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2023: Who Is Fed Up With AbdulRazaq’s Administration? Only Saraki’s Kwara PDP By Abdulqaudri Mahmud

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Barely a few days after I read the article Mallam Rafiu Ajakaye Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Kwara state wrote about the Kwara PDP’s “O Su Wa” campaign slogan, I jumped on an article that looks like its rejoinder on Facebook. The article was written by Abdullateef Ishowo, the newly appointed Director of Media and Communication for Kwara State PDP Campaign Council. Nothing defines the lengthy piece better than the false narration that it was. The article was ridden with lies and propaganda. But I won’t blame Abdullateef — he’s a Saraki man — and you’ve to be good at telling lies and spreading fake news before you can be one. Abdullateef has been disguising for long as an unbiased public analyst, apolitical commentator. However, he’s a core PDP member who is just creating unnecessary confusion. He has served as Legislative Aide to Senator Bukola Saraki. Everybody can now see where the fake public analyst belongs to.

For the sake of the people who don’t understand Yoruba, “O Su Wa” is loosely translated as “We’re Fed Up.” So, what Kwara PDP means by these words is that it’s fed up with Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s administration. An administration that has been doing greatly according to political observers, experts,  and well-meaning Kwarans, commending its exploits in the last three years. Fine, the AbdulRazaq-led administration is yet to take Kwarans to the promised land but it has long moved them away from the state of disrepute PDP left them before the 2019 elections.

This saying is the brainchild of Saraki’s Kwara PDP and it is synonymous with them alone. But in Abdullateef’s shameful defense of his party, he said PDP are not the only people ranting about “O Su Wa” in the State, the civil servants are also on the table. This claim was nothing but false. The civil servants of which state? The same civil servants his Party treated like trash? The civil same civil servants whom his party paid Geri-Gedi salaries and even owed salaries for months without giving reasonable accounts as to why? Abdullateef must be joking.

Kwara state’s civil servants have tasted both administrations. I mean the 16 years of PDP’s misrule and Mallam AbdulRazaq-led administration of 3 and a half years. Even though the latter’s years are way below the former’s years, he has done well for the civil servants than the former which has a history of afflicting civil servants to comfort itself. So, how Abdullateef Ishowo believes that civil servants are with them in this self-afflicting “O Su Wa” campaign slogan beats me. He may not know, but like other Kwarans, the civil servants have moved on and aren’t ready to bring PDP back to power.

Abdullateef Ishowo also claimed that PDP paid civil servants geri-gedi salaries because there was a recession which led to a cut of allocation at the time. He didn’t acknowledge that his party owed salaries. Besides, why didn’t his acclaimed cut of allocation affect other states? The only state that couldn’t pay full salaries at the time was Osun state and it was because of its elephant projects and a heavy debt. What Abdullateef would have told us is that his party looted the money meant to service civil servants whose only sin was rendering their service diligently. Simple!

There is audio evidence on the internet where the Leader of Kwara PDP — Senator Bukola Saraki said he shared millions of naira to each state in Nigeria so that his favorite presidential candidate would emerge. At a time when Kwara’s civil servants were suffering! Also, when former governor of Kwara state AbdulFatah Ahmed proposed N20 billion bond, he allayed the fear of Kwarans that it wouldn’t be diverted. His assurance hinted how the bonds collected before the one he was proposing were used. No be so? I hope Abdullateef Ishowo would tell us the real reason why his party couldn’t afford to pay salary as basic as it is.

I can continue to point out the lies and propaganda in that article but I will stop here. Bro Abdullateef can do better, at least, for the sake of the youths who are looking up to him and admire his oratory prowess. When he and his people say “O Su Wa” (they are fed up with the AbdulRazaq-led govt) we know what they mean. They mean they are fed up of being denied access to Kwara’s purse which they looted to the low. They mean they have missed their days of stampeding our people all in the name of sharing the yearly Sallah packages which took many lives. They mean they are fed up with the progress Kwara state has been recording since they were asked to leave the seat of power through the polls.

Abdulqaudri Mahmud writes from Ilorin East LGA, Zango Ward, Ilorin Kwara state

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General

Lai Mohammed bags international advocacy job

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Ballard Partners, an international governmental affairs firm has appointed Alhaji Lai Mohammed, immediate past Minister of Information and Culture, as Managing Partner of its first office in Africa.

In a statement issued by the firm and made available to newsmen on Wednesday in Abuja, Mohammed is to serve as Managing Partner of its newly opened Abuja office and its satellite office in Lagos.

With its headquarters in Washington, Ballard Partners specialises in all aspects of governmental and public affairs, including legislative and executive agency advocacy.

In the statement, Brian Ballard, the firm’s President and founder said they were opening their first African office in Nigeria to expand the firm’s international footprint to three continents.

He said the opening of the office, would also help in building upon the important work they had done on behalf of African nations and companies in Africa and the U.S.

On the choice of the former minister, Ballard said that Mohammed “has a long record of public service and is one of the most respected officials in the country.

Adding that “his outstanding reputation and exceptional experience will be invaluable to our firm”.

Ballard recalled that since the advent of Nigeria’s fourth republic in 1999, Mohammed played key roles in the political life of his country as Chief of Staff to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as Governor of Lagos.

He added that Mohammed was also the National Spokesperson for the Opposition for over a decade (2005-2015) and a candidate for the Governorship of Kwara State in the 2003 General Elections.

The statement also reflected the former Minister’s happiness in accepting the international job.

“I am very pleased to join Ballard Partners and to open the firm’s first office in Africa,”

“Ballard Partners has an impeccable reputation internationally and is well known for its success representing African countries and American firms in Africa.

The opportunities in Nigeria are substantial and I look forward to helping the firm’s clients achieve their objectives,” Mohammed was quoted as saying.

Born in Oro, Kwara state, Mohammed graduated with second class upper honors with dual degrees in modern European languages (majoring in French) and law.

He was called to the Nigerian bar in 1986.

The former Minister has also been awarded several diplomas in different parts of the world including Diplomes d’Etudes Francaise 3ieme Degree in both Dakar, Senegal and Vichy France

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Football

Man Utd takeover: Sheikh Jassim submits final take-it-or-leave-it bid directly to Glazers – and sets strict deadline

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The Qatari group led by Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al-Thani have reportedly submitted a final bid to the Glazers for the takeover of Manchester United

The offer, as revealed by the Daily Mail, is Sheikh Jassim’s fifth since the takeover process began back in February, and has been made as part of a ‘take it or leave it’ warning to United’s American owners. A deadline of Friday has reportedly been set by the Qatari group, up to which point the bid will stand – with no further negotiations to take place in between.

Indeed, Sheikh Jassim has reportedly submitted the bid directly to the Glazers and the Raine Group, the American bankers overseeing the saga. The move is an attempt to gazump the rival offer from British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who has previously been reported as leading the way. His bid would allegedly allow for the continued involvement of the Glazers for an extended period, much to the hatred of the United fan base.

The take-it-or-leave-it offer put forward by the Qataris is also an attempt to put an end to the protracted nature of this takeover saga. United’s American owners have come under increasing scrutiny for their delaying of the process, with original deadlines set for the end of April. The uncertainty created has impacted the transfer strategy led by manager Erik ten Hag, as well as the club’s ability to tie down key players to new contracts.

It remains to be seen, then, whether the Glazers’ resolve is tested to the point where they accept the Qataris’ eleventh-hour offer. Should they reject the bid, which is said to be lower than their £6 billion asking price, or not respond in time, it could be a sign that they actually are leaning in the favour of Ratcliffe – and a potential prolonged stay behind the scenes.

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Football

Man Utd winger Antony accused of ‘domestic violence, threat and bodily injury’ by former partner

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Manchester United winger Antony has been accused of “domestic violence, threat and bodily injury” by a former partner in his native Brazil.

Brazilian publication Globo Esporte is reporting that Gabriela Cavallin, who had a relationship with the 23-year-old forward in 2022, has filed a police report in Sao Paulo.

The report states that she claims to have been assaulted by Antony on May 20 – a day on which the Brazil international turned out for United in a Premier League fixture with Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium.

The report also includes “photos of abrasions and threatening messages”, while Cavallin is said to have discussed previous aggressive behaviour from Antony.

Cavallin is now calling upon authorities in Brazil to take “an urgent protective measure” while further evidence in the case is gathered.

Globo Esporte further reports that Antony had a relationship with the woman in question during 2022, with Cavallin revealing on social media in June 2022 that she had suffered a miscarriage when the pair were expecting their first child.

No comment has been made by Antony, his representatives or Manchester United

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