By Umar Faruk Shiya
For every elected leader, the first and most sacred responsibility is the protection of lives and property. Roads, schools, and infrastructure are important, but none of these can replace the value of human life. When communities live in fear, governance itself loses its meaning.
Today, many residents of Kwara North are asking a painful question: Does Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq truly appreciate the scale of the insecurity confronting the region? It is a question born not out of politics alone, but out of the daily realities of families who have lost loved ones, communities displaced by fear, and victims who continue to wait for hope.
The abduction of members of the Emir of Yashikira’s immediate family remains one of the most troubling incidents in recent memory. Nearly two months after the unfortunate event, many including my humbe self expected not just security efforts behind the scenes, but visible empathy and leadership.
A visit to the Emir, a delegation to assess the impact on the community, or a public demonstration of solidarity would have reassured a grieving people that their government stands with them in difficult times.
Equally heartbreaking is the situation in Woro, in Kaiama Local Government Area where women and children abducted from the community have remained in captivity for almost six months today.
Behind every statistic is a family waiting for a mother, a child, or a loved one to return home. For those left behind, every passing day deepens the trauma and raises fresh questions about whether enough is being done to secure their freedom.
Beyond these incidents, residents of Edu and Patigi Local Government Areas continue to express concern over recurring cases of kidnapping and violent attacks. What once appeared to be isolated incidents now risks becoming a disturbing pattern that threatens livelihoods, agriculture, commerce, and public confidence.
These realities naturally provoke difficult questions. What exactly is Kwara North’s offense? Why do many communities feel abandoned in their hour of need? Why does the response appear inadequate when lives are at stake?
This is not merely about politics. It is about leadership at a time when citizens seek reassurance from those entrusted with their mandate. The people of Yashikira in Baruten LG, Woro in Kaiama LG, Edu and Patigi LG and other affected communities are not strangers to this administration.
They are citizens who participated in the democratic process and contributed to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s electoral victories. Their votes helped shape today’s government. They deserve to feel that their government stands with them when insecurity threatens their very existence.
As another political season gradually approaches, the temptation to focus on campaigns and political calculations will inevitably grow. But elections should never overshadow governance. Political victories become meaningless if the people who delivered those victories are left vulnerable to violence and fear.
The Governor must remember a simple truth: only the living can vote. Protecting lives today is the strongest political investment for tomorrow. Security should never become a seasonal concern that receives attention only when elections are near. It must remain a permanent commitment.
The people of Kwara North are not asking for miracles. They are asking for visible leadership, compassion, sustained security collaboration, and the assurance that every part of Kwara State matters equally. They want to know that when tragedy strikes, their government will not be silent.
History often remembers leaders not by the speeches they made but by how they responded when their people cried for help. This moment presents Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq with an opportunity to reassure the people of Kwara North that they have not been forgotten.
The expectation is simple: let governance take precedence over politics. Let security become the administration’s foremost priority. And let every citizen, regardless of where they live, know that their life carries equal value in the eyes of their government.
May God Recue “KN” . May God Recue “Kwara State”.
May God Recue “Nigeria” .