The attention of the AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq students’ support group (AASSG) has been drawn to a disconcerting press conference released by the President of National Association of Kwara state students (NAKSS Nhqs) Comr. Abdulkadri Wokili.

We have conscientiously read the text of the press conference with the above caption. We would have loved to keep mute but we are left with no option than to write a rejoinder because of the inaccuracies it conveyed. The press only succeeded in exposing his ignorance vis-a-vis the transformation that has been happening in Kwara. It is not surprising to us, perhaps it is due to some deliberate intellectual mischief.

To set the record straight, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has, since the inception of his administration, birthed a new paradigm shift in the quest to transform Kwara state as a whole and no single sector in the state is left untouched in the unprecedented massive refurbishment. Before his emergence as the Executive Governor of the state, any perceptive observer would see that Kwara has become a distraught state which can be likened to the proverbial bride who lost her beauty and allure to the ravage of foul-minded suitors. But no sooner did Governor Abdulrahman assumed office that Kwara began to experience rejuvenation as he has redirected the affairs of the state towards promising trajectories via his unmatched governing policies and fair projects delivery.

Contrary to the fabricated claim of the bogus NAKSS president, Governor AbdulRazaq has scored inspiring feats in the state’s erstwhile dormant and languid education sector. Since he assumed office, Governor AbdulRazaq has given priority to education in the state. The sector had hitherto suffered neglect by previous administrations leading to the state being blacklisted from accessing the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) fund for more than seven years before his emergence as the governor. Thanks to Governor Abdulrazaq’s swift and continued interventions, the sector has been successfully saved from its ugly situation.

Also, the pushover president noted in his spurious statement that the state government paid no attention to the state owned tertiary institutions. This claim is not only untrue but also disingenuous. To start with the state polytechnic, popularly addressed as Kwara poly, meaningful and significant infrastructural developments have been recorded leading to academic expansion, improved teaching and learning through the adoption of Information and Communication Technology, ICT, improved welfare packages for the staffs and impactment of advanced skills and entrepreneurial trainings; completion of a Multipurpose Auditorium project which was initiated by the government of late Rear Admiral Muhammad Alabi Lawal; abandoned 2000-capacity auditorium was completed and furnished to taste and named after late Rear Admiral Lawal by AA’s government; abandoned 1000-capacity students’ hostel which was initiated by late Rear Admiral Lawal was completed through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund(TETFUND); millions of naira was released for the accreditation of some courses through the National Board of Technical Education(NBTE) so as to meet up with the requirements and stipulated standard for the continuation of some academic programmes; Higher National Diploma for Mass Communication Department was accredited along with the establishment of Campus Radio, Kwara Poly radio station with frequency modulation of 88.5fm, with a world class television studio in the Mass Communication Department.

In the same vein , the Abdulrazaq’s led-government also renovated and upgraded lecture halls and hostels, staff quarters, provision of office furniture and other academic facilities, payment of 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 promotional arrears, free medical outreach for staff, operation light up Kwara Poly through solar power; refurbishment of 25 industrial machines at the Institute of Technology for wood works, metals, mechanical and electrical works. The state Polytechnic also boasts of commercial bakery and production of table water, to mention but a few.

Moving to the colleges of Education, during Gov. AbdulRahman’s first tenure, the payment of over 700 million naira was made to the colleges of education of which accumulated to seven months’ salary arrears owned by the last administration. The prestigious and long-existing colleges of education were a walking corpse. The staff members had always embarked on incessant strike due to non-payment of salaries. However, today, the colleges of education are back on their feet with non-stop payment of salary. Thanks to the God-sent Governor!

In a related development, payment of over #160 million for the accreditation exercise of the College of Education Technical Lafiaji, School of Nursing and Midwifery Ilorin, College of Health Technology Offa and College of Arabic and Islamic Legal Studies Ilorin by Governor AbdulRahman of which has been neglected by the last administration. Non-payment of the accreditation exercise has made the aforementioned schools nearly lost their old glory and has led to protests by students. Today, the schools can boast of having well accredited courses. All thanks to the pragmatic Governor.

The state university is not left out in the Governor’s beautiful touches. To mention but a few: The sum of 18million Naira was released for KWASU e-learning and virtual examination; ongoing construction of Osi and Ilesha Baruba satellite campuses of Kwasu with 60% completion; facilitation of construction of Central Research Laboratory by the Central Bank Of Nigeria.; construction of Senate Building by TETFUND ( A project facilitated by the Kwara State Government), among other infrastructural impactful projects.

The President alleged that the Governor doesn’t prioritize students welfarism, well he can say that because he is very new in the students leadership circle. To set the record straight, no Governor in the history of Kwara has ever prioritized welfare of the students as Governor AbdulRahman has been doing so far. He is the only Governor who has paid students bursary consecutively. Not only that, the increment of bursary by 100% is another pointer to the fact that the Governor is a lover of students. Students who graduated few years back will always remember how they often went on street in a bid to protest for the payment of their bursary, yet nothing would be paid .Not only that, the students will be treated like criminals by instigating securities to intimidate them. Interestingly, students have not, for a moment, embarked on protests all in the name of bursary in the last three and half years. This points to the steadfastness of Governor AbdulRahman in protecting the students welfare.

Also, Civil servants in Kwara state have never had it so good as Governor Abdulrazaq’s led Administration has been paying their full monthly salary as at when due, right from the onset plus other significant benefits which they never had the opportunity to enjoy before his emergence.

Talking about lack of infrastructure in the state is laughable, no ward in all the 16 local government areas that has not benefitted infrastructure in Kwara state of today. The opposition party, who sent the President, should note that Kwarans will never go back to the wretched kwara where we can’t boast of 3 good road networks across the state. Making a comparative analysis between this current administration and the last administration is like comparing a duplex with a face me, I face you apartment. It is crystal clear that infrastructure in kwara has drastically improved.

Conclusively, It is very laughable that someone who appraises the Governor few days ago is now passing a vote of no confidence on him. It is a total dismay that NAKSS is now being controlled by set of individuals who are only after their pocket. They have shamelessly jettisoned the interest of the entire Kwara students for cheap political gain. It is our advice for them to retrace their steps as at when due for their continuous display of ignorance cum lack of valuable will only continue to sabotage the integrity of the Association which has been built for years.

Signed:

Comr. Salami Wasiu Onidugbé

Coordinator, AASSG

07063539580

Through:

Comr. Shuaib Habeeb

Publicity Secretary, AASSG

08104277064