By Abdulqaudri Mahmud
Whenever the governor of Rivers state Ezenwo Nyesom Wike wants to taunt his traducers and enemies of his government; he would bite the above words, “As e dey pain dem, e dey sweet us” in euphoria while he dances. This essayist has chosen the words to taunt the enemy of Kwara state which are the Oppositions that feels threatened and sad whenever Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq empowers Kwarans through the Kwara State Social Investment Programme (KWASSIP). As e dey pain dem, e dey sweet us.
KWASSIP under AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has been doing wonderfully well. Thousands of Kwarans have been lifted out of poverty through it. These include Kwara young entrepreneurs, senior citizens, business owners, artisans and others. You don’t need to be a politician nor a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) before you can qualify to earn an empowerment grant with KWASSIP. Inasmuch as you are a citizen of Kwara state, you can apply for the grant; and you will be given if qualified.
It’s this consistent empowerment of Kwarans through KWASSIP by Governor AbdulRazaq and his economic policies that contributed to the reduction in the rate of poverty in Kwara from the 30.2% it was in 2019 to 20.4 in 2022. It also tells in the unemployment rate in the state that has reduced by 4.6%. In spite of these, oppositions’ attack dogs and fake boys have been calling the humane and good initiative which is unprecedented in the State vote-buying. If I may ask them, it wasn’t vote-buying when the governor presented cheques of varying amount to some members of the opposition whose shops at ShopRite were looted during the EndSARS? Anyways, as e dey pain dem, e dey sweet us.
The recent announcement of KWAPRENUER 3.0 by KWASSIP Acting General Manager Abdulquawiy Olododo is unsettling Kwara opposition again. According to the report, 4,000 artisans are going to benefit from the programme, and each person will be given a grant of 50,000. As usual, oppositions’ fake boys have been crying wolf because the kind gesture is an eye-opener and beats their principals’ money sharing method that made over 49 Kwarans die in stampede within their 16 years of misrule.
My advise for Kwara oppositions is that they should go and get a big basket where they will be wailing because as far as AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq remains the governor of Kwara state; he will continue to comfort and empower Kwara business owners, artisans, senior citizens, enterprising youths through the Kwara Social Investment Programme (KWASSIP).
Their endless cry of “vote-buying” can’t stop compassionate and empathic AbdulRazaq from doing the needful for Kwarans through KWASSIP.
Abdulqaudri Mahmud writes from Ilorin East LGA, Zango Ward, Ilorin Kwara state
