Date: 2014-08-03

Nicollo Machiavelli was right when he said that in politics, the end justifies the means - people will do anything as a result of political expediency. Therefore, as we approach 2015, we are aware that people will not only start a war but will also drag everyone and everything into it. It is in this light that we understand the recent attempt by one Wasiu Adekunle, on behalf of Kwara Alliance for Change, to drag Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the former Minister of Sport, into what can best be describe as a 'clueless' debate.

Yes, it is true that during the season of election, all manner of faceless and cantankerous groups will surface; but you don't go poking your hands into everybody's eyes all in the name of politics.

What is the issue here? We understand that one Bello Bature wrote an article that is not too favourable to the new guy in the Kwara PDP 'power-house', Dr. Suleiman, the Minister of National Planning. In response, Wasiu Adekunle picked up his pen and started throwing insults at everybody. Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the immediate past Minister of Sport was one of those attacked in the piece.

Obviously, in the puerile mind of Adekunle, anyone who speaks ill of the new Minister must be holding brief for the Kwara State Chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) or its frontline members like Mallam Abdullahi. But in order not to join a monkey in plucking stupid leaves in the forest, we would address the insult Adekunle meted out to Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi and also show him, with fact of course, that while Dr. Suleiman may have attained significant achievement in his personal life; the prove of competence in public office is no longer a burden on Mallam Abdullahi but on Dr. Suleiman.

As far as performance in public office is concerned, majority of Nigerians can bear testimony to the capacity and ingenuity of Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi in this regard.

While questioning Mallam Abdullahi's record of performance as Sports Minister, Adekunle asked: "what impact did Bolaji's Sport ministry have on Kwara state?". Okay, in case Kayode and his pseudo group (Kwara Alliance for Change) were in the moon during the tenure of Mallam Abdullahi as a Minister, we would endeavour to tell them a significant impact Mallam Abdullahi made on Kwara State.

Mallam Abdullahi, using the platform of his NGO (Omoluabi foundation) worked out a partnership with Supersport which resulted in the 'Let's Play' Project. Owing to Mallam Abdullahi's belief that there is a direct correlation between mental alertness and physical fitness, he mobilised school Children across the State to the Kwara State Stadium. The children played novelty match and also received free Supersport customised Football and other sporting souvenirs. But since that was not the usual N500 naira distributed at political rallies, it won't qualify as "impact" in the eyes of Adekunle and his type.

Further questions from Adekunle include: " How many of our sons and daughters benefited from the so called 50 Billion Naira Sports ministry budget? How many social empowerment did Bolaji Abdullahi (The Technocrat) carry out with his share of the so called 50 Billion Naira budget of the Sports ministry?". Even though we do not understand whether Ministers of government are now expected to share the budget of their Ministries to the "sons" and "daughters" from their State; we would still endeavour to come to the level of Adekunle and explain to him what we hope will not be too much for him and his group members to comprehend.

In terms of social empowerment, Adekunle may not be aware that Mallam Abdullahi pays the school fees of many indigent students in Kwara State University and elsewhere. Today, some people publish the names of those who get jobs through them. But apart from simple phone calls from the parents of those concerned to register their appreciation, Mallam Abdullahi was not known to have a website containing the names of those he gives job appointments. As one well versed in the teachings of Islam, Mallam Abdullahi understands that the best type of 'giving' is the one offered with the right hand without the knowledge of the left. But to the Adekunles of this world, you are not doing anything unless you climb the tallest mountain to announce it. Mallam Abdullahi is more polished than that.

Adekunle also referred to Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi as a "glorified houseboy and sycophant to Bukola Saraki". What a shame! We now can testify that it is better for people like Adekunle to keep quiet and be thought wise rather than speak out and erase all doubts. Adekunle, as a result of ignorance and inability to properly review the credentials of 'houseboy' and 'sycophants', mistakenly call Mallam Abdullahi names that are more suitable for people whose only first and last address was government offices.

For the record, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi was already a famous and accomplished journalist before joining government in 2003. With a Second Class Upper degree in Mass Communication from Unilag and a Masters degree(with Distinction) in Governance and Development Studies from the Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex; Abdullahi was not your usual 'wetin we go chop' guy when he joined government. With his impressive record, there was no way Mallam Abdullahi would fit the description of a 'houseboy', whether glorified or otherwise.

Ali Anifowoshe
For: All Progressives Youth Forum (APYF, Kwara Chapter)