Headline

Opinion: Gov. Abdulrasaq In Turf War Against Saraki Over Durbar

Published

5 years ago

August 8, 2019

Editor

By Victor Ojelabi

The news coming out of Kwara may not be shocking, but the underlining factors and the probable trajectories is a cause for concern for many.

It was recently reported how the organisation of the 2019 Annual Durbar has become chaotic, because the governor is bent on obliterating Bukola Saraki’s name and influence from the festival. The report alleged that the invitation cards had gone to press thrice tending towards making a final copy without the ex-governor’s name on it. It is also of the Governor’s bidding that the seating arrangement should copiously omit Senator Bukola Saraki, who is the Waziri of Ilorin. Here goes the problem, which caliphate holds a Durbar without the prominent participation and honour of her Waziri(s)?

The organisers of the event, who have never dealt with power plan in planning of this yearly festival are bewildered by the directive from the state government. His position is said to have been a bump on the part to hosting another successful event this year. It is mostly perceived has scent marking by political analyst, a coverture way to iterate that there is “a new sheriff in town”.

Admittedly, change in power connotes switch in the order, prerogatives and protocol, which comes with new ascendancy, but it berates reasoning that a state’s chief executive will be involved in trivial activity of invitation card design and sitting arrangement at a festival. It is not new to our clime, when power changes hands, for opposition to get repeated boot-offs, sidelining and complete obscuring, but this comes to a shameful market fight and a show of littleness on the part of the governor.

Abdulrazaq before now, was a long ally of Senator Bukola Saraki. He had a major part of his banking career at the Saraki-owned Societe Generale Bank. He also served under his administration (as state governor) as a two-term commissioner. He was head of key strategic programs of the Bukola Saraki government. How the boat rocked recently is still puzzling to many, despite the fact the Abdulrazaq even followed his former boss to ditch the APC for PDP as recently as 2018 (before his eventual return and victory at the polls).

It is believed that Ahmed joined the federal-backed conspiracy to scuttle Bukola Saraki’s rising political career with the ‘Otoge’ movement. In fairness to him, all loyalty at home buckled under the tremendous political force from the highest cadre of the APC, which was marshaled to Kwara politics in the build up to the elections. What comes to mind and calls for reasoning is the extent to which Governor Abdulrazaq would go to make Saraki irrelevant and dishonoured.

The worry of concerned citizens of the state goes beyond the possible drama at this year’s Durbar. The actual concern is that the administration of Governor Abdulrahaman Abdulrazaq may be coloured by adversary-hunting, party-groveling and unhealthy power tussle. Bukola Saraki on his part has continued to show that he has a life beyond partisan politics. After the rigorous and spiteful election campaigns, his loss at the polls, the Waziri Ilorin, has not been seen on the political turf of the opposition. He seems to have taken everything in its stride and moved on. With Abdulrazaq’s constant poking, how long can the lion within hibernate?

Finally, the Durbar is largely the Emir’s party. The state governor is merely a ceremonious host, because it is funded with state resources. The festival has a cultural background and rich history, which has become the highlight of Ramadan for many years. The beauty has always been the honour of the Emir riding along his caliphate in company of his Waziri(s). The hallmark of the festival as envisioned by the British colonial rulers and displayed in over hundred years of its existence, is to showcase the glory and power of the ruling class, the king, his officials ride through his subjects. The Durbar honours the Emir and his Waziri(s) and one without that goal is an aberration.

Is it then safe to opine that the administration of AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq in Kwara State would rather engage in cheap popularity contest at stamping his power to govern the state for expiring four years than provide better governance for the people of Kwara State?

The coming days would judge.

-Victor Ojelabi, journalist and social commentator, writes in from Lagos

Headline

Breaking: Wike Plans to Attend Thursday’s PDP NEC Meeting

Published

1 day ago

April 17, 2024

Eric

By Eric Elezuo

The immediate past Governor of Rivers State, and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, may have concluded plans to attend the much advertised National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), billed to hold on Thursday, in Abuja.

Impeccable source, who is in the know, told The Boss that the minister, whose membership of the PDP is yet to be revoked even as he frolicks with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), and serving in the President Bola Tinubu government as a minister.

The Source told The Boss that Wike’s impending presence at the NECeeting on Thursday is not unconnected with plans, already hatched with some governors, to weaken the opposition PDP.

“Yes, we have on good authority that FCT minister, Wike is planning to attend the NEC meeting tomorrow all in a bid to weaken the fabrics of the PDP, and pave the way for the continuation of the Tinubu administration come 2027, and by extension, relapse Nigeria to a full blown one party state.

“From every indication, Wike and his co-travellers, are bent on unleashing the same crisis ravaging the third force, Labour Party, and Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso’s Nigerian National People’s Party (NNPP) on the PDP for the APC to remain the only political party in the country, and ensure that Tinubu has no challenger, come 2027,” the Source said.

It would be recalled that Wike has boasted over and again that there’s no opposition against Tinubu’s re-emergence in 2027, and that they have made sure of that. He has been compensated with the Ministerial job after he withdrew support for his party, and supported the APC and Tinubu to emerge as national government.

The Source further revealed that in the attempt to actualize the intended one party state, a lot of funding is ongoing to ensure that concerned stakeholders are ‘settled’ handsomely.

Wike, prior, during and after the 2023 general elections, has been floating in between the two major political parties; the APC and the PDP. While he claim to still be a member of the PDP, he is functioning as a minister in an APC government, mocking the inability of his party to discipline him.

Political stakeholders have concluded that the outcome of Thursday’s PDP NEC meeting will determine the path Nigeria’s political trajectory will take, and that it may portend the end of multi-party system and political democracy if Wike succeeds in his plan.

Headline

Bribery, Corruption: APC Suspends National Chairman, Ganduje

Published

4 days ago

April 15, 2024

Eric

The All Progressives Congress ward in Ganduje, Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area, has suspended the party’s National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje.

The party ward legal adviser, Halliru Gwanzo, announced the suspension while addressing newsmen in Kano State on Monday.

Gwanzo cited allegations of bribery against Ganduje levelled by the Kano State Government as the reason for the suspension.

“We decided to suspend Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje from the party due to the seriousness of the allegations against him,” Gwanzo said.

Meanwhile, efforts to contact the Chief Press Secretary to the APC National Chairman, Mr Edwin Olufo, failed as his mobile phone was unreachable.

Headline

Akpabio Commits to Collaboration with Tinubu, Governor Umo Eno

Published

1 week ago

April 12, 2024

Admin

The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has stated his commitment to working closely with Nigeria’s President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and Governor Umo Eno to ensure the delivery of democratic benefits to the people of Akwa Ibom State.

Akpabio stated this in his country home, Ukana, Essien Udim Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom, while briefing his constituents on the journey so far as their representative in the red chamber.

He assured the people of Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District of his commitment to their welfare in appreciation of their total support for him, President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in last year’s election.

The Highpoint of the constituency briefing was the distribution of over 10,000 bags of rice and other essentials for his constituents from the wards, to the local governments.

A statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Jackson Udom, quoted Akpabio as saying, “I am here once again, to thank you for standing by me, our President and the party, before, during and even after last year’s elections. I have come to say thank you and also bring Renewed Hope to you all.

“As the President is doing his own, the Senate President is also doing his bit and being complemented by the state governor, Akwa Ibom would be the better for it. We have finished elections and politics, we are now into governance. The governor of the state must touch you, because he is the governor of all the people in the state irrespective of political affiliation.

” As I am touching you now from the political angle, I will also touch the state without any political party affiliation. Most of the projects we are putting in place would be used by people resident in the state. Relax, things are getting better.”

The former Governor of the state, assured his constituents that his current position as the Senate President would be used for the development of the state in collaboration with the President and the Akwa Ibom State Governor.

Hear him: This Senate President is not the one that would be fighting the state government. I will collaborate with , I will collaborate with , to make the state better for us all. We cannot be out of government for a long time. You have to go to a government that carries you along”

Akpabio promised to work for his constituents and Nigeria with all his strength, noting that, “as the President of the Senate, I am for the Southern region and the entire country. I may not come here regularly to tell you what I have been doing for you, but you will be feeling the impact on way or the other. Our unemployed youths would be gainfully employed. I will construct a mini stadium in all the local governments in the district, for our youths to develop their sporting potentials. ”