There is growing discontent in Tsaragi, a community in Edu Local Government Area of Kwara State, following reports that Alhaji Buhari Mohammed Makama—the father of Sadiq Buhari, Special Adviser on Social Investment to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq—has allegedly diverted a transformer meant for public use into his private compound.
A respected member of the community, who spoke under the condition of anonymity, disclosed to Chronicles Reporters that the transformer, initially intended to enhance power supply across Tsaragi, was quietly relocated to Makama’s personal residence without the community’s approval.
The source revealed that construction of a protective housing for the transformer has already begun within Makama’s property—an action that contradicts the initial agreement reached with the community on the transformer’s siting.
“This equipment is a public utility; it was never intended to become someone’s personal property,” the source said. “His son holding a political office doesn’t give them a licence to privatise what belongs to all of us. We completely reject this move.”
The source also dismissed claims allegedly made by Isa Afro, an official of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), that the Emir of Tsaragi had endorsed the decision to install the transformer in Makama’s compound. He described the claim as false and misleading.
The incident has sparked tensions among residents, many of whom perceive it as an outright misuse of power and favoritism linked to political connections.
Community members have since appealed to the state government and other relevant authorities to investigate the situation and ensure the transformer is installed at its original, public location.
Adding his voice to the uproar, Prince Mohammed Karatun Tsaragi insisted that the 22.5KVA transformer must be reinstated for communal use, not hoarded for private interests.
He pointed fingers at Isa Afro and some other electricity officials, accusing them of complicity or turning a blind eye to previous acts of vandalism involving public electrical infrastructure in the community.
“Let me ask—how many transformers serving this community have ever been hidden inside a private compound? For decades, they’ve always been publicly installed,” Prince Mohammed said. “Now suddenly, the excuse is ‘security’ or ‘vandalism’? This is nothing but a cover-up.”
He continued, “We’re watching. People may be scared to speak because of Makama’s influence, but this won’t last forever. Power is transient.”
In an open letter dated July 15, 2025, addressed to the Executive Chairman of Edu LGA, Abdullahi Bello Ndamongoro, Prince Mohammed, representing the Tsaragi community, sought urgent clarification on the true status of the transformer recently provided to the area.
He pointed out that the community has been inundated with alarming reports and calls suggesting that the transformer—believed to be part of the second phase of a state-wide electricity initiative—was being covertly converted to serve a private individual rather than the public.
The letter raised the question: Was the transformer truly allocated for the collective benefit of the Tsaragi people, or was it diverted and handed out as a personal favor?
Prince Mohammed warned that if the latter turned out to be true, it would call into question the transparency and impartiality of governance at the local level.
He further cited historical precedence, noting that even the highly respected Emir of Tsaragi, Alhaji Aliyu Abdullahi Goshi, had never taken a transformer meant for the people into his private home. This, he argued, underscores how unusual and concerning the current development is.
While not placing full blame on the Makama, Prince Mohammed emphasized that the larger issue lies with the local government authorities, who appear to be making arbitrary decisions that disregard principles of fairness and accountability.
On behalf of the Tsaragi community, he called for the transformer to be returned to a public location and for a full, transparent audit of the matter to be conducted.
Should their appeal be ignored, the community warned that it would have no choice but to escalate the matter by taking it public and submitting a formal petition to the Kwara State Government to expose what they described as the unjust transfer of public assets into the hands of a few privileged individuals.
The letter read: “We write on behalf of the people of Tsaragi and its surrounding communities to demand clarification regarding the 22.5kVA transformer recently delivered to our town.
“There is growing anxiety, as reports suggest the transformer—part of an ongoing government-backed project spearheaded by His Excellency Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq—is being redirected for the personal gain of the Makama of Tsaragi.
“We ask: was this transformer officially assigned to serve the public, or handed over as a personal gift to a single individual?
“If it’s the latter, it raises very serious concerns about how government resources are being managed. Are we saying public goods are now only for a privileged inner circle in Tsaragi?”
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