A civil society organisation, Kwara stability and Integrity Forum, KSIF has berated the state government for its lack of sensitivity to plight of victims of rainstorm in the state and the gale of corruption that have rocked several agencies in the state since inceptive k of Abdulrazaq led government.

In a statement signed by the group Chairman, Barrister Mamud Kunle Sulyman , the group chided the Governor for not running a transparent system since inception

See details below



Press Release

28th September, 2020.

Kwara Accountability Stability & Integrity Forum

*ABDULRAZAQ’S GOVERNMENT INSENSITIVE TO PLIGHT OF KWARANS, REPLETES WITH CORRUPTION*



The Kwara Stability and Integrity Forum has observed with utter dismay, the reactions of Mallam Abdulrahaman Abdulrazaq’s government made through his party, (APC) Spokesperson, to the genuine and patriotic calls by the opposition, PDP and other sister civil society originations,, in respect of Governor’s continuous stay in Abuja while the state is still in dilemma following the alarming havocs wrecked by the last rainstorm in many parts of Kwara state. As an organization, we align ourselves with the positions of other groups and join in oughtright condemnation of Abdulrazaq's insensitivity to the plights of the people's welfare and his government's lack of sincerity, transparency and probity in management of state’s resources.



We must make it clear that the response of the government through the Kwara APC which was signed by Mr Tajudeen Folaranmi Aro who is notorious for publicly attacking his own state chairman, Hon Bolarinwa, failed to address important issues and posers raised by the PDP Chairman, Engineer Kola Shittu in his Press Conference of Thursday, 24 September 2020. Instead, the government reaction seems to focus more on usual political rivalries and competitions between the APC and PDP forgetting that the era of politicking is over and it is time for governance. While we would not be joining issues with PDP or APCs in their games of throne and verbal war, we will rather discuss, and failures in governance as critical issues affecting the welfares of the citizens.



Clearly, the people voted for a governor and expected dividends of democracy from him . The governor has been receiving billons of naira in monthly federal allocations aside the undisclosed billions of naira being generated internally through KWIRS. It's pathetic that with all these incomes, the government after almost two years in office has nothing tangible to show saver for petty school renovation projects and other short road projects whose contracts are usually inflated to siphon fund. Ordinarily if the governor was serious about people's welfare, he wouldn’t have waited for opposition to raise alarm before rushing down from Abuja to start taking undue photos pretending to show empathy to victims.



The Governor also failed to act responsibly by not providing spontaneous emergency support and palliatives to the affected victims before running cap in hand to presidential Villa, Abuja asking for an unrealistic 10B naira grants without proper baseline studies and data to back himself up. This is one of the notable simple governances lapses that we expected government to take responsibility in its reactions instead of throwing caution to the wind attacking previous deputy governors in the state. Kwarans are not interested on politics of who does what at this time but are desperately craving for things to be done at an appointed time.



The absolute lack of transparency and accountability in management of taxpayers fund especially at the level of our local government councils exhibited so far by Kwara state government is becoming a serious national embarrassment and giving responsible Kwarans some kind of heartbreak. Just recently, a bold former female commissioner who served at the ministry of local government under Govenor Abdulrazaq, Mrs Aishat Ahman Pategi who is loaded with so many information of sharp practices at that ministry before her controversial redeployment had thrown up a sensitive public challenge at the Governor and his crew telling them to publish local government financial accounts from May, 2019 till date instead of bragging on non-existing transparency. It is painful that till date, the government is yet to take up this challenge let alone show readiness to prove that it is not indulging in any sharp practices at the local government level. Once again, the Kwara Stability and Integrity Forum demands that government takes up Aisha Pategi challenge to publish account details of the 16 local government areas of the state for citizens perusal.



Of another serious importance to mention is the allegations of secret fund diversions said to be ongoing in Kwara State Internal Revenue Services, KWIRS, since January 2020 which several vouchers had been submitted to ICPC and other anti graft agencies. While we await these agencies to commence their investigations, we found it so appalling that this government within few months of inaugurations has been dealing with loads of corruption and financial scandals. We are of the opinion that beyond pretentious slogan of “We Have Nothing to Hide” being brandish by agents of government who are the beneficiaries of these stupendous lootings, Abdulrazaq should be bold enough to allow independent investigating agencies to wade into all these handful of frauds that have soiled his governments reputation instead of deceiving the people with his self constituted panel of inquires that cannot stand the test of time.



Signed

Barr Mamud Kunle sulyman

Chairman ( KASIF )