Mr Viral
As Kwara state governor AbdulRaham AbdulRasaq continues his second term in office, analysts have taken time to assess his administration. UMAR BAYO ABDULWAHAB reports.
On Friday February 28, 2025, communication experts, media gurus and public relations experts gathered at the conference hall of the Kwara State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists ( NUJ) to appraise the six year record of service of the AbdulRaham AbdulRasaq’s administration.
On the theme, ‘Kwara Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow: The giant strides of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’, the gathering was a maiden personality lecture sponsored by the non-executive director of NNPCL Dr Muhammed Gali Alaya in honour of the governor.
The keynote speaker
The choice of the keynote speaker for the maiden personality lecture comes with enthusiasm for many participants particularly journalists who have at different times passed through her in the course of their careers development at different stages of their life.
Professor Abdulbaqi, a development communication expert and fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) is the first female professor of Mass Communications in the University of Ilorin and a council member of NIPR.
She keynoted the maiden personality lecture where she delved into the past, analysed the present and projected into the future of Kwara.
The keynote speaker, a trained broadcaster, was a former staff of Kwara State Television Service (KWTV), a former spokesperson of the defunct Nigerian Paper Mill (Jeba) before she crossed over to the academics .
Though now in the academics, prof Baqi, a senior lectuer in the International Institute of Journalism (IIJ), Ilorin Campus, is a teacher and trainer of many journalists and a grassroot woman who is well connected with the town and gown through her involvement in many groups and associations.
She is also the former Head of Mass Communications Department of the Kwara State College of Arabic and Islamic Legal Studies (CAILS Ilorin, member of The Criterion, Unilorin Muslim Ladies Circle, FOAWAN and Ilorin Emirates Professors Association (IEPA) to mentioned just but few,
She parades an intimidating curriculum vitae for which many believe she is round peg in a square hole for the lecture.
Delivering her keynote address, Prof Abdulbaqi said prior to the ascension of AbdulRasaq, Kwara was far behind other legacy states in infrastructural development and other things. She commended the breath-taking road and economic projects and other infrastructure by the governor.
Backed with testimonial footages in which people across communities expressed their joy and satisfaction with the administration’s policies and programmes, Prof Abdulbaqi said the ascension of Governor AbdulRazaq has changed the narratives of the state.
She said AbdulRazaq has made his mark in infrastructural development, with particular reference to the urban renewal project, rural-urban road networks, waste management system, inclusivity, teachers’ recruitment and regular payment of salaries and gratuity.
“If you look at the administration, you will see that all strata of society are captured. You have men and women, there are young and old and you have people with disabilities and people without disabilities. With this, everybody is having a sense of belonging and will be able to identify with the policies of the government,” she said.
Weakened infrastructure
Painting a graphic picture of the rot in infrastructures before the governor’s accession in 2019, the keynote speaker recalled that before 2019, educational and health facilities in Kwara were in a state of disrepair, leaving residents struggling with under-development. However, she noted that since the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government took office under Governor AbdulRazaq on May 29, 2019, there has been a remarkable turnaround in infrastructure and governance.
“Before 2019, many factors hindered development and growth. Due to financial mismanagement, Kwara experienced weak infrastructure, poor healthcare facilities and dilapidated schools,” she said.
Maternal mortality
Citing her personal experience, Abdulbaqi recounted a visit to the Egbejila Cottage Hospital in Ilorin West local government area in 2012 while conducting research for her Ph.D thesis on maternal mortality.
“When I arrived at the hospital, I found goats sleeping there. Patients were reluctant to visit because there were no drugs and this contributed to rising maternal mortality. When people know they won’t receive proper care at a clinic, they either stay at home or turn to traditional birth attendants, often with fatal consequences.”
A narrative, which according to her, has changed with a recent update from a colleague, whom she said informed her that the facility is now fully functional.
Education sector
Appraising the situation in the education sector, Abdulbaqi noted that poor public school conditions had forced many parents, including teachers in public schools to enroll their children in private institutions, a narrative she said is changing with the current administration due to the governor’s commitment to revitalising public education.
Finance
Giving a sectoral analyses of the governor’s six year record of service, Prof Baqi said one of the key achievements of his administration is the management of the state finances, including efforts to address kwara debts and shore up its revenue base.
The university lecturer said Governor AbdulRazaq is magnanimous and financially prudent. She referenced some of the capital projects his government had inherited and completed and commended him for not making Kwara a mortuary of abandoned projects.
Succession bid
Amidst the assement of the governor’s performance is the ongoing campaign for a worthy successor who would continue with the good work many believe he is doing.
Already, there is an intense campaign and lobbing for a power shift to Kwara-north in the 2027 governorship election with proponents arguing that it is essential for promoting equity, justice, and fairness in the state’s governance.
Prior to the Friday’s personality lecture, first-class traditional rulers in the Kwara-north district demonstrated their commitment to the cause by organising special prayers to seek Allah’s favour for their dream to come true.
The latest prayer was held at the intance of the Emir of Kaiama, Alhaji Omar Shehu Muazu.
The Baruten Traditional Council had also organised similar prayer session for the governments of Nigeria and Kwara state, seeking divine guidance for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, and the realisation of a power shift to Kwara-north in 2027.
The prayer sessions were held on Sunday, February 23, 2025 at the Kaiama Central Mosque and the Baruten local government secretariat, starting at 8 am and 10 am, respectively.
This development followed a recent special prayer organised by the Emir of Patigi Emirate, Alhaji Ibrahim Umar Bologi II in honour of President Tinubu and Governor AbdulRazaq, with a commitment to actualising the Kwara-north governorship agenda in 2027.
While political gladiators continue their permutations on who and what part of the senatorial district should produce a successor for the governor when his two term tenure ends in 2027, Prof AbdulRasaqi, on her part, said all hands must be on deck to produce a worthy successor for the governor.
The government on its part, she said, must sustain its good work and be focused on how to get a good successor that would strengthen the gains of the present.
“Sustaining these giant strides is a business of all,” she added.
AbdulRazaq, who was represented by his senior adviser and counselor, Alhaji Saadu Salahudeen thanked journalists in Kwara for their constructive criticism and assured them of the government’s continued dedication to progress.
The governor described the gesture as a practical demonstration of existing cordiality between the media practitioners and the administration.
Roll call
The event was attended by prominent figures, including the ommissioner for solid minerals development, Engineer Rahman Giwa; special adviser on political matters, Dr Afees Abolore Alabi; senior special assistants; chief press secretary to the governor, Rafiu Ajakaye; former commissioner for information and home affairs, Oloriewe Raheem Adedoyin; general manager of The Herald Newspapers, Yomi Clement Adeboye; and APC chieftains, Alhaji Rasak Lawal and Alhaji Usman Bibire Ajape, among others.
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