The Peoples Democratic Party, Kwara State branch, has accused Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of governing the state ‘via WhatsApp messages.’
The party also chided AbdulRazaq for neglecting the road projects in the state.
The PDP, in a statement signed by its state Publicity Secretary, Olusegun Adewara, on Saturday, urged Abdulrazaq to explain his interest in the Lagos-Calabar road project that swayed his priority, causing him to neglect the immediate concerns of the Kwaran people.
The party expressed its disappointment at the governor for showing more concern for the Federal Government-backed Lagos-Calabar road project rather than prioritising the roads in the state.
The PDP said, “We are deeply concerned that during a recent high-level meeting with the President, Governor Abdulrazaq chose to discuss the 700km Lagos-Calabar road coastal project instead of addressing critical infrastructural needs within Kwara State, notably the deplorable state of the less than 200km Ilorin-Omu-Aran, Ilorin-Kaiama and other roads which are vital arteries for residents and businesses.
“The Governor’s diversion of focus to the non-Kwara project at such a strategic gathering is not only disappointing but grossly irresponsible,” the statement said.
The PDP also urged the governor to return home and see to the development of the state, adding that the “governance vacuum” in the state is “unacceptable.”
“It is disheartening that since Governor Abdulrazaq assumed the chairmanship of the Governors’ Forum, we have observed a troubling trend where Kwara State has been conspicuously absent from the list of beneficiaries of several Federal Government interventions. This pattern suggests a disconnect between the governor’s activities at the national level and the real needs of his constituents.
“Our governor has since relocated his administrative base to Abuja, governing Kwara State via WhatsApp messages and fake photos parade anytime he comes home. This is unacceptable and indicative of a governance vacuum in our state which has almost relegated the state to one of those badly hit by insecurity, banditry, terrorism, poor health and education infrastructure where pupils learn on bare floors or under the trees, a good example is the Kankan LGEA School, Asa LGA report by the BBC News.
“We call on Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq to return home from Abuja and channel his energy to Kwara State, prioritise the infrastructural and developmental needs, and ensure that his position as Governors’ Forum Chairman brings benefits rather than detriments to the people of Kwara,” the statement read.
“The people of Kwara State deserve a leader whose primary commitment is to their welfare and the progress of our state and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, stands ready to support any initiative that genuinely aims to enhance the prosperity and well-being of Kwara people”, the party noted.
Efforts by our correspondent to get the state government’s reaction to the allegations made by the opposition party proved abortive as the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye, did not respond to calls made to his phone number on Saturday and Sunday.
More so, questions sent to his WhatsApp number were not answered while a reminder sent to him wasn’t responded to as at the time of filing this report on Sunday.