence of his recklessness and profligacy. Like a dog that barks too much to cover its fear, he evades the critical questions that matter most.
The N1 billion reportedly approved but only partly released for fraudulent and rigged local government elections remains unaccounted for. The N17.9 billion balance of the N27.9 billion bond he collected is hidden away, leaving Kwarans to wonder which bank shelters this public wealth. Even more concerning is the lack of explanation for how the cost of renovating Kwara Hotel ballooned from N5 billion to a staggering N17.8 billion. The much-talked-about Tanke Bridge, originally planned to run from Tanke to Oki Oyi, stands as a symbol of this administration’s incompetence, yet Ogbeni Alade stays silent.
It is said, “When a goat enters the market, it no longer fears the butcher.” Ogbeni Alade, like a fish blinded by the murky waters of suspicion, has shut his ears to the people’s cries. To him, everyone is an enemy; even those who once stood with him on the Otoge journey have now become his fiercest critics. He flaunts his arrogance, boasting that he can lock himself indoors for months without meeting anyone, as though the affairs of the state are merely an afterthought.
The truth is clear: A man who has no stake in the soil of his homeland cares little for its harvest. His investments are scattered far beyond Nigeria’s borders. As the saying goes, “When the tree falls, the birds fly.” Once his grip weakens, Alade will flee, leaving the state looted and barren.
Now, he has turned his frustrations onto civil servants, as though they are to be blamed for the failed local government elections. He allegrdly walked out on them during negotiation for a new minimum wage, yet another act of vindictiveness. But as the elders say, “When a man beats the drum of injustice too long, the dance will turn against him.”
The endless lies against Saraki no longer hold water. His fixation on Saraki is merely a diversion, and the people are no longer fooled. Saraki is no longer in charge. He has played his part, and history will judge all fairly. Now, it’s about the people— Kwarans. They demand accountability, transparency, and the right to sleep with their two eyes closed. Kwara South is under siege by kidnappers and armed robbers, forcing traditional rulers to abandon their domains for safer locations. Alade must tell us his plans for securing the environment.
Farmers can no longer go to their farms because of the rampant insecurity. While other states are insentivicing farmers by buying hundreds of tractors to boost agriculture and ensure food security, Alade is busy in cosmetic asphalt relaying of city roads, leaving roads leading to rural farming communities in deplorable condition, further threatening the state’s agricultural sector and food security.
Saraki did not demolish shops without adequate notice or compensation. He did not ruin the livelihoods of Crystal Place tenants with a mere three-hour notice, denying them their means of survival. This isn’t about Saraki; it’s about the people. What plans does Alade have for compensating those whose shops were recklessly demolished? An idle hand is the devil’s workshop, and Ilorin must not be turned into a haven for criminality.
While the children of the common man struggle to find employment, Alade’s cronies are allegedly selling off employment slots meant for the people as political patronage. Jobs that should be allocated based on merit are being sold to the highest bidders, leaving ordinary Kwarans without opportunities while Alade’s men heartlessly enrich themselves.
And no one can talk to Alade—not even his own party members, let alone traditional rulers. The governor has become untouchable, ignoring advice, shutting out dissent, and acting as though he is above reproach. Those who try to engage him are met with a wall of arrogance, further deepening the disconnect between his government and the people he is supposed to serve. For Alade, it is a government of exclusivity—a small circle of loyalists benefiting while the majority are sidelined, their voices silenced.
It’s no longer about Saraki. It’s also about the communities whose traditional rulers Alade allegedly summoned from Lagos to report to Ilorin in the dead of night. It’s about the traditional institutions whose customs and heritage you have trampled on. A leader who dishonors his people’s heritage can not be trusted to protect their future.
At a time when other states are actively implementing relief programs to support their citizens, Ogbeni Alade continues to punish the masses through the demolition of means of their livelihoods and misuse of public resources. In Lagos, for example, the “Ounje Eko” initiative was launched to provide food assistance to vulnerable residents—such as the elderly, pregnant women, and low-income families—while alleviating hunger and enhancing food security. Ogun State has a food subsidy program aimed at reducing the cost of food items to ease the financial burden on low-income households. Similar initiatives exist in Niger, Rivers, Kano, Oyo, Kaduna, Ekiti, and other states to uplift the masses.
In Kwara, however, there is no such effort. Ogbeni Alade has chosen to neglect the people, leaving them to struggle while the state’s trailer loads of rice, provided by the federal government as relieve package, are being used as political patronage.
Kwarans are no longer whispering in the shadows. The quiet grumbling has turned into a firm resolve to confront Alade’s lies and tyranny. The masquerade of deceit is coming to an end. This governor must not be allowed to sneak into a third term through the back door. It’s time for the people of Kwara to unite, like a broom that sweeps clean only when bound together.
No river can be crossed by one person alone, and no single group can bring down a tyrant. We must come together, set aside old grudges, and bridge past divisions. For if we don’t, the same hands that strangle us today will return tomorrow to finish the job. The hour of reckoning is here, and Ogbeni Ramoni’s time in power is running out. The people are awake.
