These are very interesting times in Nigerian politics. In Kwara state, current events in the political system are enough to engage scholars and philosophers alike. There are sudden transformations that are sometimes bemusing, sometimes alarming and some sometimes ridiculous. And even at that, I am yet to determine where to precisely place what is obviously and alarming transformation of my brother, the erudite and respectful Special Adviser on National Assembly Matters to Mr. President,  Suleiman Makanjuola Ajadi, given his recent comments on the state of affairs in his home state.

Without being political, my take is that men like Ajadi, whom God has helped to achieve some level of success in life should not now turn against that same God, except he were to deny that his past and present accomplishments are linked to the intervention of the Almighty. In an interview he granted the media recently, he openly boasted that God cannot help the governor of Adamawa state from being impeached, simply because the man is not in the same PDP with him. Haba!  Was that not what the biblical Pharaoh also told the children of Egypt when they went to ask for freedom from his slavery? Even if Nyako is impeached tomorrow, does it translate to the fact that God has forsaken him? Who knows the end of a thing like God? Should any mortal like Ajadi begin to determine what God can do and whom He can help simply on the basis of political affiliation? Is this Ajadi not a believer again? But when did this transformation of Ajadi begin?

While one feels saddened by the transformation of men, of either to perceived integrity at the taste of federal power, it is still gladdening to know that the said interview has thrown open for men to see the quality of mind of those who seek to govern Kwara state.

Let us examine few of Ajadi’s takes on Kwara state as evidence of his thinking. First is that the incumbent administration in the state has not performed simply because it has decided to continue with projects started by its predecessor. I am glad Ajadi is an economist.  One of the basic factors we were taught in elementary economics is that the failure of succeeding administrations to continue with the projects of their predecessors has been the bane of development in Nigeria. It has been established as a strong factor for the numerous abandoned projects that litter the nation. Now Ajadi, one of the men who surround our President as Advisers say it is a crime and sign of non-performance for a government to complete what its predecessor began.

So Governor AbdulFatah Ahmed should have left the International Aviation College uncompleted and start another project just to show he can perform?  The governor should have abandoned the Diagnostic Centre, Cargo Terminal and the numerous road projects completed by the administration just to prove to the Ajadis of this world that he is a performer? Is that how governance should be carried on for dividend of democracy?

The only achievement Ajadi credited to Ahmed is the regular payment of workers’ salaries. And even in acknowledging this achievement the presidential adviser who also has his eyes on the seat Ahmed is currently occupying did so with a sneer. To him, in reality the payment of salaries is not an accomplishment. Is this an insight into what he will do if by chance he gets the opportunity to rule the state? Every political party in Nigeria uses the regular payment of salaries as campaign to win the heart of workers because no one can debunk the challenging financial straits the national economy has found itself. Yet not many states can afford to fulfill this promise and where we see one being faithful to this pact with the workers, a counsellor to the President says it should not be celebrated. My take on this: Kwara workers beware. If this man or his party gets into office in 2015 regular payment of salary is no priority because it is not an achievement for any government in his reckoning.

Ajadi in his interview said in his village and surrounding villages and Share, the governor’s hometown, no single project was done. Haba! When was the last time Ajadi went to Babanloma? Who constructed the road from Oniju compound to Olore? How about Arape to Olora Compound? Or are these areas no longer part of Babanloma? In Share town, George Alimi road, Ona Ile Baale, Aiyegbo Street are to the credit of the Abdulfatah Ahmed administration. Yet, somebody wants us to believe that not a single culvert was done.

In other parts of Kwara South, Obbo-Ile-Orra-Aiyetoro-Ejiu-Obboa-Aiyegunle road about 16km with two bridges was awarded in 2012 and has been completed. The 7km Oke-Onigbin-Igbesi-Editi road was award in 2012 and completed. Also in 2012, Edidi-Alla road, about 6.2km was awared by the state government. Contract executed! As recent as May 2014, Governor Ahmed commissioned Isanlu-Isin-Ijara Isin road in Isin local government; Ijomu township road. The Okerimi Oro is under construction. Both in Irepodun Local Government Area. This is just a tip of the iceberg.

I am an Igbomina man and proud to be one. We are not known to pretend by nature and I decided to write this because I feel that Ajadi, a former federal lawmaker and one of the leading lights of our heritage has without mincing words disappointed many of us, not because of his choice of political party for everyman is free to join an association of his liking, but because the pride exhibited in that media outing and the very clear attempt to rubbish another Igbomina man simply on the basis of party differences is appalling.

Why can’t we learn a lesson from the scenario in Ekiti state where both the outgoing governor and the governor-elect have embraced maturity in their utterances all in the interest of the people they govern? For Ajadi who boasts that he along with few others now still in the PDP were responsible for the election of Ahmed in 2011, I ask him to search his conscience deeply and reflect on who brought him to political limelight and who sustained him until the present situation. If that is the lies he has been telling the President, then I pity him sincerely.

Adebayo sent this from Babanloma, Kwara State.