Politics is a game that easily transforms into a dangerous contest of power and relevance. In many ways, it can now be said that in Kwara State, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq is the only tiger on the mountain after years of multiple face-offs with the former Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed.
Deciding the most influential person in a Nigerian State can be challenging, whether or not there is a sitting governor. Such was the struggle in Kwara State once AbdulRazaq and Mohammed set their sights on each other. With neither of the men bowing their heads, the people of Kwara could only wait for both tigers to tire themselves out or for one to end up with blunt claws.
Based on the most recent happenings in the state, Mohammed is evidently the tiger with blunt claws. More so, AbdulRazaq has managed to pluck out even the shrouded teeth of Mohammed, leaving nothing but shadows of the latter’s influence in the state.
Upon the departure of the former President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, the former minister lost his political arm of strength. This translated to AbdulRazaq gaining the upper hand in Kwara. And even though Mohammed eventually got a new appointment as Special Advisor to the Secretary-General of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), Zurab Pololikashvili, his power no longer reaches Kwara.
This was recently demonstrated in the individuals included in AbdulRazaq’s cabinet list. A careful scrutiny of the governor’s choices shows that Mohammed’s pawns are all cleaned out and no single commissioner-nominee would recognize Mohammed as a benefactor.
Meanwhile, AbdulRazaq is raking in the benefits of being the sole power in Kwara. Recent reports show him going all out to secure the loyalty of his people, demonstrated by how he is tackling issues of insecurity, drug abuse, and unemployment in the state.
Ultimately, AbdulRazaq has rendered Mohammed’s camp an impotent force in all things political in Kwara. Thus, the latter has been cut to size and reduced to being an observer.
