A Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara state, Chief Iyiola Oyedepo, has sharply criticized Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, labeling him a dictator who listens only to himself while pretending to uphold democratic values.
In an opinion piece released Wednesday afternoo, and titled “Democracy Kwara Way,” Oyedepo lambasted the state governmor for what he described as a systematic erosion of democratic principles and rampant impunity in local government administration. He accused the current administration of engaging in fraudulent practices that undermine the state’s democratic framework.
“Six years running and government at the local level is run from the state. Where local councils were not governed by civil servants, they are run by the appointees of the governor,” Oyedepo wrote, highlighting the governor’s direct control over local councils since assuming office in 2019.
Oyedepo recounted how the existing elected council and the Kwara State Independent Electoral Commission (KWASIEC) were dissolved upon Governor AbdulRazaq’s assumption of office, setting the stage for what he described as “the pillage of the fund of the sixteen LGAs.”
Despite pressure from various quarters, the APC agreed to conduct council elections in September 2024. However, Oyedepo expressed deep skepticism about the integrity of the primaries held on July 2, 2024. He criticized the delayed announcement of the results, which were released a week later without disclosing the figures scored by contestants.
“When the Party told us to go for direct primaries, I thought the leopard had finally changed its skin. But I was wrong,” Oyedepo stated, comparing the recent primaries to the gubernatorial direct primary of 2018, which he also viewed as lacking transparency.
Oyedepo accused Governor AbdulRazaq of selecting candidates based on their loyalty to him rather than their ability to serve their local communities. He described the governor as a “one man democracy” and a “dictator wearing only the symbol of democracy.”
Despite his harsh criticism, Oyedepo called for patience and expressed hope for a change in leadership. “I appeal for patience as we move towards the end of an era. For there are regimes and there are regimes. But this one too will pass away,” he concluded.
Oyedepo’s remarks have sparked a significant reaction across the state, highlighting the ongoing concerns about the integrity and democratic nature of the local government administration under Governor AbdulRazaq’s leadership.
