Kwara Residents Call for Commissioner Lade’s Removal Over Lawsuit and Project Controversy

Tensions are rising in Kwara State as residents of Kwara North have launched a petition demanding the immediate removal of Usman Yunusa Lade, the state’s Commissioner for Water Resources.

The move follows allegations that the Commissioner filed a lawsuit to suppress media scrutiny over his handling of a key water project in Lafiagi.

The online petition, titled “Kwara North Public Petition: Call for the Removal of Hon. Usman Lade,” accuses the Commissioner of lacking transparency and accountability in managing the Lafiagi waterworks rehabilitation. Residents allege that Lade falsely claimed to have completed the project even though there is little evidence of progress on the ground.

The controversy began after Lade sued a local media outlet, NUPEKOTV-Lafiagi, for publishing a report that accused him of mismanaging public funds and neglecting his duties. He filed both a ₦10 million civil defamation suit and a criminal complaint against the platform’s Editor-in-Chief, Tauheed Baruwa Muhammed, over a Facebook post published on July 28, 2024.

Court documents show that Lade’s legal team described the publication as malicious and defamatory, alleging it was intended to damage his reputation and that of his office. The Commissioner claimed that the story, which was shared widely across social media, caused him emotional distress and public embarrassment.

Residents, however, view the legal action as an attempt to silence journalists and avoid accountability. Petition organisers argue that the lawsuit reflects a “misuse of power” and is part of a broader pattern by the Kwara State government to intimidate journalists and activists who question public officials.

Many Lafiagi residents have long complained about persistent water shortages despite repeated government assurances that the rehabilitation of the waterworks had been completed. They say the Commissioner’s actions have further deepened distrust between the government and the public.

The petition urges the state government to dismiss Lade, citing a growing loss of confidence in his leadership. It also calls on citizens to sign and share the petition, describing it as a step toward promoting transparency and responsible governance in the region.

Meanwhile, the controversy adds to the mounting political and security challenges facing Lade’s home area in Patigi Local Government, where residents continue to report cases of banditry and displacement.

As the Commissioner defends himself in court, public pressure is building both online and within his constituency, with citizens insisting that his continued stay in office undermines public trust and the principles of accountability.