Condemnation of Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq’s Insensitive Out-of-State Trip Amid Oke-Ode Massacre –Prof. Ali Ahmad
Press Release. October 1, 2025
The people of Kwara State, and indeed all Nigerians of conscience, are profoundly shocked and dismayed by the callous indifference displayed by His Excellency, Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, in the wake of the latest barbaric bandit attack on our beloved Oke-Ode community. On September 28, 2025, heartless gunmen unleashed terror in Ifelodun Local Government Area, slaughtering at least 12 innocent forest guards, vigilantes, the village head (Baale), and other residents in a gruesome massacre that has left families shattered and an entire community in mourning.
This unspeakable tragedy demanded not just words of condemnation but the full presence and leadership of our Governor to comfort the bereaved, rally security forces on the ground, and reassure Kwarans that their safety remains paramount. Yet, in a display of egregious lack of empathy, Governor Abdulrazaq chose to abandon his grief-stricken State less than 48 hours later. On September 30, 2025, he jetted off to Imo State to accompany President Bola Tinubu in the glitzy commissioning of infrastructure projects and the launch of a book by Governor Hope Uzodimma—events that, while important, pale in comparison to the blood-soaked soil of Oke-Ode.
The President that we all know would have understood the reason for the absence of our Governor from Imo. And the Imo State Governor too. President Tinubu would likely have appreciated this gesture, given his consistent calls for governors to support his efforts in securing troubled parts of the country.
While widows wailed and orphans wept in Kwara, our Governor was elsewhere, prioritising political optics over pastoral duty. This is not leadership; it is a betrayal of the sacred trust placed in him as the chief shepherd of Kwara’s flock. More dangerously, Governor Abdulrazaq has reduced governance in Kwara to a part-time venture, operating from his chosen comfort zones outside the State while blood is spilled almost daily on our soil. Having taken an oath of allegiance to protect lives and property, he now acts as though his duty is optional, delegating his constitutional responsibilities while placing personal and political engagements above the lives of his citizens.
Nigerians have seen examples of leadership in times of tragedy, when governors placed empathy and duty above personal convenience. In Plateau State, for instance, Governor Caleb Mutfwang showed the kind of leadership our situation demands. Following the devastating Christmas Eve 2023 attacks in Bokkos, Barkin Ladi, and Mangu Local Government Areas, he cut off all official trips, declared a week of mourning, ordered flags to fly at half-mast, personally visited hospitals to console the injured, and covered the medical bills of survivors. He remained on the ground to coordinate with security agencies and later met with President Tinubu to demand greater military presence in Plateau. His presence became a beacon of solidarity and comfort to grieving citizens.
In Benue State, Governor Hyacinth Alia also placed his people above protocol. When fresh waves of attacks claimed dozens of lives in Guma and other LGAs in 2024 and 2025, he suspended international engagements and declared days of mourning. He mobilised State resources for relief materials, set up peace and reconciliation committees, and worked with the Presidency to push forward ranching programs as a solution to recurring farmer-herder conflicts. Even when the killings drew federal attention, Alia insisted on staying in Benue to reassure communities under siege. These Governors understood that leadership in times of bloodshed requires more than statements—it requires physical presence, decisive action, and empathy.
Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq’s conduct stands in stark contrast. His absence from Oke-Ode, even as he issued a tepid statement calling for more troops, underscores a dangerous disconnect between the Government House in Ilorin and the daily agonies of ordinary Kwarans. The PDP in Kwara has rightly lambasted this levity, noting that criminals now appear to have overpowered the state apparatus.
Even more troubling is the hollowness of the administration’s claims about “infrastructural transformation.” No matter the roads, schools, or facilities you boast of building, they are meaningless if citizens cannot live to use them. What good is a Nursing School in Oke-Ode when the community itself lies in fear, with classrooms deserted and learning halted because of insecurity? What becomes of the NYSC Orientation Camp in Yikpata, now a ghost facility because corps members and their parents fear for their lives? Development without security is an empty shell—a mirage that collapses when tested by reality. Securing lives is not secondary to infrastructure; it is the foundation upon which any meaningful development must stand.
Kwarans therefore, demand immediate accountability: a personal visit to Oke-Ode by the Governor to mourn with victims and survivors; transparent updates on the military deployments he has requested from the Federal Government; a firm commitment to eradicate banditry from Kwara’s borders and restore peace in affected communities; and a re-ordering of priorities to place the lives of Kwarans above ceremonial appearances elsewhere.
Kwara deserves a governor who stands with us in our darkest hours, not one who flees to the comfort of ceremonial ribbons. This moment is a clarion call for empathy-driven leadership across Nigeria. The blood of Oke-Ode must not be in vain.
Right Honourable Professor Ali Ahmad
Former Speaker,
Kwara State House of Assemb