The Peoples Democratic Party in Kwara State has slammed Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq over the closure of the Kwara State College of Education, Oro, describing the decision as an admission of failure in the handling of insecurity in the state.
The criticism followed a directive by the Kwara State Government ordering the immediate shutdown of the institution due to what it described as worsening security threats in the area.
The directive was conveyed in an internal memo dated January 20, 2026, with reference number MOTE/CE/VOL.II/227, issued by the Ministry of Tertiary Education, Science and Technology and sighted by The PUNCH on Thursday.
The memo, signed by the Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Hajia Sa’adatu Kawu, instructed the management of the college to close down academic activities with immediate effect, in compliance with the directive of Governor AbdulRazaq.
According to the document, the decision followed “growing security threats around the institution” and formed part of a wider state directive to close all schools within the affected local government area.
“The measure is taken in the best interest of the safety and security of staff, students and the surrounding community,” the memo stated, adding that the closure would remain in force pending a comprehensive security review and further directives from the government.
“You are hereby instructed to take immediate steps to direct the management of the college to temporarily close the institution forthwith,” the government said, while mandating the authorities to submit a report of compliance without delay.
However, reacting to the closure, the PDP accused the AbdulRazaq-led administration of capitulating to insecurity rather than confronting it.
In a statement issued on Thursday signed by its Publicity Secretary, Olusegun Adewara, the Kwara PDP said the action showed that the government had “no coherent strategy for tackling insecurity” and had instead chosen to “surrender to criminals.”
“The directive to shut down the College of Education, Oro, under the guise of insecurity is a loud confession of failure. It shows that the government has completely run out of ideas and is now surrendering public institutions to criminal elements,” the party said.
The PDP argued that the College of Education, Oro, serves as the educational and economic backbone of Kwara South and warned that its closure would deepen hardship for residents.
“Education must not become the casualty of insecurity. A government that claims to be addressing security challenges cannot justify closing schools while markets and other public places remain open,” the statement added.
The opposition party further accused the governor of poor leadership and alleged that insecurity had worsened due to what it described as his absence from the state.
“The worsening security situation is a direct consequence of leadership vacuum. If the Governor cannot protect lives and property, honour demands that he steps aside instead of shutting down the future of our children,” the PDP said.
The party also called on traditional rulers, community leaders and other critical stakeholders in Kwara South to speak out against what it described as a dangerous precedent.
“This decision threatens not only education but also the economic stability of the region. Stakeholders must rise to prevent insecurity from destroying the future of our youths,” the statement said.
The closure comes amid heightened security concerns across parts of Kwara South and North, where several communities have in recent months recorded cases of banditry, kidnappings and other criminal activities.
It also follows earlier precautionary measures by the state government, including the relocation of the National Youth Service Corps orientation camp from Yikpata to Ilorin and the temporary shutdown of schools in other volatile areas of the state.
punch.ng
FOLLOW US ON:
