Date: 2015-02-27

The vitriol of Ishaq Modibbo Kawu in Blueprint and Vanguard newspapers of February 19 and 21,2015 respectively, titled "Bukola Saraki can Criticize President Jonathan But He Must Not Be Investigated in Kwara State'' was filled with insinuation and libellous allegations in which he demonised Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki (ABS), clearly showed that in his angst against him, he lost the essence of his message and exposed himself as hate monger.

It was another failed attempt at pouring dirt on ABS hoping that some stick; unfortunately, facts are sacred. He is annoyed among other issues, that the parliamentary quarters were sold to the legislators and civil servants and that ABS must take the higgle and haggle.

If Modibbo Kawu had addressed himself to political economy he obviously would recall that government is, has always been and will always be 'work in progress'.

Investment and divestment in state ownership of property and paraphernalia of government must and has always been a policy that competes for favour. The sale of the legislators' quarters which for the record was done through due process is a case of government divesting in property in order to cut costs associated with maintenance. Modibbo Kawu does know that prior to the institution of the 4th republic official cars and houses were allocated to government officials for the period of their tenure. These cars had to be returned but the cost of maintenance was for the government to shoulder. After 2003, when the cost and benefit analyses were paraded, Obasanjo realised it would be a lot more economically sound to shift the cost of the cars and houses to the officials through monetization as a means blocking leakages and shifting liability previously due on government to private pockets. It was then followed by the sale of the legislative quarters at Apo village, Abuja.

Even in Russia a country which was once the citadel of strict state control of property, that policy is being loosened in many aspects of their life. In the past 6 years I have been opportuned to visit Moscow twice and the cardinal thing that strikes you is that state monopoly in property is being gradually rejigged . As I stepped onto the Domododevo airport the sight of multiple telecoms company competing with that of the state was a sight that keeps you agape. As you move downtown this reality becomes quite visible. As of fact Abrahamovich the owner of Chelsea Football club, Mikhail Fridman, Viktor Vekselberg and many Russian billionaires could never have had a look into the petrol business if the climes were same as before from Vladimir Ilyich Lenin to Mikhail Gorbachev.

Before we proceed may I ask a pertinent question of Modibbo Kawu; when the President Obasanjo government rolled out the monetization policy, where was he? Did he write against it? If yes provide readers the literature. When Apo legislative quarters were being sold to the members of the National Assembly during OBJs tenure did he raise a whimper? Provide the proof, if yes. When the government at the three rungs of federal,state and local government monetised the vehicles for all public officers including top civil servants what did he do to stop the process. Show evidence if the answer is in the affirmative. Did he not appreciate the gains from that venture when it was announced that millions of Naira were saved in what would have otherwise been maintenance costs most of which were often frivolous. If the answer is negative let him convince us. If the Kwara state government is today implementing same policy that has been praised for about a decade what offence is being committed.

One of his insinuations is that the Emir's palace in Ilorin might be sold. Why has he easily chosen to forget that ABS remains the best friend of the palace structure. The land space that is the envy of all today was brought about when he initiated the relocation of the Ilorin West Local Government and approved a new one to be built along the road to Warrah village so as to open up that developing side of the town for investment. When this was accomplished did Modibbo commend the effort? He probably does not know because he does not live here and deliberately fails to make conscious effort at distinguishing facts from fallacy. Similar renovation was carried out at the palaces of all 1st class traditional chiefs in Patigi,Offa, Igbaja,Lafiagi,Kaiama,Erin -Ile, Omu- Aran,Shonga and Tsaragi and thanks to continuity,Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed has picked the gauntlet in this sphere and done a great job for the sacred institution.

As an itinerant visitor to Ilorin, Modibbo Kawu should have asked to know that the opening of new residential sites was in the fulcrum of the policy implemented during the ABS administration. All 17 previous administrations in Kwara state spanning 32 years built three estates at Kulende, Adewole and Irewolede. ABS, between 2003-2011 had five estates under his belt at Mandate 1 and 2 along Warrah village road which was commissioned by then Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Mandate 3 opposite the Yidi praying ground, River valley at kulende and Low cost at Akerebiata.

To serve the present and generations yet unborn and decongest the old GRA which was established during the colonial era, he also started a brand new GRA on a virgin land at Budo Osho which has a total of 727.4 hectares stretching from Tanke and Basin to link up the UITH. From Tanke end he built a dual carriage way to the site just as another link road from Basin road was constructed, PHCN Substaion was built and major services were provided. The Judges' Quarter was also built and has been completed and commissioned by Gov. Abdulfatah Ahmed.

Mobibbo Kawu when next you visit Ilorin seek to know and you would be accorded a guided tour. For the record the Federal Bureau of Statistics, Abuja recently released its findings that Lagos,Osun and Kwara have the lowest rate of unemployed youths in Nigeria. Did he commend ABS and Governor Ahmed for that feat? Since he assumed office in 2011 over 15,000 youths have either been employed directly into government service or enabled to earn their daily bread via various empowerment programmes. For the umpteenth time let it be reiterated that ABS does not own Shoprite, Diagnostic centre, Shonga farm and other edifices and projects that has come to define Kwara as a functional state . On the remodelled and renovated Central Jumaat mosque, it has the patent of ABS, who was installed as the Turaki of Ilorin when HRH Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari moved up late Baba Saraki as the Waziri (traditional prime Minister), as well as other well meaning indigenes and citizens of the world. As a matter of fact the VP Architect Namadi Sambo commended the edifice as one of its kind in this part of the world. He spoke glowingly of Architect Faworaja who handled it, and whom he acknowledged as "my senior on the job".

I was honoured to be a member of the media and publicity committe under the late erudite scholar Prof. Shehu Jimoh and I can confirm without equivocation that Architect Faworaja visited about 16 countries to articulate his design. ABS brought in his big friends Chief Femi Otedola who was the highest donor at 80million naira while Alhaji Aliko Dangote put in 70million. Both in cash. As the most successful chairman of the Nigerian Governors forum ABS brought his colleagues who between donated handsomely. May I also ask Modibbo if he did commend the effort of ABS as well as other well meaning individuals that love thier community . More importantly did he contribute a dime. Was he even present and showed his face that day as a person interested in the growth of Ilorin and "defender"of the mosque as our heritage . If he ever offered his stewardship as did eminent people, it would have been our delight to let him play a role. Rather we bestowed the responsibility of anchoring the fund raiser on Alhaji Abubakar Ali-Agan and Dr Amuda while Prof. Badmus Yusuf and Chief Missioner of Ansar -ud -Deen of Nigeria His Eminence Sheikh Abdulrahman lowered their wings in obeisance for the community to anchor the commissioning ceremony.

Even in the title of his piece it's clear that Modibbo is doing a mudsling for Pres. Jonathan and PDP. Unfortunately it is as clear as the northern star that Sai Baba, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari who has been endorsed by the highly influential Washington Post and The Economist, Governor Ahmed,Senator Bukola and all APC candidates are set to win in the state and even in his compound as his well respected elder brother and former chairman of Ilorin South Alhaji Agboola Ismail who was the Director General of Dele Belgore campaign in the 2011 election has joined the APC machine.

The cardinal ethic of this most noble profession is neither to abuse, insult adopt vulgar language ,be personal in your views nor to nurse or breed hatred but to constructively criticise and provide alternatives. Its upon this precept that the late U. S. President John F. Kennedy retorted that if he were given a choice between a government without the press or the press without a government, he will choose the latter. Modibbo must stop being pedestrian.

Kayode Omotose is the Director Media and Publicity, Mandate 2015 campaign.