Initially, we thought the transition in Kwara (from Saraki to Ahmed) will be like that of Tinubu and Fashola; where Mr. Fashola cleared all doubts about his predecessor through massive development in Lagos state throughout his first term to the extent that the whole nation felt his presence, but the case of Kwara is directly opposite. Ahmed who took the batton from his predecessor has added to the doubts of the people, which is making them never believe/trust in their administration which has proved itself to be a failure in less than two years. Mistaken priority, masses unfriendly policies, non payment of salary when due, lies, cluelessness and general poor performance have become the culture of our government in Kwara.

To start with, I recognize the effort of faithful Kwarans who have written about the failing situation in Kwara. My intention is to solidify their efforts through an accountable approach. After reading many articles and press releases, about our beloved Kwara; closely since the beginning of Governor Ahmed's regime, gathering many facts and figures, researching into project sites within my reach, independently, taking polls just as I prepare to start the series of this critique of my state's leadership, which has remained unfocused even at the dawn of the second decade of the millenium.

Oh Governor Ahmed! In september 2011, you came with Kwara State Bridge Empowerment Scheme (KWABES) and you opened the ground for people to apply for employment which we all did; millions of naira was signed by your government to glorify this scheme, but what is the outcome? Beginning from the fact that there has been conflicting figures from your administration about the people employed; at a time, you told us 1200 of 2000 youths were given permanent employment in the state civil service, shortly it became 1000 of 2000youths and now 1400 as disclosed in a press release by your Media and Communication Special Adviser broadcast on Royal FM (Ilorin) few months ago. Which should we believe? If truly people were employed, why the conflicting figures? As if that is not enough, several times, to validate the figures and possibly meet one or two beneficiaries, I went to the KWABES office to get details of the figures and beneficiaries, but the dumbskulls in the office cannot just provide me useful information, I will not blame them, they cannot produce what they do not have. Not even one of my friends or friends' friends whom we applied for KWABES together were employed, and sad enough, we cannot even get someone who was employed, to truly believe people were employed. Oh Kwara!

Oh Governor Ahmed! You have succeeded in taking poverty to the next height in Kwara by delaying their token, poor salaries. People in the state civil service, ministries and local governments are bitterly complaining and groaning in pain. Your administration in a press release blamed it on our allocation, what does allocation has to do with salary payment? Federal Government disburses allocation to all states, so why is Kwara allocation been delayed for months while other states recieve their own at normal time and pay their workers? Is the Federal Government holding Kwara's allocation intentionally? Maybe you should create a smarter lie to cover this!

Oh Governor Ahmed! You have become a travelling governor searching for investors who are not lost; if it is not US, it's UK, do we now have an extention of our own Kwara abroad? Ok! He said he is looking for investors, how do you look for investors when the infrastructures are not in place? Our major roads are in terrible situations even with your "so called operation no pot holes", the state economy is aggressively falling, yet you are travelling up and down, making cool cash from travelling allowances in the name of searching for investors, did you also go to Umrah with your over 200 entourage to search for investors?

Oh Governor Ahmed! This is only the first series of my critique, every week will be a new series thrown to online news media and national dalies. I encourage fellow Kwarans to faithfully continue to fight for a better Kwara to save our beloved state from wrecking, our pens are mightier than their power and money. Next, I shall be talking extensively on Kwara's Poor Health system, Stealing through Agriculture, and poor infrastructures with pictures. This is just an introduction.

Kwara can be great again!

Tijani Saheed (Omu Aran) tjsaheed@gmail.com

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