Prof. Abdulraheem, Kwara NNPP governorship candidate

By Razak Owolabi

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

His foray into Kwara politics is not fortuitous; the foundation seems to have been laid as an administrator and Vice-Chancellor at the University of Ilorin, which till now has one of the highest, if not the highest, rate of subscription by Nigerian students and applicants through the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

Emeritus Prof. Shuaib Oba Abdulraheem, also the holder of the chieftaincy title, Talba of Ilorin, has brought excitement and vibrancy to the Kwara State governorship race since Tuesday, June 28, 2022, when he became the governorship candidate on the platform of New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP).

Oba is seen as a very formidable candidate whose entry is putting candidates of other political parties on their toes, thus waking them from their deep sleep due to his superior yet intimidating credentials and strategic leadership prowess.

He is popularly referred to in the state as Ọ̀rẹ́ Mẹ̀kúnù or Abokin Talakawa (A friend of the poor masses) due to his close affinity to the people at the grassroots level.

The NNPP governorship candidate was also a former Sole Administrator of the Kwara State College of Education Oro, Chairman of Governing Council of the Kwara State College of Education, Ilorin and the third Executive Chairman of the Federal Character Commission.

He was also the Chairman Governing Council, Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin.

Oba was the Initiator and Coordinator of the Ilorin Aviation College Committee, Chairman Political Transition Committee 2003, Chairman Implementation Committee, Muhammad Kamaldeen University, Ilorin and Member, JAMB Governing Board.

These experiences mostly in the public service are evidence that Oba is a versatile manager of human and capital resources.

As a chieftaincy title holder, the Talba is also a grassroot leader who is always at home with

rural dwellers and the youth population in Kwara State.

His campaign train has been moving steadily from one part of the state to another, communicating the credentials, capabilities and inspiring vision of the illustrious son of the soil to the people that matter most, Nigerians at the grassroots level.

Undoubtedly, Oba has garnered a lot of experience in service to humanity, an attribute a Governor of any Nigerian state should possess.

The Kwara NNPP governorship candidate has been visiting traditional rulers and their subjects at the grassroots level to carry them along and appeal for their support.

Among the rulers so far visited include the Chairman of Kwara State Traditional Rulers Council, the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu Gambari and the Oloffa of Offa, Oba Mufutau Gbadamosi.

Others are, Olukotun of Ikotun, Oba AbdulRasaq Abioye, Olojoku of Ojoku, Oba AbdulRasaq Afolabi, Onira of Ira, Oba Abdulwahab Oyetoro, Elerin of Erin Ile, Oba Abdulganiyu Ajibola and Olota of Ilota, Alhaji Mohammed Olarewaju.

Owa Lobo of Obbo-Ile, Oba Adebayo Rufus Olusegun and Olosi of Osi, Oba Salihu Abdulkareem Adasofegbe, also hosted the NNPP governorship candidate in their palaces.

Other traditional rulers he visited included, Alofa of Ilofa, Oba Samuel Dada. Olusin of Isanlu Isin, Oba Solomon Oloyede, Emir of Ilesha Baruba, Prof. Halidu Abubakar and Olola of Olla, Prof. Billy Olajide.

His love for the people at the grassroots must have informed his flagging off his gubernatorial campaign at Okuta in Baruten Local government area, very far from Ilorin, the state capital.

As expected, he paid a courtesy call on the traditional ruler, the Emir of Okuta, Alhaji Idris Abubakar.

At the Emir’s palace, Oba reiterated that one of the first things he will do in office is to re-establish local government authority by conducting the local government election immediately, not later than six months after the general elections.

The governorship candidate also promised to provide functional and quality education and invest in agriculture if elected as the governor.

“There is no doubt that Kwara State is in dire need of a change of effective leadership and good governance; my experience in the public service will bring about the needed transformation,” he said.

Oba alleged that the present APC-led administration in the state has performed below the people’s expectations, and he expressed the urgent need to replace it with an NNPP government.

He asserted that an NNPP government would bring the desired change to the people of Kwara, who are still yearning for fresh air regarding socio-economic development, especially at the grassroots level.

In his response, the Emir lauded the NNPP for flagging off its campaign in his local government area.

He wished the gubernatorial candidate and his team well at the elections.

Talking of qualities of a good leader, the NNPP governorship candidate says such a person must separate falsehood from the truth while following the latter.

Oba added that a good leader must always have his ears to the ground to gauge the pulse of the people he governs so that his programmes and policies will always include their inputs.

When asked about his chance of success in his quest to become the next governor of Kwara despite the strong presence of PDP and the ruling APC candidates, the NNPP candidate expressed maximum optimism about winning the election.

Oba also disagreed with the misconception that the NNPP is a new party that may not go far in the country’s political terrain.

“NNPP is not as new as you may want to think. It’s been registered almost the same time as PDP was registered.

“Throughout the years, it’s been contesting elections through various candidates all over Nigeria. In some states, they won; in some, they lost.

“Most importantly, it’s been contesting elections in Nigeria. In Kwara, NNPP may be coming to the scene late, but it doesn’t diminish its potential as a party that will win the governorship in 2023,” he said.

According to Oba, the character and social standing of those contesting elections are factors that matter, not the time a party is formed.

“They, the credible candidates, are the ones to bring recognition to the party as desired,” he said.

While speaking at a debate for governorship candidates in Kwara recently, Oba promised to make the education of Kwara people his priority.

Coming from a background of solid educational achievements, this should not be a surprise to any keen observer.

Oba, who completed his doctorate studies at the University of Kent, UK, has been a teacher and lecturer with many years of experience.

As an accomplished scholar and administrator, he has enjoyed a glorious career in the teaching profession, from the elementary classroom teacher to the professorial chair at the university.

He also holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees of Ahmadu Bello University and the University of Sheffield, respectively.

“An uneducated population is a doomed population. So the first people I am going to partner with are the teachers,” he told the audience at the debate organised by the Kwara State council of Nigeria Labour Congress.

“I will leverage technology as I did at the University of Ilorin to make Kwara State the knowledge hub for the world and, in the process, provide employment for the teeming youths,” Oba said.

The NNPP governorship candidate also assured the organised labour unions that he would work with them with honesty and sincerity.

At a town hall meeting with the people of Oyun local government, in Erin Ile, the Talba promised to bring the government down to the grassroots through local government autonomy.

He also urged youths in the area to participate fully in politics, leveraging their energy, passion and technology competence to achieve inclusive, sustainable development through the ballot box.

Oba was given a warm reception at the palace of Elerin of Erin Ile by the chiefs though the traditional ruler himself was not around.

The chiefs prayed for Talba’s victory while giving testimonies of his achievements in their community, Kwara State and Nigeria at large.

On his campaign visit to Offa, another prominent town, the emeritus professor assured the people of Offa Local Government of his support if voted as the next Kwara Governor.

He said that based on his consultation with different groups in the community, if elected, his administration would address many of the challenges facing the ancient town.

The former Vice Chancellor urged his supporters to get their permanent voters’ cards while thanking them for the show of love accorded him.

The State Chairman of NNPP, AbdulRasaq Abdulsalam, described Prof. Oba as an honest man who would deliver on all his promises.

Oba did not just believe in hard work; he is a prayer warrior and religious person who believes in the power of Almighty God.

Towards this end, he led NNPP candidates in Kwara in December 2022 in a prayer session with notable Islamic clerics praying for the candidate’s success in the 2023 general elections.

They also prayed for the success of the party’s presidential candidate, Alhaji Musa Kwankwaso.

Oba expressed confidence in the party’s victory in the elections, saying the party is ready to take over power in Kwara and Nigeria in general.

“Insha Allah, we are doing everything possible to achieve success. This is because we have confidence in Allah, and when you have confidence in Allah, you will achieve success,” he said.

While assessing the level of preparedness of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the elections, the NNPP governorship candidate hailed the commission for “their impartiality” and the introduction of the Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS) in the electoral process.

Oba however, condemned the relentless attacks on INEC facilities across the country.

Speaking on vote buying, he urged Nigerian electorates to resist the vice, saying that it must be stopped as it was not giving credibility and authenticity to the country’s elections.

“Vote buying is another disease we must cure,” the governorship candidate emphasised.

Keen observers of the Kwara political landscape are unanimous that with the emergence of Oba in the race for Government House, a new sheriff is indeed in town to take over affairs in the “State of Harmony”.

With his campaign slogan of “Ìrọ̀rùn dé” (Comfort is here), Oba is seen by many as the genuine bringer of the social, economic and political reliefs the people of Kwara have long been yearning for. (NANFeatures)

**If used, please credit the writer as well as News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

Prof. Abdulraheem Oba

By Razak Owolabi.

Prof. Abdulraheem Oba the governorship candidate of New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) in Kwara State, has described the Joint Account System (JAS) between states and local governments in the country as fraudulent.

Oba a former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday, said that until 100 per cent autonomy is granted to local government administration in the country, development at the grassroots will remain a mirage.

“The first step in the theft of the people’s commonwealth begins with the Joint Account System while full visible autonomy of the local government is the first step towards dismantling this fraudulent arrangement that is being perpetuated relentlessly over the years.

“The state government should accept its supervisory role to the Local Government Areas.

“Each arm should be separately accountable for what it does. I think that is what the law of the land says,” the governorship candidate reiterated.

Oba alleged that there was rot in Kwara State and he was determined to stop it.

According to him, good people of conscience can not afford to close their eyes to rot in governance.

“We have systematic corruption going on here. Bad government is what is expensive, not good government. There is an urgent need for the true government of the people by the people and for the people,” Oba said.

He expressed his determination to block all existing loopholes in the administration of finance in the state and invest savings in sustainable development initiatives that will improve the GDP of the state.

Oba assured the youths of Kwara that one of his priorities, if voted into office, is private sector-friendly policies enabling an environment for corporates to set up in the state. If elected into office.

“I will also utilise my global network to attract global companies in ICT, the mining value chain and customer service that will create meaningful employment for the youths, women and professionals as major beneficiaries.

“Infrastructural development at the local government level is also a compulsory agenda if I am made the governor as with good governance, human capital development will be automatically arrested,” he asserted.

Oba promised that he would immediately put into effect modalities to ensure total autonomy for Kwara local governments if voted as the next governor.

NAN reports that the vexed issue of full autonomy for local government administration has been on the front burner of national discussion in the country for a long time, with concerned stakeholders accusing state governments of being the stumbling blocks.

Labour unions have been open in their condemnation of state governments on the issue with Tommy Etim, Deputy President of Trade Union Congress recently describing the development as saddening, and labelling governors as enemies of the country.

NAN also reports that the State and Local Government Joint Account system as a financial policy of the local government was introduced in Nigeria’s 1979 constitution following the nation-wide local government reforms of 1976.

The system was later abolished in 1989 during the regime of General Ibrahim Babangida because of its wrong implementation by state governments.

In 1999, following the restoration of civil rule, it was reintroduced into the constitution. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani

By Emmanuel Mogbede

The All Progressives Congress (APC) Asiwaju/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) on Tuesday said Naja’atu Mohammed, its former Head of Civil Society Organisations Directorate, was sacked due to incompetence and for leaking vital information.

Mahmud Jega, Adviser Public Affairs Tinubu Media Office, said this in a statement in Abuja.

Jega described Mohammed’s resignation as hasty and preemptive after the campaign council had discovered her leakage of sensitive information to opposition political parties.

He charged APC supporters to ignore the antics of political jobbers like Mohammed and concentrate on delivering the Tinubu-Shettima presidential ticket in the coming presidential election.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Muhammed who claimed to have resigned from her position on Saturday also alleged that Tinubu is suffering from dementia.

“The Asiwaju/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council received with amusement the hasty resignation of Hajiya Naja’atu Mohammed from her position as Director of Civil Society Organisations.

“This was just before she was sacked for incompetence, quarrelsomeness and after being uncovered to be a mole planted in the winning campaign council to leak sensitive information to our desperate opponents,”Jega said.

Jega said Mohammed had succeeded in deceiving the gullible public by claiming that she resigned, when her sack letter had arrived at her desk.

He added that her desperate, fact-free, machination-filled and imaginary utterances since her sack from the PCC had proved beyond doubt that she was unfit to serve in the first place, until it was discovered that she was actually a mole.

“Not being a medical doctor but one whose profession in the last three decades was as a political jobber and expert name dropper.

“She nevertheless issued a pseudo-medical report on our presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, after a brief meeting in London.

“Even the association of native doctors would sack her for quackery and for reaching a medical conclusion without any test,”Jega said.

He added that in contrast to Mohammed’s claim; Tinubu had been running the most punishing campaign schedule than any of the presidential candidates.

According to Jega, Tinubu’s stamina had taken him to many parts of the country; with an almost non-stop schedule of political rallies, town hall meetings with business and cultural stakeholders.

On her claim that Tinubu has no plan for the north, Jega said “Hajiya Naja’atu Mohammed claimed that when she asked Asiwaju what plans he had for the North, he answered that he had none, this is strange and questions the integrity of the woman and her story.”

He said that Tinubu had unfolded an action plan for the whole country, in which problems bedeviling the North got a very comprehensive attention.

The APC PCC Adviser Public Affairs recalled that Tinubu also attended the Arewa Summit in 2022 where he unfolded and elaborated on his action plan and programs.

“As conclusive proof of her unstable and unreliable character. Naja’atu said in her pre-emptive resignation letter that she was quitting party politics as the political parties have no ideological differences and her values and beliefs no longer align with party politics.

“Within a day, pictures surfaced in the media showing her meeting with Alhaji Atiku Abubakar,the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate and declaring her support for him,” he said.

He added that Nigerians must be wondering what kind of values and beliefs she has apart from opportunism, selfishness and greed.

“We were least surprised about her dramatic exit, coming after she went on television to disparage our party and President Muhammadu Buhari, only a mole could behave in such a manner.

“We urge our supporters across the country to ignore the antics of this political soldier of fortune and concentrate on the job of delivering the Tinubu/Shettima ticket at the polls in barely a month from now,” Jega said. (NAN)

Edited by Julius Toba-Jegede