Edu LG Chairman Created No Jobs in One Year; Over 4,000 Lost Under Him — Sanchitagi Qasim

 Edu LG Chairman Created No Jobs in One Year; Over 4,000 Lost Under Him — Sanchitagi Qasim

Edu Local Government is currently in one of its worst moments, both in terms of human and capital development, since its inception. The only period close to where we are now is the disaster that occurred between 2019 and 2024, when the local government was headed by moles who were not accountable to the people. They were never elected by the people, so they did nothing for the people. It was during this period that criminal elements infiltrated our communities unchecked and unchallenged. It was during this period that people could not access clean water, and women and children had to dig deep into the Egwa River in Lafiagi to get muddy substances as water. Children had no access to quality education, and schools were repainted without learning facilities. Fertilizers were allegedly diverted, leaving farmers helpless, and many other atrocities occurred that would move any good heart to tears. Sadly, this is becoming very similar to what we are witnessing today with Hon. Abdullahi Bello, an LG Chairman who has created no jobs for his people while thousands have lost their means of livelihood.

I watched with joy a video shared by the Kwara State Government showing excited women celebrating after Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq supported them with garri-making industrial machines to scale up their businesses. Even though the gesture followed a plea made by the villagers about seven months earlier, I could see that it meant everything to the businesswomen. One can only imagine the years of suffering those women endured just to survive legitimately. It took the state’s governor to provide a tool that a local government chairman should have provided. I commend the governor for that singular act while urging him to also see the standard to which governance has been reduced in Kwara State.

More than fifty communities in Edu produce more garri and erubo than the Owode Oja community, yet they have no machines of this type. They do not even have drying fields. They share spaces with road users, goats, and children playing football. I forgot to add rats. We do not need the governor to buy these machines; we expect the local government chairman to provide the basics. But not this chairman. He cannot even ensure portable water.

No single job has been created by the Edu LG Chairman in the last one year. Rather, thousands of farmers can no longer go to their farms; women cannot go to the market; and youths cannot run their businesses. Not a single direct investment has this boss attracted to his local government, not even a cockroach farm. Not a single greenhouse has been erected for women to grow vegetables.

Unlike his Honourable colleagues who empower people with grinding machines, motorcycles, and engine-less red cars, the Edu LG Chairman would rather give petty donations that cannot outlive his tenure, even if it ends today. This is not how to lead a local government like Edu, which has enormous potential.

Hon. Bello must rejig his priorities and start creating jobs. Crime is at its peak in Lafiagi today, and no amount of petty donations can bring it down. Only jobs for the youths can. From burglary to banditry, these are not the best of times for us. Our leaders must think and genuinely work for the people.

©️Sanchitagi Qasim.