Kwara, clerics and calculated courtesy — by Folorunso Adisa
Reports emerging from Kwara’s political space offer yet another reminder that politics is often as much about symbolism as it is about service. According to the reports, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq had earlier promised the newly installed Chief Imam of Ilorin a vehicle, but the promise remained unfulfilled for over two weeks. It was further reported that former Senate President Bukola Saraki visited the Chief Imam and pledged that a brand-new vehicle would be delivered before 1 p.m. the following day. Within hours, the state government reportedly delivered not one but four vehicles. Whether this sequence of events reflects coincidence or political competition is for observers to judge.
For me, however, the more important issue lies elsewhere. Why should politicians be gifting vehicles and other expensive items to religious leaders in the first place? Public resources are held in trust for the people. They should primarily be deployed to improve education, healthcare, infrastructure, security and other public services that benefit everyone, not for gestures that are largely symbolic.
That said, politicians are not the only ones deserving of scrutiny. As citizens, we have also helped normalise this culture. We celebrate these displays of generosity, applaud them at public events and, in many cases, expect them. When a public office holder refuses to indulge in such patronage, we are often quick to label them arrogant, stingy or uncaring,
Perhaps the real problem is not that politicians play politics. Politics, by its nature, seeks public approval. The deeper problem is that we have too often mistaken performative generosity for good governance. Except we started rewarding prudent stewardship of public resources above public spectacles, politicians will continue to invest in applause rather than accountability.
