I recently stumbled on a terribly written political diatribe on the internet with the above title where the writer, one Salman Abdulraheem struggled all through the piece to justify his pay by casting acerbic aspersions on the personality of notable Kwara indigenes within the Peoples Democratic Party circle, with major focus on successful and respected business tycoon, Hajiya Bola Shagaya as his prime target.

While the constitution guarantees free speech, I think it behoves any speaker or writer to master both arts very to avoid a repeat of Mr Abdulraheem's colourless, hollow, uninspiring and pedestrian thoughts as captured in the garbage titled: "Kwara PDP Elders Are Traitors". In the said article, the mercantile writer, who is obviously struggling to master the art of scribbling political diatribe, made fruitless attempts to rubbish the unprecedented achievements of a woman who has brought immense respect and recognition to our dear Kwara through her chains of businesses engagements across the globe.

The said piece is serially laced with choking lies, blatant falsehood, cheap blackmail, serial inconsistency and poor grammar. He took his ignorance and arrogance rather too far. It really takes one with extraordinary patience and intelligence to clearly understand what the said article was designed to achieve. The writer was consistently inconsistent all through his work. Here him, "It is very obvious that the freedom Kwarans are yearning for through our great party, the Peoples' Democratic Party, PDP, may not be forthcoming due to the emergence of another 'political god' in the Kwara Political stage. Unlike the late political sage, Senator Olusola Saraki and his son, who is also the acclaimed leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the State, the newly emerged 'Maradona' is a woman. She is Hajia Bola Shagaya".

Now, who is he blaming for Kwara's stolen freedom? Bola Shagaya or the Senator Bukola Saraki? Has either Bola Shagaya, her husband or any of her relations ever governed Kwara state or represented her in the National Assembly?

Anyone who is truly in sync with past and present happenings in Kwara's political circle will indeed attest to the obvious fact that liberation has come the way of the state and its people. For the very first time in many years, Kwarans now have the opportunity of taking part in how they are governed. The era whereby one personality and his coterie of political godsons held the state by its jugular is far gone. These same PDP elders Mr Abdulraheem called traitors are same people using their hard earned resources, time and energy to champion the project to liberate Kwara from the control of a few selfish elites. Why must we all continue to be seen and described as citizens of a particular state when just a family and its cronies have selfishly and wickedly arrogated all powers to themselves at the expense of the majority?

That change that we have all been yearning for which eluded us for several years has come. Enough of tyrannical reign of dictators dressed in civilian robes. Mr Abdulraheem's failure to support the choice of Dr Suleiman Abubakar as Kwara's representative in the Federal Executive Council is an indication that he is yet to be bitten by the change bug criss-crossing the state.

Gentleman, cross-check your information again. Dr Suleiman Abubakar's choice as Kwara's representative in FEC is purely the decision of the state's chapter of the PDP, not at the behest of Bola Shagaya as you erroneously affirmed in your article.

Let me shed little light on this respected scholar, Suleiman Abubakar, that Mr Abdulraheem made effort to rubbish his towering academic and superlative political credentials. That he's not based in Kwara state doesn't translate to not being in touch with happenings in the state. I dare Mr Abdulraheem to do little research on this enigma and scholar called Dr Abubakar. This same man he chose to use demeaning words to describe once convened a strategic meeting which had all Kwara elites living in Abuja in attendance. The likes of respected journalist Ishaq Modibbo Kawu, Gbemisola Saraki, Dele Belgore, Professor Abdulraheem Oba, Gen. Theophilous Bamigboye, Senator Suleiman Ajadi and other topshots too numerous to mention graced the event. At the gathering, the attendees who were full of praises for Dr Abubakar, stressed the dire need for Kwarans and Kwara to be liberated from the hands of just a few individuals. This is the same person you blindly said he's not known at home? Hmmm!

Beyond party considerations, Dr Suleiman Abubakar is by all acceptable standards eminently qualified to represent our dear state in the Federal Executive Council. His qualification for the job isn't just because he has a PhD in his kitty. No. Far from it. His in-depth understanding of governance, excellent grassroot and social networking resume, unbeatable human relations sense and respect for all Kwarans, irrespective of their social or economic backgrounds, are some rare attributes working for him.

The mercantile writer didn't end his hollow article without adding Sheriff Shagaya, Bola Shagaya's son to the list of his prime targets. One would ask, is Sheriff Shagaya also a PDP elder? The writer, in his line of argument and puerile thinking, concluded that arrangements have been concluded by Bola Shagaya to sponsor her son to the Federal House of Representatives come 2015. If indeed Sheriff Shagaya has indicated interest in the 2015 National Assembly election should he perish such thought on grounds that his mother is already a chieftain of the party in the state? Or Bola Shagaya should have no say or contribute to her son's quest to actualize his political ambition? We tend to be very emotional on issues that require serious reasoning and engagement. Sheriff, like any other citizen of Kwara, having met all prescribed criteria for seeking political office, is free to actualize his political ambition. Should he seek to go into partisan politics, no one, not even his mother, can prevail on him to rescind his decision.

Those trying hard to halt the train of change from moving to its destination in our dear state are in the minority. Undoubtedly, Mr Abdulraheem and his faceless sponsors/collaborators are part of those opposing change in Kwara state. We desire a state where the interest of all Kwarans will be protected by their elected representatives. Power belongs to the people. They only gave it in trust to those chosen to lead. This campaign of calumny, name-calling, buck passing and blackmail won't do us any good.

Abdullahi Yunusa, an Ilorin based Social Commentator.