Re – Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq: Playbook of Flatterers and Image Launders Dare Babatunde.

Truly, I was elated when my name was announced as S. A Media (Community Engagement). I was so elated because I am now with a tool to officially engage hired character assassins in the group of Dare Babatunde.

Not only the salary of SA but every politician prays for post and I will be a hypocrite like Dare if I deny I was not elated on those too.

Dare however forgotten that the name his type once called me, is calling me, or will call me doesn’t matter to Kwarans because they won’t expect enemies to be praising me. They know we are on the opposing side.

It is therefore unnecessary for me to be defending myself because Kwarans understand.

The target is not me in particular, so, let me go straight to what Dare is hired to destroy.

To Dare Babatunde, ‘Governor AbdulRahman Abdulrazaq loves himself..’ and if I may ask; should he hate himself? I am still laughing.

Also, he said the ‘self-love… makes him (AbdulRahman) an easy target …’ but help me ask him what starts first; is it the hired assassin’s attack on the governor or the alleged praise singing of him?

Dare Babatunde might have forgotten but Kwarans are aware that the battle to stop the second term had started before swearing in of Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq because ‘jeun ko san wo’ was a slang in Kwara before the swearing-in of 2019.

When hundreds of them were already enlisted to destroy the Governor’s name. Solace hasn’t gotten the appointment as SA New Media.

Like a broken record, the group of character assassinators is repeating ‘AbdulRahman Abdulrazaq didn’t go to school,’ and expected us not to speak of all the works we are seeing but had never seen its type before.

Dare wants the Governor to read “How to tell a friend from a flatterer,” so that he may surrender his political neck to media killers like them by chasing those that are defending him away.

Something humorous about the stand of these people is that every one of them thinks Kwarans just listen but don’t reason.

AbdulRahman loves himself and self-love makes him a target ‘while not going to school’ is the reason he didn’t see those who are destroying his name as his friends and those defending him as enemies _ Dare Babatunde

Dare wants us to believe ‘unintelligent manner of answering questions and managing public opinion is a serious indication of Abdulrazaq’s inability to inspire anybody around him’ because to Dare; the few enemies of progress in their group are everybody in Kwara.

To Dare, ‘the disappointment that will grace the article from the Governor’s inner caucus can as well be imagined’ but I laughed the more. I am imagining that too anyway.

In this lengthy article by Dare Bamidele; the only issue he raised against Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq is that he did not keep watching as his group of hawks tear on the skin of his good name.

Probably he knows the governor is doing well but just expected him (Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq) to be arresting those defending him and be running after his group of character assassins in prostration to beg them to stop spreading lies about him (Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq).

I ‘dismissed the possibility of (Gov. AbdulRahman lost the election and Dare Babatunde thinks it is a sin but can’t explain to me how Kwara will leave the person that is paying 30000 naira from an allocation PDP said can’t pay 18000 to vote for the same PDP to come back; sink Kwara back in a pit.

He didn’t tell me how the 5 out of 13 Kwarans will beat the rest 7 when the vote of that 5 will still be divided between 3 contestants .

I however pledge to Dare and all Kwarans that I will only expose every lie told against Gov. AbdulRahman and mercilessly attack any character assassin that fire a salvo to the governor’s side but won’t praise the governor because the works he is doing are praising him already.

Bisi Kristien

S. A. Media ( Community Engagement)

Kwara State Entertainers in their hundreds on Monday held a Mega Rally across the major streets of Ilorin, the State capital, for the second term bid of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, justifying such with the Governor’s record of performance.

The pro-government marchers, who appeared in customised T-shirt and Fez Caps, conveyed to the residents their message via chants, displayed banners and placards with varying inscriptions, such as Governor AbdulRazaq for 2nd Term; 4+4=8; and Muka For AA, among others.

They set out some minutes past 11 am from the premises of the State Council for Arts and Culture Geri Alimi Ilorin, navigating through the popular Ibrahim Taiwo road, Emir’s road; Post office–Challenge road; Ahmadu Bello Way; down to the Government House where they rounded up the procession.

It was organized by the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Culture and Tourism Hon Eyiwumi Muka Ray – a renowned Yoruba actor and film producer who hails from Irepodun LG of Kwara State.

Some of the artistes and APC support groups that peopled the street rally were the Association of Nigeria Theater Arts Practitioners (ANTP); Theater and Motion Picture Association of Nigeria (TAMPAN); Nigeria Hunters and Security Services; Indigenous Movie Maker of Nigeria (IMAN); Performing Musician Association of Nig. Kwara State chapter (PMAN); Yoruba Movie Association of Nigeria (YOFMAN); Professional Hunter Association of Nigeria (PHN); Kwara State Council for Arts and Culture; Egbe Akewi Yoruba Ipinle Kwara; Association of Professional Drummers of Nigeria (APDON); and Cultural Heritage, Social Development of Nig. (CHSDN), among other members of the Entertainment Industry in the State.

AbdulRazaq, while receiving the support groups at the Government House, reaffirmed the government’s resolve to continue to impact the lives of masses and make Kwara habitable for all, appreciating the artistes for supporting the APC government in the State.

The Governor, who was represented at the occasion by his deputy Mr. Kayode Alabi, urged the groups and all Kwara electorate to vote for all candidates of the APC party in the forthcoming polls.

He commended the SSA on Culture and Tourism Hon. Mukay Ray for such an initiative, and promised that the present administration will not relent in prioritizing the interest of Kwarans especially people in the Entertainment Industry.

The Governor received the Kwara based entertainers alongside the State House of Assembly member Hon. Abdulrasaq Owolabi; State Commissioners for Health and Social Development Dr. Raji Razaq and Mrs. Deborah Abosede Aremu; State Publicity Secretary for APC Alhaji Tajudeen Aro; and Alhaji AbdulRazaq Jiddah, among others.

Hon. Eyiwumi Muka Ray, in his remarks, said he organized the rally to reaffirm that the artistes and all members of the Entertainment Industry in the State are solidly behind the Governor, and are willing to work for his re-election come 2023.

“This rally is organized by my office to reassure the government of the unflinching support of my people – the professional artistes and other members of the Entertainment Industry. All entertainers in Kwara State have made up their minds to vote for APC candidates both in the State and at the federal level, because of their remarkable achievements in the last three and a half years in offices,” he said.

“They have leaderships and members that cut across the length and breadth of the State. We want to use this numerical strength to guarantee the victory of the second term bid of our amiable Governor.”

Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRahman has said civil servants are major assets that keep the wheel of government running while their monthly earnings contribute hugely to keeping the economy strong.

The Governor was speaking in an exclusive interview with the three state-owned media houses in which he discussed politics, policies, programmes and some flagship projects of his administration such as the visual arts centre, garment factory, innovation hub, and some major roads in north, south, and central districts of the state.

Asked to comment on the propaganda of the opposition that the administration would sack workers, the Governor said such claims fly in the face of the importance the government attaches to how the salaries that workers earn help to stimulate the economy by making sure that resources spread to every part of the state.

“Civil servants are very happy with us. We do not need to lay off anybody. We have been able to manage the resources to make sure that they get their salaries and as and when due. They are not burdens to the state. We do not have issues with civil servants. Where we have issues is the liability the former administration left in outstanding promotions of state and local government workers, and we are seriously working on it,” he said.

“From the previous administration, salaries were being owned. Pensions and gratuities were being owned. We are looking at about N11bn at the local government level alone. We’re looking forward to next year to cover a large part of that, as we have been doing. So, we are going back to the previous administration to clear what they have done wrong. But on our watch, we don’t have issues. At the state level, we have paid about N5bn in gratuities and they are happy. Nobody is going to be sacked. We need our civil servants, we need their experiences.

“Why would you sack a civil servants when you consider the cost of sacking civil servants to the state economy? It is cheaper for you to maintain civil servants than to sack them. So, we are maintaining our civil servants. We are working closely with them.”

Kwara State Government has raised the bursary allowances to students of Kwara origin in Tertiary Institutions across the country from N5,000 to N10,000, a statement said on Thursday.

Commissioner for Tertiary Education Dr. Alabi Afees Abolore said in the statement that application for the bursary will open on Friday 4th November and close at 12 midnight on November 11, 2022 through https://scholarship.kw.gov.ng/bursary.

The rise in bursary allowance comes barely one week after Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq approved free transport services for students returning for their studies following the end of the months-long industrial action by university lecturers.

The free transport served as palliatives to all parents and guardians, the statement added.

The Commissioner appreciated the commitment of Governor AbdulRazaq to his campaign promises to all and sundry.

Dr. Abolore expressed optimism that the present administration will not rest on its oars at ensuring that Kwara indigenes get their share of the dividends of democracy as at when due.

The Commissioner assured that more opportunities would still come for Tertiary Institutions Students, urging them to always be good ambassadors of the state in their various institutions of learning accross country.

Mansurat Amuda-kannike

Press Secretary

MOTE

Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has on Tuesday met with the Resident Representative to Nigeria for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Mohamed Yahya.

In the fruitful deliberation, Governor AbdulRazaq got the assurances of the UNDP chief to support cash transfers to the most vulnerable people in the state as part of its COVID-19 recovery support initiative.

The UNDP is a non-profit organisation that supports governments to meet their long-term development aspirations.

Kwara is one of the few states in Nigeria that attaches a high premium on social security and investment programmes since the coming of Governor AbdulRazaq.

Through the Kwara State Social Investment Programmes (KWASSIP) established by the Governor in 2019, several thousands of vulnerable people have been assisted and empowered, with young entrepreneurs getting million naira support funds.

Beneficiaries also include petty traders, the aged, transporters, school owners, among others.

The UNDP chief also shared the story of the meeting on his Twitter page.

“Had the pleasure meeting with Governor @RealAARahman of #Kwara State. We discussed his development priorities for the state. @UNDPNigeria will support cash transfers to the most vulnerable people in #Kwara as part of our ongoing #Covid recovery support to Nigerian states,” he wrote.

Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq posted another first on Saturday as he addressed citizens of the state live on the first-ever radio station in the entire Kwara North.

The Notia FM (90.7), a baby of the Kwara State Broadcasting Corporation, is a project of his administration which the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has recently approved to begin transmission from Okuta town, Baruten.

Until now, residents of Kwara North could only listen to or get the services of radio stations from either Benin Republic or Oyo State — a jinx the Governor had pledged to break.

“We thank Almighty God for this feat. I thank the people of Baruten and of Kwara North for their support for this administration. We are glad to have made this good history and impact in the lives of our people,” he said in a brief live interview conducted by Director of Programmes at Radio Kwara (Midland FM 99.1), a sister platform of Notia FM.

The Governor was accompanied on the inspection visit to the radio by Senator Umar Sadiq (Kwara North); Speaker of the House of Assembly Rt. Hon. Yakubu Danladi-Salihu; House of Assembly members; cabinet members; and top chieftains of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The Governor had earlier addressed a town hall meeting in Okuta, attended by top government officials, community leaders led by Emir of Okuta Alhaji Dr. Idris Abubakar Sero, civic groups, members of the public, and APC apparatchiks from far and near.

“Whether in road infrastructure, education, health care delivery, or welfare of our workers and citizens, our administration stands shoulder high above where we are coming from,” he said, his speech punctuated by applause and chorus of ‘gema!’, the Batonu language for truth.

The Governor also commissioned the Kano road, which connects the Emir’s palace to Maro, a suburb of the big town.

His speech was preceded by commendations from Senator Sadiq, Speaker Danladi, and the first class monarch of Okuta, among others.

Cabinet members and heads of parastatals took turns to mention specific programmes and projects already done or are ongoing in Baruten, Kwara North, and across the state.

Executive Secretary, Kwara State Health Insurance Agency, Dr. Olubunmi Jettawo-Winter, said close to 2000 indigents of Baruten LG have been enrolled in the State Health Insurance scheme.

Acting General Manager, State Social Investment Programme (KWASSIP), AbdulQuowiyu Olododo, said between 2020 and 2022 a total of 4,540 people from Baruten and Kaiama LGs benefitted from the government’s safety net (Owo Isowo and Owo Arugbo), while six young entrepreneurs from the two tiers of government received N1million each to support their businesses under the Kwaprenuour 2.0.

Chairman, Kwara SUBEB, Prof. Sheu Raheem Adaramaja, said out of the 4,701 teachers the government recruited to teach in the public primary and secondary schools, Baruten LG got 371 slots, adding that their welfare remains a top priority.

The Governor was then turbaned the Yeruma of Okuta at the coluorful Ganni Festival in the forecourt of the palace of Emir of Okuta.

The title means the ‘most prominent child of Okuta Kingdom’ — a reward for what the monarch called the Governor’s unprecedented achievements in the area in terms of infrastructural development.

“You have been able to put smiles on the faces of the greater majority of Kwarans who are able to objectively make reasonable comparative analysis of where we were yesterday, as against where we are today,” the Emir said.

Rafiu Ajakaye
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor
October 29, 2022

AbdulRazaq Extends His Midas Touch To College of Nursing, Oke-Ode, As it Commences Bsc Nursing Programme

The progressive trajectory across Kwara State owned teritiary institutions is bringing positive turn around to the State College of Nursing in Oke-Ode, situated in Ifelodun Local Government Area of the State depicts Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s policy of inclusive, deliberate and strategic investment in the education sector.

The College of Nursing, Oke-Ode, had attracted positive development including improved staff welfare and infrastructure, as well as expansion of academic activities in the last three years.

From available records, the College has received necessary support towards getting accreditation of courses and upgrade of the school to include Midwifery, further shows Governor AbdulRazaq’s commitment and responsiveness to the yearnings of stakeholders and Oke-Ode, the host community.

The governor recently released the sum of N100 Million for the completion of Female Hostel at the School of Nursing, Oke-Ode, in order to make learning conducive for the students.

Kwara State Government recently appointed Alhaji Quadri Olarewaju as the substantive Provost of the institution. The decision which was welcomed with cheers by stakeholders as it was adjudged as purely merit-based in line with Mallam AbdulRazaq administration’s transparency and quality assurance mechanism.

The new Provost, Alh. Olarewaju, a native of Oko-Ode holds Higher National Diploma in Public Administration and later bagged his General Nursing at the Kwara State School of Nursing, Ilorin. He also earned the degree of Bachelor of Nursing Science at the National Open University, before he proceeded to Lincoln University College, Malaysia for the Master’s of Science in Nursing.

The new provost of College of Nursing, Oke-Ode, is well respected in the field due to his over three decades of stainless career as H.O.D Behavioural Science Department, School of Nursing, Ilorin, Vice Principal of the College and later Chairman, National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, School of Nursing, Ilorin Chapter.

Interestingly, the exceptional and education-friendly Governor is also taking steps to ensure that the institution gets accreditation and re-accreditation of courses with a promise to release N80 Million for the exercise.

This would not only give the College of Nursing, Oke-Ode, an improved facelift and provide the needed facilities for the accreditation which include the library, books, demonstration equipment, medical equipment and furnitures in different units. However, with such progressive moves, it is believed that the College of Nursing, Oke-Ode, will be rescued from delisting and de-accreditation.

Another cheering news for Kwarans is that Kwara State College of Nursing, Oke-Ode, would be joining the league of degree awarding institutions like its counterpart in Ilorin in affiliation with Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso.

By the next academic session, the College of Nursing, Oke-Ode, will be offering degree programmes in Nursing Science, Diploma in Basic Nursing and ICT and Diploma in Basic Midwifery.

It is, however, worthy to note that only Kwara and Oyo States Colleges of Nursing are given the opportunity to run the Bsc Nursing programme by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria. The undisputable fact is that Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq made it possible for Kwara State amidst paucity of funds.

Under the present administration, the College of Nursing, Oke-Ode, like other state-owned higher institutions, has adequate manpower to impart knowledge in students and produce quality graduates to support the ongoing giant strides in the health sector.

The foresight of Governor AbdulRazaq in appointing a competent and capable hand as Commissioner for Teritiary Education also made his investment in the education sector to yield desired results across board.

How Saraki’s newspaper, National Pilot apologized Over Fake News Published In Kwara

National Pilot, a newspaper owned by former Senate President Bukola Saraki, published a fake and unfounded news that dented the image of Kwara North Senator Sadiq Umar in January 2022.

The newspaper had reported the senator as not supporting the second term bid of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, relying on a doctored video.

Months after in April 2022, the management of National Pilot however retracted the story and apologised to Senator Sadiq.

They acknowledged they published a fake news that misrepresented the person of the lawmaker.

This is not the first time National Pilot owned by Saraki would be publishing fake stories that especially heat up the polity.

Bukola Saraki himself has also been caught on record urging his followers to spread propaganda and falsehood against Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and the All Progressives Congress (APC) government.

Saraki is a leader of the opposition PDP in Kwara State who failed in his bid to return to the senate in 2019.

Details have emerged about how former KW-IRS chairman Prof. Murtala Awodun used his own personal company, CSDC Consulting Enterprise Solutions, to secure multibillion naira consultancy contract.

As a public officer, it is considered a criminal breach of public trust for a serving official to bid for and win contracts under the same company he heads. Perhaps oblivious to the consequences, Awodun was said in a Thisday interview of September 10, 2022 to be the chief operating officer of the CSDC Consulting Enterprise Solutions.

Audit report recently released on the activities of key MDAs under the former administration showed how Awodun’s CSDC got the contract to provide a software called Amanda at a mouthwatering amount. Even though the software never really delivered as agreed, KW-IRS under Awodun continued to pay the firm for a software that never worked.

“CSDC Enterprise Solutions was supposed to provide solution (software) called ‘Amanda’ to the KWIRS according to the Memorandum of Understanding provided. We were told that the software was deployed to few points but because it was not effective, the Service did not use the software, various sums were paid to the company on a monthly basis,” according to excerpts of the audit report seen by this medium.

“Furthermore, the purported sum due to this Company was being taken out of KWIRS through the staff of the Service (Ibrahim Saliu, Michael Dada, Fausat Ismail, IOD and Prodemics Global Investment on the approval of the Chairman.”

Lawyers who reviewed the report categorised the conduct of Awodun as criminal misappropriation and recommended that he be referred to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission or the ICPC for various malfeasance.

The audit report had revealed several sordid deals at KWIRS under Awodun whose tenure has come under scrutinies.

Army begins special operations in Ifelodun, Edu, Patigi

• Kwara intensifies security sweep amid threats

Nigerian army has commenced a coordinated security sweep across three local government areas of Kwara State, a step obviously being taken to ward off any security breach in any part of the state.

Security sources said other agencies, including police and the secret service, have also intensified intelligence gathering efforts in collaboration with the state government to foil any planned attacks on the state.

“There are intelligence reports that point at the danger of attacks. So the state government has mobilized security agencies and raised the alerts to prevent any breaches. But it is also important for everyone to report suspicious activities or new faces in their environment,” said one of the sources.

“At this stage, everyone must work with the government and security agencies to disallow evil elements from disrupting the peace of the state of launch attacks on government installations or neighborhoods with human population.”

Another source said many parts of Nigeria, including Kwara, are now recording “opportunistic abductions” done to extort the political class as campaign begins across the country.