Mallam Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq’s tenure as the executive governor of Kwara State has been marred by controversies, half-hearted governance, and a penchant for wielding power solely to serve personal and political interests. Now, as the 2027 gubernatorial elections approach, the governor’s strategy of ceding the governorship to Kwara North is raising eyebrows. While the move is publicly framed as a commitment to equity, it is increasingly evident that this is a clandestine and strategic attempt by Governor Abdulrazaq to pursue a third-term agenda and maintain control of Kwara State through a handpicked loyalist.
Governor Abdulrazaq’s desperation to manipulate the zoning arrangement and impose his stooge on members of his party, the APC, as their gubernatorial candidate for the 2027 general elections shows a calculated effort to extend his reign by proxy. A closer look at his nearly six years of his administration reveals a record of underperformance, financial mismanagement, and a governance style that thrives on silencing critics and opposition rather than delivering progress. The question on every Kwaran’s lips is this: why should they trust his chosen candidate when the administration he leads has done little to inspire confidence or improve their lives?
Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq’s administration has presided over a state that, instead of progressing, has been mired in stagnation. Infrastructure development remains a pipe dream for many communities. Public servants continue to grapple with salary disparities, while promises of reforms and growth have largely gone unfulfilled. The almost six years of his leadership have brought no groundbreaking achievements, no transformation, and no relief for the average Kwaran. Yet, the governor insists that his preferred loyalist is best positioned to lead the state forward. The idea that extending the tenure of his political influence through a crony will magically yield better results is as far-fetched as it is insulting.
Rather than focusing on building a legacy of good governance, Governor Abdulrazaq appears more invested in using the state’s resources and political machinery to fight potential governorship candidates, who are more competent, formidable and popular than his choice. Abdulrazaq’s tactics are clear: weaken the opposition by any means necessary and ensure that his chosen candidate emerges victorious, regardless of merit or public support. We now see how billboards of popular politicians are removed and destroyed in metropolis and suburbs of Ilorin and how Abdulrazaq’s men have waged disparaging media wars on intending candidates from other regions.
Recently, I read in the news that 7 men were sacked by the management of Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, because they had a different ideology and inclination to the ruling party APC. These are 7 breadwinners and families thrown into lack, especially at a time when salaries can not even sufficiently feed the home in Kwara State, how callous can our governor get?
This desperation reflects a broader pattern of Abdulrazaq’s administration—one characterized by a lack of openness, an aversion to dissent, and a preference for surrounding himself with sycophants. This is not the leadership Kwarans envisioned when they advocated Otoge and voted for change. Instead of fostering unity and inclusiveness, the governor has pursued policies and actions that further divide the state.
Under Abdulrazaq’s watch, even Kwara’s revered traditional institutions have not been spared from politicization. The rumored rift between the governor and the Emir of Ilorin, though officially denied, speaks volumes about his attitude toward these institutions. His administration has been accused of reducing traditional rulers to mere pawns in political campaigns, stripping them of the independence and respect they have historically commanded.
Our royal fathers, who should serve as symbols of unity and moral guidance, are increasingly being co-opted into serving the governor’s political agenda which erodes the cultural and social fabric of the state.
As the clock ticks toward 2027, it is clear that Kwarans are tired of the deception, the excuses, and the lack of tangible progress. The state deserves better than an administration that prioritizes self-preservation over development. Governor Abdulrazaq’s 2027 agenda is not about empowering Kwara North; it is a calculated effort to perpetuate his influence while leaving the state at the mercy of mediocrity.
The people of Kwara have had enough. They see through the façade of equity and inclusiveness that masks the governor’s true intentions. The rejection of his candidate and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the next elections is not just a possibility—it is a certainty. Kwarans are ready to chart a new course, one that prioritizes competence, accountability, and genuine development.
Mallam Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq’s legacy, if it can be called that, is one of missed opportunities and failed promises. His administration has divided rather than united, stagnated rather than progressed, and schemed rather than served. As he sets his sights on 2027, Kwarans are sending a clear message: the state is not a personal estate to be handed over to stooges.
