Seven Years After, Failed Promises, Floods, Insecurity Define Governor Abdulrazaq’s Administration_ Sanchitagi Qasim

Seven Years After, Failed Promises, Floods, Insecurity Define Governor Abdulrazaq’s Administration_ Sanchitagi Qasim

Renewed criticism has trailed Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq’s latest visit to Edu Local Government Area of Kwara State, with concerns raised over persistent flooding, worsening insecurity, inadequate public infrastructure and questions about the implementation of earlier government promises.

In a critical commentary titled “For Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, Kwara North is a Cruise” and posted on his verified Facebook page, public affairs commentator Sanchitagi Qasim questioned what he described as the gap between the governor’s promises to Kwara North and the lasting development outcomes experienced by communities in the region.

The commentary comes against the backdrop of recurring floods, particularly in communities such as Likpata, Tswako and Edogi, which suffered extensive damage during the 2020 flooding disaster.

According to Qasim, the floods destroyed properties in 2020, disrupted livelihoods and submerged schools and healthcare facilities, leaving residents struggling to access potable water and food. He recalled that the governor visited some affected communities alongside other officials, including Senator Sadiq Umar, the Senator representing Kwara North, and announced plans to provide relief materials and pursue interventions aimed at dredging the River Niger and desilting the Kainji and Jebba dams.

Six years later, Qasim argues that the governor returned to the same communities with the same promises as residents continue to face recurring flooding, raising questions about the implementation of the earlier commitment on long-term interventions.

He also questioned the reported donation of ₦10 million to more than 10,000 flood victims, calling for transparency regarding the distribution of the funds and the actual relief they would provide to affected households.

Insecurity and the Question of Government Presence

Beyond flooding, the commentary highlights the security challenges confronting Edu and other parts of Kwara North.

Qasim alleged that between June 2025 and the time of writing, victims of banditry from Edu had paid billions of naira in ransom, while several lives had been lost and many residents injured or displaced.

He criticised the governor’s limited physical presence in the area during periods of severe distress, noting that Abdulrazaq’s previous visit to Lafagi in  Edu was in February 2023, before his latest visit.

The writer also questioned the effectiveness of a committee reportedly established by the state government to enumerate victims of banditry for assistance, arguing that families affected by insecurity were still seeking answers about the promised support.

School Bus Donation and Infrastructure Concerns

The governor’s donation of a bus to the Kwara State College of Education(T)  Lafiagi also came under scrutiny in the commentary.

While acknowledging the donation as part of the governor’s visit, Qasim questioned whether providing a vehicle adequately addressed the institution’s more fundamental challenges, which he described as including dilapidated infrastructure, staff shortages, inadequate research support and insufficient capital funding.

He further raised concerns about the condition of the school’s staff quarters and boys’ hostels, arguing that such facilities require urgent attention. The writer maintained that investments in education should extend beyond the provision of vehicles.

Police Station Without a Patrol Van

Qasim also drew attention to the reported absence of an operational patrol van at the Lafiagi Police Divisional Headquarters.

Qasim alleged that the division relied on only two motorcycles despite the security challenges confronting the local government area.

The writer contrasted the reported lack of police transportation with the governor’s donation of a bus to a school he claimed needed funds to maintain its old vehicles, arguing that the security needs of residents deserved greater attention.

Waterworks, Stadium and Closed Market

Questions were also raised over the governor’s failure to visit the Lafiagi Waterworks during his latest trip, despite expectations among some residents that the facility would be officially commissioned following its reported completion.

Instead, according to Qasim, the governor inspected ongoing renovation work at the Lafiagi Stadium, which was reportedly damaged by a windstorm weeks earlier.

He also drew attention to the Gbugbu market, popularly referred to as the “International Market,” which he said remained closed.

Role of Community Organisations

Beyond the state government, Qasim also criticised what he described as the silence of community-based organisations, particularly LADDU, over the region’s development challenges.

He argued that such organisations should do more to demand sustainable infrastructure, public accountability and long-term development rather than celebrating occasional donations.

He also called for stronger civic engagement and greater inspiration for emerging organisations, including LEYTA, warning that the absence of sustained advocacy could undermine the region’s development prospects.

Seven Years After the Promise

Abdulrazaq assumed office in 2019, pledging attention to the development needs of Kwara North. With his administration approaching its final year, questions about the extent to which that commitment has translated into measurable improvements remain central to the debate.

For Qasim, the issues confronting Edu and the wider region extend beyond occasional visits and relief distributions. They concern the sustainability of flood-control measures, the protection of lives and livelihoods, functional public institutions, access to essential services and the delivery of completed projects.

The commentary concludes that Kwara North risks leaving the Abdulrazaq administration with persistent insecurity, poverty and underdevelopment despite the promises made at the beginning of his tenure.