By - AbdulFatah AbdulRahman
I have observed keenly the trend of attacks against the AbdulRazaq-led government and come to the realization that they were misdirected. Events days after the government sought the help of civil groups in monitoring the exercise is a great testament.
Barely two days after the distribution began, obviously sponsored visuals emerged in the media vilifying the government over the ration some people got. Aside from the fact that the people in these videos were faceless, the word usage sold them out as politicians waiting on mistakes to latch on to, in a bid to score the government cheap.
When one looks at the Palliative committee, what is clear is that it boasts good men of integrity. From the Chairman, HRH Emir of Tsonga to the Secretary, a renowned community development expert Mallam Lawal Olohungbebe, the sincerity is as clear as daylight. It is thus amusing when these set of people should be commended and encouraged for their patriotism, some persons hide under the cloak of activism to sponsor visual materials, capable of tarnishing their hard-earned reputation because of hatred and envy for Governor AbdulRazaq.
Here is the crux of the matter: the government cannot feed everyone and didn't set out to do so. The qualified beneficiaries for palliatives were stated as the aged, the widow, the disabled and other needy persons. In order to aid smooth distribution, the Palliative committee adopted a participatory template of using the religious and community leaders as well as civil organizations for distribution. There is no better way a government can be sincere and transparent beyond that. It is a truism that leaders at the local level know the people better.
It is however appalling to see things go wrong. Anyone with sound experience in human management will understand the scope of human factors in any project. That it turned out that the meagre portion of the intended ration was getting to people was because some of these reasons. One, the community leaders wanted to satisfy everyone erroneously. No. Palliatives is not for everybody. Two, some community leaders themselves are dubious, in addition to some youth hijacking materials at some wards. Three, some persons blew the mistakes out of proportion for political mileages. These are not the government whims. History abounds that a people only gets the kind of leaders they deserve. If the government is not found wanting of compassion and we become saboteurs of its good intentions, we only have ourselves to blame.
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The ways and manners they have reacted to straightening the rough edges is spectacular. In one fell swoop after news of sabotage got to their attention, the Palliative committee sought and enlisted the help of ENETSUD, BBI, MACAA and other civil groups for monitoring. I don't know a dubious government or 'sakamanje'-- in the voice of detractors-- who does that. The revelation that has since been coming in proves that people could be worse than the leaders. But I choose to pick the positives. From Ilorin West to South, East and Offa local governments, the deserving are getting the items and the impact is evident. It is not shocking that the purveyors of hate and inciting messages have suddenly lost their voices.
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Now that we have a case, we'd better had this conversation. Coronavirus outbreak is not limited to Kwara. There is a reason it is called PANDEMIC. Governments everywhere are strained financially, technically and medically. We have seen how the bigger countries run from pillars to poles in search of relief. A state like Kwara in a country like Nigeria is not immune. Therefore, the earlier we realise the dots and connect them, the better. It is becoming glaring as Governor AbdulRazaq and his officials are becoming increasingly attacked unfairly, under whatever guise, that it won't take us anywhere. No, sorry-- somewhere good.
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Who even does that? Who wakes up everyday to smear hate speech, concoct fake news and write all sorts of emotion- laden, puerile assumptions just to undermine the government's efforts?
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I urge the known and unknown evil plotters to stop in their tracks for now. Heaven knows it would be difficult. But for God, let humanity prevail now. Let politics take the backstage. The fight should be against COVID-19 and not a war against AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.
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