A former Kwara lawmaker and leader of the Otoge movement, Honorable Saheed Popoola, has accused Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of being responsible for the worsening insecurity across the state.
Popoola, who recently defected from the All Progressives Congress, APC, to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, made the allegation while addressing supporters during his formal defection rally today in Offa
He said Kwara, once known for peace and safety, has now become a haven for bandits and kidnappers due to what he described as the governor’s incompetence and lack of leadership vision.
According to him, banditry, which had long been restricted to neighboring Niger State, only began to spread into Kwara under the current administration.
“Since Kwara was created in 1967, we never had issues of banditry. But today, hundreds of our people have been kidnapped or killed because this government lacks direction,” Popoola lamented.
He added that the governor’s refusal to engage critical stakeholders and community leaders has worsened the situation, especially in border areas like Baruten, Kaiama Ifelodun, and Patigi, where attacks and abductions have increased.
“Abdulrazaq has abandoned the people who fought for the Otoge struggle. He runs the state like a private company, and the people are suffering for it,” he said.
Popoola, who was a key figure in the 2019 political revolution that ended PDP’s rule in the state, said the current government has betrayed the ideals of the Otoge movement, which were centered on collective progress, transparency, and people-oriented governance.
Reacting, the APC described Popoola’s remarks as “cheap blackmail” from a disgruntled politician.
The party’s spokesperson, Waheed Babatunde, said the Abdulrazaq administration has invested heavily in community security and remains committed to protecting lives and property across the state.
“Governor Abdulrazaq has supported security agencies with logistics and improved collaboration with local vigilantes to keep Kwara safe,” he added.
Popoola’s defection and criticism come amid rising concerns over the spate of kidnappings and killings in some rural communities across Kwara State.
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