Abdulrazaq downplaying insecurity in Kwara by speaking through aides, PDP alleges

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara has criticised Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, the state governor, for his appraisal of President Bola Tinubu’s efforts against insurgency in the country.

On Wednesday, Abdulrazaq commended Tinubu and security agencies for the arrest of top terrorist leaders, describing it as a “strong sign of the administration’s commitment to fighting terrorism”.

The governor said the capture of two top leaders of the Ansaru terrorist group highlighted the extensive intelligence-driven operations being carried out.

Recently, Kwara has been witnessing a spike in gunmen attacks which has unsettled communities.

The Kwara governor also said renewed efforts are being made to curtail the activities of criminals in the state’s hinterlands.

Abdulrazaq added that the absence of details on specific security operations should not be mistaken for inaction.

Taking a swipe in a statement on Thursday, Olusegun Adewara, PDP publicity secretary in the state, said the governor’s praise of Tinubu for arrests in other states while Kwara communities are under siege is “not only an insult to the suffering masses but a further demonstration of absentee leadership”.

Adewara said it is unfortunate that Abdulrazaq has reduced governance to a “tenant-agent transaction”, where the governor communicates with citizens “only through paid media agents whose aim appears to be downplaying the crisis and painting a false picture of normalcy”.

“The governor’s recent statement, issued through his chief press secretary, hailing President Tinubu for arrests made in other states while Kwara’s own communities remain under siege, is an insult to the suffering masses,” the statement reads.

“It further demonstrates an absentee style of leadership, as people are abandoning their homes and becoming refugees.

“It is most unfortunate that Governor Abdulrazaq has reduced governance to a tenant–agent transaction, where the landlord, who is the governor, refuses to directly engage with the struggling tenants — the people of Kwara.

“Instead, he speaks through paid media agents whose sole mission appears to be downplaying the grave security situation and painting a false picture of normalcy, while citizens can no longer sleep peacefully in their homes.

“We find it highly insensitive and irresponsible that the governor is rolling out statements hailing President Tinubu for the arrest of terror kingpins in other states, while Kwara communities are bleeding from incessant banditry, kidnappings, and terror attacks with no hope in sight.

“Our people in Babanla, Oke-Ode, Patigi, Edu, Kaiama, Baruten, and other parts of the state are daily at the mercy of marauders. Families have been displaced, farmlands abandoned, and communities deserted.

“If governors of Borno, Zamfara, Yobe, Kaduna, or Niger had been as complacent and disconnected from reality as Governor Abdulrazaq, the nation would not have celebrated any milestone in the fight against insurgency.”

Adewara said the aforementioned states succeeded because their leaders “confronted insecurity directly, worked hand-in-hand with communities, spoke to the people when it mattered and showed empathy to victims of insecurity”.

He added that Kwara under Abdulrazaq has become “a case study in denial and constant media propaganda released by the governor’s CPS”.

Adewara asked the governor to drop the “tenant-agent transaction style of governance” and engage Kwarans, saying “this is not the time for flowery press releases but decisive leadership”.