Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara State, a first term governor, a study in prudence. His commitment to run an austere administration in a clime where access to state treasury is viewed an opportunity to live large in the midst of mass poverty has received wide attention.
We take particular note of his decision to keep governance lean, doing away with large convoys and entourage that act as drains on meager resources. He would be seen often commuting in very functional vehicles with himself behind the wheels, demystifying the big-man syndrome often associated with the average Nigerian politician.
We are attracted by his institutionalized concern to lift the masses from poverty through Executive bills and orders in respect of social investment programmes.
We believe that Kwara’s N232m counterpart funds to address child and maternal health problems, its pitch to benefit from the N200bn Central Bank of Nigeria ‘innovation hub’ and the N1bn budgeted for 1000 local traders in form of soft loans will engender development, if eyes are not taken off the ball.