Kwarans experiencing unprecedented hunger, insecurity under you, Former NBA scribe tells Gov AbdulRazaq

…demands appointment of board members, commissions’ leadership 

A former secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ilorin branch, Taofiq Olateju, has accused Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of presiding over a state plagued by unprecedented hunger and insecurity, attributing the crisis to a collapse in governance due to the prolonged failure to constitute statutory boards and commissions.

In a strongly worded open letter to Governor AbdulRazaq, Olateju warned that the administration’s neglect of constitutional duties threatens the rule of law, transparency, and public trust in the state government.

“The continued non-appointment of agency boards does not seem to be a mere oversight; it appears to be a gross dereliction of constitutional and statutory duty,” Olateju stated, noting that key commissions like the Kwara State Judicial Service Commission and Sports Commission have been operating without renewed leadership following the expiry of their tenures.

He added that the five-year term of the Judicial Service Commission expired in July 2025, while the tenure of the Sports Commission ended earlier this month, yet no steps have been taken to reconstitute them.

The lawyer further accused the administration of consolidating power by bypassing statutory oversight structures, thus undermining internal accountability and democratic norms. He described the development as historically unprecedented since the return to democratic governance in 1999.

Citing examples from other Northern states, including Kano, Sokoto, Niger, and Bauchi, which have constituted functioning boards across sectors, Olateju expressed dismay that Kwara has become a regional outlier.

The absence of these boards, he said, poses serious risks including lack of policy direction, diminished public confidence, weakened institutional checks, and reduced attractiveness for international development partners.

“Without boards, there is no independent oversight of budget implementation, contracts, or agency performance,” he warned, adding that the situation could become a political liability for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

He urged Governor AbdulRazaq, who also chairs the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, to act swiftly in line with constitutional provisions, warning that failure to do so could erode governance credibility in Kwara and damage the state’s legacy of reform.

“This is not just a call for board appointments,” Olateju wrote, “it is a call to restore the soul of Kwara’s governance.”

FULL LETTER

HE AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq, CON

Chairman,

Nigerian Governors’ Forum,

Governor of Kwara State,

Ilorin, Kwara State.

11th day of August, 2025.

Your Excellency Sir,

URGENT NEED FOR THE STATE GOVERNMENT’S INTERVENTION TO CONSTITUTE STATUTORY COMMISSIONS AND BOARD MEMBERS FOR AGENCIES

“No one is more hated than he who speaks truth”-Plato

The above​subject​refers.

First and foremost, let me start by saying that it is never a mistake to conclude that, Law is the best thread, to sew neatly, the fabric of the society which is gradually pulling out as its seams, the practice of law is a calling, a vocation, an occupation and a profession to which it is an instrument of service to God almighty, humanity and society at large.

Premised on the above, I write in my capacity as a stakeholder to draw your attention to the plight of the people who have had no voice capable of being heard or anticipating the fear of the unknown.

Your Excellency Sir, as you may be aware that your tenure as the Chief Executive of Kwara State has come under intensifying scrutiny, insecurity, unprecedented hunger, particularly due to a glaring and cracks in governance architecture; the prolonged non-appointment of Commissions and governing boards for agencies under your administration.

Your Excellency Sir, it is on good record that the Kwara State Judicial Service Commission led by the Chief Judge of Kwara State as its chairman for 5 year tenure has expired. This was sequel to their constitution on Tuesday 21st day of July, 2020. Also the four-year tenure of Coach Bolakale Adisa Mogaji led Kwara State Sports Commission has expired on Sunday 2nd day of August, 2025 and the need for re-constitution has not been done, in spite of the pivotal roles of these commissions.

Your Excellency Sir, it is pertinent to note that the failure to reconstitute these Commissions and Boards Members that are crucial administrative structures for growth and development of our dear state, to my mind, does not only create a dangerous governance vacuum that undermine statutory compliance; it also sets a deeply concerning precedent in both Kwara State’s history and the broader Northern Nigerian political landscape.

Your Excellency Sir, this act in the eyes of the public demonstrate that this present administration is nonchalant towards the yearning and aspirations of its people especially members of the ruling (APC) that produced this government.

Your Excellency Sir, it also indicates that Kwara State under your watch doesn’t value the judiciary or the legal profession, the failure to constitute the Boards of these Commissions will also not complement all the landmark developments in the state and giant strides that the government and our amiable and versatile Chief Judge are making in the areas of several monumental developmental projects within the judiciary all over the State.

Your Excellency Sir, it is important to note that in Nigeria’s democratic system, the constitution and enabling laws of Kwara State which you sworn to protect and defend at all times provide for the establishment of Commissions and Governing boards for state parastatals. These Commissions and boards are statutory organs vested with powers to formulate policy direction, exercise oversight, and ensure accountability in the day-to-day operations of the​agencies.

Your Excellency Sir, in Kwara State like other states of the federation, government agencies and parastatals are legally mandated to be supervised by governing boards. These boards are typically composed of professionals, community stakeholders, and representatives of relevant ministries whose roles are to balance executive authority with institutional autonomy. The extant laws clearly outline the requirement for such boards to be in place and active. Their absence essentially renders these agencies non-compliant with the very laws that created​them.

This is historically unprecedented in Kwara State since the return to democracy in 1999- under Late Governor Mohammed Alabi Lawal, boards were constituted within months of assumption of office.

Governor Abubakar Bukola Saraki, maintained continuity and upgraded statutory legal frameworks.

Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed ensured timely board appointments and focused on transparency. All the previous administrations respected institutional checks and balances, which act continued to reinforced the institutional integrity and efficiency.

Your Excellency Sir, per contra your administration has not only refused to fulfill its legal obligations, but also centralized agency functions under the direct control of the executive, a move that effectively weakens internal accountability and undermines democratic values.

Examples are abound, Kano State under Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf for instance, has constituted over 45 governing​boards within his first year, Sokoto State, under Governor Ahmad Aliyu, has functioning boards for all major state institutions, the story remains the same in Niger State, Katsina, Bauchi, Plateau, Jigawa and Zamfara States have similarly shown adherence to institutional governance through regular board appointments.

Your Excellency Sir, Kwara State that is once seen as a trailblazer of public sector reform, is now the only state in Northern Nigeria without constituted commissions and agency boards as and when due, making it an anomaly and governance outlier in a region known for administrative conservatism and​compliance.

Your Excellency Sir, the prolonged failure to constitute statutory commissions and governing boards has both operational and political consequences which include but not limited to the following:

i. Erosion of Rule of Law: This omission flouts existing laws and creates a culture of impunity; which is being witnessed recently.

ii. Loss of Transparency: Without boards, there is no independent oversight of budget implementation, contracts, or agency performance.

iii. Undermining Public Trust: Citizens view this as a deliberate attempt to sideline institutional checks, leading to growing distrust.

iv. Policy Paralysis: Agencies without boards often operate in limbo, with limited direction and coordination.

v. International Development Setback: Development partners often require board oversight for program implementation and grants.

vi. Political Ramifications Ticking Time Bomb, your excellency failure to constitute the relevant commissions and boards may soon become a political liability, like insecurity, inflation, and infrastructural decay, the lack of institutional frameworks to anchor responsive governance could prove fatal to the ruling APC’s legitimacy in the​state.

Furthermore, this lapse is beginning to alienate key stakeholders including civil society, development partners, and even some within your own party (APC) who see the concentration of unchecked power in the executive as a danger to both democracy​and​development.

Your Excellency Sir, the continued non-appointment of agencies boards in Kwara State under your watch, does not seem to be a mere administrative oversight, it appears to be a gross dereliction of constitutional and statutory duty, with far-reaching implications for governance, transparency, and development.

Sir, you must act swiftly to reverse this dangerous trend and re-align Kwara State with the legal and institutional standards that once made it a beacon of reform in Northern Nigeria. This is not just a call for board appointments, it is a call to restore the soul of Kwara’s governance.

​Your Excellency Sir, as the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum and the Sar’dauna of Ilorin Emirate, I expect your gracious consideration of the issue raised in this letter.

Your Excellency Sir, kindly accept the sincere assurance of my utmost regards sir.

​E-signed,

​Taofiq Olateju, Esq.,

​Notary Public,

Immediate Past Secretary,

Nigerian Bar Association,

Ilorin Branch.

​lawbashorun@gmail.com