Abdulrahman's Leadership Crisis: When Lies And Propaganda Become A Policy
By Abdulyekeen Mohd Bashir
For Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq and his media aides, lying has become an art. They have mastered this art of deception and are using it to conceal the stark inefficiencies and failures of an administration built on fraud. From the inception of this government that was birthed through the contentious O to Ge movement, Kwarans have been fed a constant stream of lies and misinformation. The governor's media aides shamelessly parrot his falsehoods.
Take for instance, the Tanke bridge project, which should have been completed long ago. Former Governor Nyesom Wike built and completed five flyovers in Rivers State within the same timeframe, yet our own remains under 'construction' and only God knows when it will be opened. Each delay is justified with excuses, but the reality is simple: the project was mismanaged from the start, much like many others under Abdulrazaq's administration. Yet, with each passing day, the governor’s media urchins tirelessly work to spin the narrative that “the governor is working.”
But what work do they refer to? Is it the unfulfilled promises to workers across the state, still awaiting the payment of the new minimum wage while the cost of living rises? Is it the stalled infrastructure projects or worsening poverty plaguing the people while the governor boasts of achievements that exist only in his press releases and demolition of people's properties out of political vendetta?
The reality of Kwara State today is one where propaganda replaces policy, and lies are spun so often that they begin to sound like the truths. The governor's aides flood radio and social media with talks and posts celebrating nonexistent achievements, such as the underwhelming Garment factory that has had no impact on the state's economy or reduce the state's unprecedented unemployment rate.
Kwarans are still stuck in traffic waiting for projects that seem never to be completed. But why does the Abdulrahman's administration rely on deception? The answer is simple: it's easier than action. Lies require no effort or accountability. Abdulrazaq’s government relies on surface-level data, crafted to mislead, rather than addressing the root causes of suffering in Kwara. When a government lacks the substance to justify the trust of the people, it can either come clean and admit its mistakes, or it can, as Abdulrazaq has chosen, perpetually churn out lies to cover its tracks.
The cracks in this incompetent government continue to widen. One wonders how much longer the charade will persist before it crumbles, revealing the empty shell of an administration that campaigned with fraud and now governs with lies. The truth always comes to light, and those who build power on lies will find themselves standing on nothing but the rubble of their broken promises.
Abdulyekeen Mohd Bashir a Kwara born political analyst writes from Ibadan
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