By Engr. Ridwan Elemosho
It’s both laughable and unfortunate that the Kwara State Government is celebrating the completion of interlock pavement at Alangua Ibagun in Okelele and Alangua Zango Community in Ipata as though it is a groundbreaking achievement.
Let’s be honest if we had truly functioning local governments in this state, this kind of minor community project should have been handled at the local level, without any need for the Governor’s name to be dragged into it. But in a state where LGAs have been reduced to shadows of themselves and their allocations hijacked, even the most basic development now has to be “approved” and over-celebrated from the top.
Projects like these are commendable only when delivered by local council chairmen, not state governments pretending to do the job of LGs while leaving more pressing state-wide infrastructural needs unattended.
Go to Lagos and see how Hon. Mayor Dele Oshinowo of Agboyi-Ketu LCDA is executing meaningful projects, modern markets, schools, roads at the local council level. No noise, no media fanfare, just pure governance. That’s what happens when a government genuinely devolves power and resources.
What’s happening in Kwara is not development, it’s tokenism wrapped in propaganda. Interlock pavements are not achievements to be flaunted by a state government that claims to be serious about infrastructure. They are the barest minimum of what local governments should be doing if only they were allowed to work.
As we approach the end of Governor AbdulRazaq’s tenure, we must begin to demand real development, not optics. Kwara deserves more than these glorified patchworks. We need leadership that empowers the grassroots, not one that sidelines them for political convenience.
The people are watching. 2027 is not far away.
End.
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