I have stood aloof watching the political landscape of Kwara in disturbing waters for several years with keen interest. For the past, and the present, here is a masterpiece.
Kwara state governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has just announced the appointment of Senator Ibrahim Yahaya Oloriegbe – his erstwhile traducer; as the leader of the state contingent (Ameerul-Hajj) for the 2024 pilgrimage. Written all over it is nothing other than Machiavelli.
Machiavelli was a 16th-century Florentine philosopher known primarily for his political ideas. His two most famous philosophical books, The Prince and the Discourses on Livy, were published after his death. Many critics argue that Machiavelli’s advice promotes unethical behavior and amoral politics. His emphasis on deception, manipulation, and the use of force for political gain is seen as morally questionable and contrary to principles of virtue and ethical leadership.
Then, enter Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, an even more brutal graduate of the Machiavellian School of Thought. I may be young, but I am grown up enough to have witnessed the Machiavellian machinations of Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq in the last five years. Since he happened on the state like a flash, his political escapades have been fraught with tales of betrayal, backstabbing, and shattered alliances. In his relentless pursuit of power and influence, he has shown a willingness to sacrifice even his most loyal supporters on the altar of expediency.
Since ascending to the coveted seat of power, he has orchestrated a zero-sum game that leaves no room for compromise, empathy, or genuine reconciliation. His modus operandi? Destroying perceived enemies, manipulating alliances and allegiances to serve his own ends, only to extend a hollow olive branch laden with empty promises.
From Bashir Omolaja Bolarinwa to Akogun Iyiola Oyedepo; Hon. Cook Gani-Olodo to Prof. Oba AbdulRaheem, Mr. Dele Belgore to Lukman Mustapha; Mashood Mustapha to Yahaya Oloriegbe, the casualties of his political crusade are legion. These individuals, once touted as allies or pillars of his political machinery, have been cast aside like disposable pawns in a high-stakes chess game.
And it’s not just the high-profile figures who have borne the brunt of Governor AbdulRazaq’s political vendettas. Countless individuals who have toiled, suffered, and sacrificed in the name of his cause have found themselves discarded like spent shells on the battlefield. Many others have had their loyalty repaid with betrayal, their sacrifices repudiated with disdain.
But what distinguishes Governor AbdulRazaq’s brand of politics is not just his propensity for decimating opponents, it’s the audacity with which he cloaks and cooks his actions behind one finger. Like a cunning fox, he lures his prey into a deadly trap, and strike it where and when it’s hot, only to later turn around to deliver a meager offering of crumbs from the table of power.
What kind of man refuses to play consensus when consensus is the currency of governance, only to turn around and offer token gestures of conciliation? What kind of leader thrives on division, discord, and distrust, rather than unity, harmony, and collaboration? These are questions that linger in my mind as I try to wrap them around the treacherous waters of Governor AbdulRazaq’s turbulent reign.
In a clime like our own, where integrity should reign supreme and compassion should guide the hand of governance, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq stands as a stark reminder of the dangers of unchecked ambition and unbridled ego. His legacy could be tantamount to having sunk in tarnished blood of political adversaries and the tears of betrayed allies. Definitely, sooner or later, as my watchword, may Kwara be great again!
• Abdulwaheed is the founder of Kwara-based online newspaper – The Elites Watch. He is a Media and Communication expert, and Member of Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) Lagos chapter.
