– Kayode Alfred

The grim hand of fate has once again cast its shadow over the administration of Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, as the Chief of Staff, Alhaji Mohammed Mahe AbdulKadir, has passed away.

AbdulKadir, a distinguished son of the Ilorin Emirate and an emblem of public service, died on Saturday at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH), leaving the state reeling from yet another high-profile loss.

This marks the second time in just four years that the AbdulRazaq administration has lost a Chief of Staff in office, the first being Alhaji Aminu Adisa Logun, who succumbed to complications from COVID-19 in 2020.

AbdulKadir’s death has sent shockwaves through Kwara, not just because of his towering reputation but also due to the eerie pattern it highlights—a heavy burden that now hangs over the office of the Chief of Staff in Kwara’s political landscape.

Abdulkadir, appointed on September 5, 2020, following Logun’s untimely demise, was more than just an administrator; he was a scion of history, a prince of the Ilorin Emirate, and a son of Mallam Aliyu Abdulkadir, the 10th Emir of Ilorin. His bloodline carried the weight of legacy, his role the burden of service.

His life was one of notable accomplishments. From serving as Permanent Secretary in the Kwara State Government House in 2003—courtesy of the then-political kingmaker Bukola Saraki—to becoming the Clerk of the State House of Assembly in 2004, AbdulKadir’s name was synonymous with excellence in governance.

His career further expanded into national service, where he held senior positions with the defunct National Electric Power Authority (NEPA) and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). These were not merely titles but roles in which he left an indelible mark.

AbdulKadir’s passing has also revived whispers of his long-standing aspirations to ascend the revered throne of the Ilorin Emirate—a dream now forever unfulfilled. A cousin to Professor Ibrahim Agboola Gambari, Chief of Staff to former President Muhammadu Buhari, AbdulKadir’s lineage carried weight, and his loss has rippled far beyond the boundaries of Kwara State.

In mourning his death, Kwara mourns the passing of an era—an illustrious son who embodied governance and tradition.

As funeral arrangements are made in accordance with Islamic rites, his memory lingers in the hearts of many, a reminder of a life lived in dedicated service. For Governor AbdulRazaq, it is yet another test of endurance, another scar in a tenure already marked by profound loss.