All Governor AbdulRazaq’s Men
By: Soliu Ayatullahi
“Who does this boy listen to?” this was the question said to have been asked by an influential figure in the Nigerian presidency, according to a report published by THE NATION NEWSPAPER on January 18th, 2020, when the Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, revoked and eventually demolished the infamous Saraki’s Ile Arugbo in Ilorin, the state capital, which stirred up hornet’s nest all over hell’s half acre. Ever since then, the question as to who the Governor’s people are continues to resurface.
AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq emerged as the chief executive of the state after a tedious and rigorous 2019 electoral exercise that involved several tendencies who worked in solidarity with all federal might to uproot the powerful Saraki’s hegemony that – as at that time – controlled the state for decades. AbdulRazaq’s victory wasn’t as surprising as Saraki’s defeat which broke the mold and shocked every Nigerian to the narrow bone. Definitely, it’s not a plum job!
All roads lead to Rome, the Governor with enough power at his disposal, and against the grain, backed out of the coalition that saw him take-over power. Believing this could be an ice in the hole ahead of future polls, he seems ready to break the bank in building his own cabals. An informal group he’s putting together to fight his many wars with him.
Though many political analysts will agree that forming a ‘movement’ formidable enough to run a successful government, defeat his former allies and eventually beat Saraki in a second-round won’t be a bed of roses, but the governor is ready to do the ‘near impossible’ with the support of these cabals. These individuals which comprise very close family members, trusted friends and political associates are currently the powers behind the throne. They are believed to have the ear of the Governor, influence policies and determine those who get major appointments.
These selected individuals have unfettered access to the Governor and they are usually abreast of his policy and political directions. They are his ardent supporters who do the odd jobs to safeguard him. They, in their respective rights, have their hands in several pies of the current administration.
Who are they? THE INFORMANT247 lists some of these individuals with their brief profiles and likewise highlights how much influence they control.
Khairat AbdulRazaq
Khairat Abdulrazaq, the godmother, is a sister to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and wife to Colonel Lawan Gwadabe, a former military governor of Niger State.
It is said that the Governor always listened to and confided in her. However, critics say the relationship is too close for comfort because it has practically made her the de facto Governor in the current administration.
She was elected Senator for the Abuja Federal Capital Territory constituency, Nigeria at the start of the Nigerian Fourth Republic, running on the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) platform. She held office from May 1999 to May 2003.
She studied law at the University of Buckingham. After taking her seat in the Senate she was appointed to committees on the Environment, Health, Women Affairs (chairman), Federal Character, Tourism & Culture and Federal Capital Territory. She was a member of the Panel of Review of Nigeria Customs and Excise. She was the chairman of the Senators Forum, through which former and serving senators share their knowledge and experience.
Khairat, though with no official portfolio, is said to have influenced most of the appointments the Governor made since the administration came into power.
The story was told of how she mobilized members of the state House of Assembly during a solidarity visit to support the Governor’s planned removal of Bashir Omolaja Bolarinwa as the state chairman of the All Progressive Congress in Abuja. She was also said to have single-handedly picked Senator John Danboyi to head the Kwara APC Membership Registration and Revalidation Committee – the exercise believed to be a pointer to the governor’s second term ticket.
Isiaka Abdul-Razaq
Tag the Governor, a man who listens to his immediate relatives and you won’t be far from the truth. Isiaka, like Khairat, controls enough influence in his brother’s administration.
A former scribe of the defunct National Electric Power Authority (NEPA) and Chief Finance Officer (CFO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), He is a chartered accountant and lawyer. He is said to have franchises at Drumstick restaurant’s branches across the country. He is also the founder of The Regents Schools.
Isiaka was the one who singlehandedly nominated the Deputy Governor, Mr. Kayode Alabi – the head of the Lagos branch of his school – as the running mate to the then-candidate AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq. He was said to have a close link to the national leader of the All Progressive Congress, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu. A connection he used to secure ticket for his brother. No doubt, he simply brought into his brother’s administration, his former and trustworthy employee.
He was behind the controversial appointment of his close friend, Prince Mahee Abdulkadir, a son of the late 10th Emir of Ilorin, as the Chief of Staff to the Governor in September 2020, before the eleventh-hour reversal.
Barr. Kunle Sulyman
The 74-year-old lawyer has surely paid his dues in Kwara politics considering his political adventures which spanned well over forty years.
A founding father of Peoples Democratic Party in Kwara state, Kunle Sulyman, as the party pioneer chairman in Kwara State campaigned for the elder brother of the governor, Alh Alimi Abdulrazaq who was the party’s gubernatorial candidate then.
He was a board of Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) in the second republic, a close associate of a former Nigerian Minister of Defence, Alhaji Akabi Owolabi, and Special Adviser to late Governor Mohammad Alabi lawal on inter party affairs.
“My view is that if not all, many of them are coming back to help the governor achieve success and a second term in office,” Sulyman had told THE NATION NEWSPAPER in a report published on January 21, 2021. He was also quoted to have said that nobody can stop the governor’s second term bid.
His home along Police Road, in the state capital’s GRA has become a political ‘mecca’ of politicians and their hangers-on seeking favour from the governor. He was also one of the elders on the Governor’s side during a meeting at the national secretariat of the APC during the fight to remove Bolarinwa as State Chairman of the Party. After the meeting, he described Prof. Oba AbdulRaheem among others as a paperweight politician, a statement that attracted wide criticisms across the State.
Yakubu Salihu Danladi
A disciple of Lukman Olayiwola Mustapha, Danladi is an engineer and politician elected speaker of the 9th Assembly in Kwara. Yakubu-Danladi is a first-time member of the House representing Ilesha-Gwanara in the Baruten state constituency.
Yakubu-Danladi was born in Gwanara, Baruten Local Government Area of Kwara state. His early education began in 1988 at BLGEA Primary School where he earned First School Leaving Certificate 1993. Yakubu-Danladi attended St Anthony Secondary School, Ilorin finishing with a Senior Secondary Certificate Examination in 2001. He proceeded to Kaduna Polytechnic where he had National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) in Electrical/Electronic Engineering between 2003 and 2008. In 2016, Yakubu-Danladi earned a B.Eng in Electrical/Electronic Engineering from the Federal University of Technology, Minna.
According to several confidential sources, Danladi is a scaredy-cat who is afraid of losing his speakership job, thus does the entire governor’s bidding, including the tall orders and dirty ones at the expense of the state’s interest. The governor is said to have directed the Speaker to trash the Freedom and Information bill meant to probe excesses of his government and likewise that of his predecessors. He is also said to have asked him to disobey several court orders on Jimoh Agboola before he was threatened by the Appellate Court.
When the forum of ex-Kwara lawmakers lamented that state legislatures – despite being the first arm of the government by arrangement – have been relegated to the position of junior partners in their relationships with the governors and the executive arm of the government, Danladi was agreed by many to be a major culprit here.
He had in the past allegedly passed several bills in secrecy to please the governor. He also recently and controversially approved a N35billion loan for the governor. This has since been criticized by many prominent individuals in the state, including a member of the Assembly, Saheed Popoola. The speedy and closed-door scrutinization of appropriation bills has also called for serious attention. He has also jettisoned several probes, including investigation into Government High School, Adeta renovation, which personally admitted not to worth standard and summoned the then Education commissioner.
It was gathered that Danladi is afraid that if he does otherwise, the Governor might plot his removal with the overwhelming support he enjoys from the majority of the House members. It was learnt that he disbursed N20 Million to each lawmaker some months ago among several others.
Olajumoke Monsura Gafar
One won’t be wrong to address Jumoke Gafar the acting Chief of staff to the governor, she is the Principal Private Secretary and Senior Adviser on government affairs to the governor. It’s gathered that no memo goes to the governor without passing through her.
“Infact most top officials submit memo to her. Profiles of people to be appointed into some offices also pass through her,” a source told this editor.
Olajumoke, a Law graduate is an Assistant Secretary to a United Kingdom’s Junior Minister (Whitehall) before her appointment.
It was said that the controversial TIC committee list – prepared by AA’s loyalists – was submitted to her for ratification.
Jumoke seems to be the most powerful invisible appointee in Abdulrazaq’s Administration as she is said to control whose morsel gets the best stew.
Sunday Adediran Fagbemi
The name Fagbemi is synonymous with Abdulrazaq in Kwara politics. Fagbemi was the State Secretary of Peoples Democratic Party in 2003. In 2018, backed by AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, he was narrowly defeated by Iyiola Akogun in a chairmanship contest before they all eventually dumped the party for APC.
Following the APC’s NEC decision to dissolve the party structures at the State, Local Government and Ward level, and the appointment of the dissolved executives into caretaker committees, the governor was said to have unsuccessfully orchestrated the replacement of Bolarinwa with Fagbemi.
Be that as it may, AbdulRazaq belongs to the Fagbemi tendencies of the four that collided together in the build-up to the 2019 election.
Sen. Makanjuola Ajadi
Former governorship candidate under the Alliance for Democracy (AD) in Kwara State, Senator Makanjuola Ajadi is one of the governor’s men.
Like Barr. Kunle Sulyman, he is also one of the elders on the Governor’s side during a meeting at the national secretariat of the APC during the fight to remove Bolarinwa as State Chairman of the Party. Though a former Kwara South senator, he unsuccessfully ran for the same seat in 2019.
Previously, he had been involved in several controversies including in 2018, when he dragged his lover, Haleemat Temitope Abdulazeez to court over alleged fraud. Ajadi, through his lawyer, now Governor AbdulRazaq’s Attorney General, Ibrahim Jawondo, had claimed Haleemah, who’s a student of Kwara State University (KWASU), Malete defrauded him to the tune of N750,000.
Immediately after assumption of office, the Governor appointed him to chair the Committee on Review of Sales of Kwara State Government Properties between 1999 –2019. The task involved the review of Alabi Lawal, Bukola Saraki and Abdulfatah Ahmed administrations. It was his committee that declared that there is no proof of payment or Right of Occupancy on the expanse of land where the late Dr. Olusola Saraki built his Ile Arugbo.
Amb. Yahaya Seriki Gambari
“I obliged and we met at his residence in Lake Chad that was the day he offered me an appointment as a Senior Special Assistant. I rejected the offer,” this was Seriki Gambari’s statement when narrating how he rejected entreaties by the former Senate President Bukola Saraki, “I declined the offer because of our opposing ideologies, the genuine love I have for my people and my desire to salvage them from the political hegemony of Saraki.”
A man who easily relates with young people, he is a former Governorship aspirant in Kwara state. He was the first candidate to step down to rally support for the governor in 2019. Seriki Gambari also served as the Governor’s campaign Director General.
Seriki Gambari is a graduate of Plateau State Polytechnic and University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State. He is also an alumnus of Nigeria Mining School in Jos. He is also the Chairman and C.E.O of Union Benefit Trading Limited, Massive Fortune Stones Limited, Ubamaz Mining Limited, El-Gabore Fitness Centre (Gym), Eket and many other business ventures which span telecommunication, agriculture, Oil & Gas and Solar Energy.
He is said to have met a number of aggrieved chieftains of the All Progressive Congress in the state and likewise hold secret meetings with several groups, including security officials, on behalf of the governor.
Like Barr. Kunle Sulyman and Sen. Makanjuola Ajadi, he is also one of the chieftains on the Governor’s side during a meeting at the national secretariat of the APC during the fight to remove Bolarinwa as State Chairman of the Party.
Rafiu Ajakaye
This mallam is a journalist turned politician. He was appointed Chief Press Secretary to the Governor in June 2019. Since then, many would agree he has been excellently mastering the art of politicking. In charge of the Governor’s image, he does his job without minding whose ox is gored. Like in his predecessor, Wahab Oba’s case, he is ever ready to fire at anyone on his boss’ way in the media space.
Taking the job of the S.A. Media, and alleged to have hijacked the works of other press secretaries in the state. He is in charge of virtually every Press Statement from the Government including those not issued in his name. He is constantly recruiting guys to do the online and radio jobs. Little wonder the sum of N200m, which is earmarked for Publicity in the Government House’s expenditure which totaled over N3.3bn, would be accessed by him.
According to the appropriation law, N200m, among other hidden funds, will be spent on “Publicity and Advertisement”, which sources suggest might include engagements with influencers, media practitioners, local broadcasters and public relations among others.
It’s believed in some quarters that online and radio propaganda brought down the powerful Saraki dynasty. Mayhap, to prevent such, the government might be spending heavily on it and of course, Ajakaye. He spent the sum of N157m on publicity and advertisement between January, 2020 and September 2020.
Mogaji Olawoyin
Mogaji Olawoyin, the governor’s eye in the 9th Assembly and the man tasked with the huge responsibility of checkmating the Speaker’s perceived excesses. Olawoyin is a former core loyalist of the Minister of State Transport, Gbemisola Saraki.
He was recently said to have chaired a move meant to dissolve the governor’s numerous political groups into an entity.
The story was narrated of how he used to call the then commissioners to order whenever they commit errors, believed to be suicidal, politically.
Mrs. Florence Oyeyemi Olasumbo
“I feel there is something between the Governor and this commissioner?” an influential figure said, obviously referring to something outside of the Boss-Subordinate relationship.
Olasumbo, a former employee of Roemichs Schools, is the Commissioner for Finance and Planning in Kwara State. Though, there were no details of her until her appointment as a Commissioner in AbdulRazaq’s cabinet.
Aisha Pategi, also a former commissioner in AbdulRazaq cabinet had accused her ministry of diverting N300 million local government funds while she headed the Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs. This, according to eye witness then, was said to have almost led to physical combat between them.
It was learnt that this situation led to the controversial resignation of Ms. Pategi after she was moved from the Local Government Ministry to the Ministry of Special Duties.
Despite being part of the dissolved cabinet, she still oversees most of the state finances and is always seen with the governor.
Yinka Aluko
By far experienced and lucky, he has been a part of every successive government since the return of Democracy in 1999. Aluko is perfect in managing the image and reputation of the Government, he is renowned for his strategic ways of cleaning government messes with no trace; To the late governor, Muhammed Lawal, he is an aide and ally who understand what needed to be done even if the governor is heading for mess.
To Bukola Saraki, he served in different capacities; he mounted the security post and fronted many ‘torchlight works’. He was meant to be the Chief of Staff to Saraki’s successor – Governor AbdulFatah Ahmed. His depth of knowledge in political gimmicks might be the reason why the erstwhile political napoleon refused to grant his wish to become Chief of Staff as Aluko knew more than what he is supposed to know. He left the dynasty when he felt his interest was not being protected. He eventually became a running mate to a major challenger of his former boss.
AbdulRazaq after being sworn in as governor appointed him as Special Adviser on Special Duties. He is one of the very few appointees that can successfully echo their voice to the governor’s ear.
Alasi Obasanjo (SOJ)
The Governor’s secret emissary, SOJ as he is popularly called is the Special Assistant to the Kwara State Governor on Domestic Affairs. Before and after his appointment, he’s said to have delivered several confidential messages, including money and sensitive documents, to the governor’s associates.
He was reported to be behind the attacks on heads of labour unions in the state during the last strike action to press home worker demand for the implementation of minimum wage.
Recently, he dragged loyalists of the Former Senate President Bukola Saraki, Lawal Sarafadeen (Arab-money) and Minister of Information Lai Muhammed, Kayode Ogunlowo to court for sharing a report that indicted him as part of a planned attack on the former Senate President of Nigeria, Abubakar Bukola Saraki during his visit to Ilorin for the 8th year prayer for his late father.
Khadijetou Ba
Firstly exposed by THE INFORMANT247 in 2019, Ba was secretly appointed as Adviser on Economic Development Matters by Governor AbdulRazaq.
The young Senegalese lady used to be a program officer with a Nigeria-based non-profit organization founded in 2007, YIAGA – Youth Initiative for Advocacy, Growth Advancement. According to her profile obtained by THE INFORMANT247, She’s said to be a member of Leadership-Ethics-Governance and Strategies for Africa (LEGS-AFRICA), a Senegal-based CSO that promotes leadership qualities for Africans and a thinking model based on African values and principles.
In 2019, despite admitting to be an Adviser to the governor in a chat with THE INFORMANT247, and glaring evidence to back this claim, the governor’s Chief Press Secretary Rafiu Ajakaye denied her appointment.
Meanwhile, in recent time, sources in the government have told the story of how she was charged with the responsibility of formulating and managing most of the government’s economy policies. She is indeed a power broker in AbdulRazaq’s administration.
Sen. Ahmad Mohammed Inuwa
“You see, he is the governor’s major adviser in the North.” a figure that knows what in the governor’s cabinet muttered to this editor during a gist-like conversation, “Check most of AbdulRazaq’s appointment in the North, you’ll always trace it to him.”
Mohammed obtained a bachelor’s degree in government from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, a diploma in development Administration from the University of Birmingham, United Kingdom and an MNI (Member National Institute) from the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies in Kuru, Nigeria, Jos.
Mohammed, who represented the Kwara North senatorial district from 2003 to 2011 at the Red chamber of the National Assembly, was a former disciple of the former senate president Saraki.
Next Edition – ‘The Men Against Governor AbdulRazaq’