PROBABLY, he was the most powerful and influential figure in the Kwara All Progressive Congress during the 2019 general election. Lai Mohammed is the garrison commander that determines who gets what. Dare him at your own peril, he controlled enormous power such that the palace of this eloquent spokeperson became a political ‘mecca’ of politicians and their hangers-on.
He bestroded the politics of Kwara APC like a colossus, with the covert support of the federal power. From there, he held sway as an oracle and dished out orders that were considered laws at that time in the party.
Before Saraki’s unceremonious exit from the APC, Lai together with Gbemisola Saraki, Mashood Mustapha amongst others had cunningly – as though anticipating such move – planted a political structure to faction the Saraki backed party executives in the state. Immediately after Saraki announced his egress, the party headquaters didn’t wait a minute to announce a replacement in Bolarinwa led executives.
By the time primaries were held, only a Lai Mohammed and AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, asides a few other cheiftains, could tell how the billionaire business tycon emerged victorious at the polls – not even the other aspirants!
However, in sending an opposition national figure packing, the party had to unify in dissatisfaction with everyone trying to hide their grudges which emanated from the way the primary was conducted – while some took solace in the fact that they would be considered for appointment if APC emerged, some believed it would be a better chance of getting the top executive seat, since sending a “novice AbdulRazaq” from power is easier than that of “experienced Saraki”.
A powerful minority believe they could control the governor and his government whilst others wanted to show “capacity” to a former boss. In all of these, they were joined into an entity by a common enemy.
They set for the war front with different mindset and came out victorious – loud and resounding enough for the whole nation not to notice.
After the collective goal had been achieved, attention is shifted to individual’s interest, which now has proved to be more insurmountable. How possibly could divergent interest(s) be collided together, afterall they fought the war together and need to share the bounty together. Irrespective of who led the combat or who came out as the hero, if there had been betrayals or infighting during “wartime”, even a nonnative will tell that the other camp would have won either through the barrel of gun or other gimmicks.
Like the proverbial house divided against itself, the Kwara APC breaks into factions, one led by Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed in the background and spearheaded by the Party chairman, Omolaja Bolarinwa and the other by the Governor, Mall AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq with the Party Secretary and PRO. Except for a few, others queued behind the two lines. Either be loyal to the governor, the minister or stand and watch drama unfolds.
Any which way, even the groping blind could tell the roughhouse is cracking the already weakened APC’s wall faster, as AbdulRazaq will not nod to the party’s authority, neither will the Bolarinwa’s leadership bow to the state cheif executive whom they see as an abecedarian when it comes the political artifice.
Bigwigs, that circumstance has taught to be hypocritical, have been managing the crisis by not coming out openly on their stand in all of these, mayhaps, still nursing the grievance(s) of the last election and trying to “take the dust’s chance” to wet the ground ahead of 2023. A few others have started romancing the deposed political ‘leader’ positioning their ways.
However, as the party internal crisis deepens, politick is put in play; alliance and entente in back-room, political betrothal and reconciliations of adversaries to achieve respective political interests. Tsars are now backing their lineup in the critical struggle for supremacy.
In a schism where the then Akoguns and Fagbemis’ complexity are no more in place and the Lais and Gbemisolas factors ceased to exist, one would revered the silence of the likes of Lukman Mustapha, Waziri Gobir, Yaman and Saliu Mustapha. Analyst might also not be able to discern if Prof. Oba Abu and Moshood Mustapha are still aggrieved.
One could tell the uneasy calmness of Moddibo Kawu and Akeem Lawal through bloodline and Yahaya Seriki’s loyalty through credence. The avid Esinrogunjo might also be thinking, “afterall, this won’t be the last election”, Baba Rex and Alajagusi’s voices fade with the party’s tranquillity.
For a state with great potentials like Kwara that has been unable to exploit its natural gifts, resources and potentials for the emancipation of her people to the extent that they have swam in an ocean of fresh water for decades and yet came out dirty and thirsty – one wonders what pushed us into this current situation now. Is it our founding fathers? Is it the politicians? Is it the handiwork of external forces that never wanted this state to be a formidable player in the country’s affair? Is it some metaphysical forces beyond our control? Why is this happening at a time everyone is expecting the dividend of democracy?
At the current rate, every forces are looking for ways to bring kindred spirits together to fulfill their agenda. At this moment, no dissenting voice is allowed, it’s either you belong here or there; diplomatically or bluntly; secretly or publicly, for THE INFORMANT247, we stand with Kwarans!