By Abdulrahman Aliagan in Ilorin
- PDP Tells Abdulrahman to Respect the Rule of Law
- As Family files suit in Ilorin Court
- Gbemi Changes GRS family to GRS-Oloye Movement
Ilorin have kick against the decision of the state Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq to revoke the land belonging to the late Kwara political kingpin, Dr. Abubakar Olusola Saraki saying that the decision is personal and not in the interest of anybody in the state.
Time Nigeria visits the state capital Ilorin and engaged in an interview with cross session of indigenous people of Ilorin as well as those who reside in the ancient town.
Our check has revealed that there was a long-standing rivalry between the two dominant families arising from the early days of the defunct Societie Generale Bank, in which the present governor wanted to bring it into the state political sphere.
According to a retired federal civil servant, Alhaji Mosur Busari Alaago said, “the decision to take over the late saraki’s property is needless, adding that there are many areas where the governor can look at and deliver on his mandate than engaging in issue that can take him backward.
To me, I want to believe that, the Governor is being ill-advised, that is if he listens to anybody? that is not the next thing in Kwara State, in Ilorin, almost everywhere you go is hold-ups, we have some schools that are being dilapidated, Kwara State is lagging behind in terms of everything, a serious government should be focused on how to deliver on the mandate before him not venturing into issues that is of no benefit to the general populace.
In a chat with another civil servant in the state who prefers to be anonymous said revocation of the land in question is not a problem but the way they are politicizing it. He added that the government that is yet to be on ground, where party members are no longer together. As I speak to you All Progressives Congress (APC) members in the state are no longer one, the governor is going his way and party is divided. For the Governor to venture into demolition of the late Saraki’s property Ile Arugbo is not going to be a good step to take.
On the issue of new minimum wage, the state government is yet to take a definite position on it, of whose interest is he going to demolish the said property? He quarried.
As far as I am concern, Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq should do his homework and dissipate his energy on programmes that will have direct impact in the lives of people and stop bringing state to their families’ rivalry.
In our encounter with some political analysts, they largely agreed that, the decision to revoke that said land was borne out of a mission to weaken Saraki Political structure that is being championed by the former Senate President, Bukola Saraki. According to them, that it is well known that, that point is where the aged women who are considered the backbone of the Saraki political dynasty do gathered, it is believed that Ile Arugbo is the stronghold of the Kwara politics, so to demolish the place will limit the gathering and weaken the stronghold.
Some of the interviewee pleaded anonymity and we are restrained to make mention of there name, some believed that the best the Governor can do, is to look for how he is going to register his name and that of his family in the minds and conscience of the people and not bringing down anybody. They said, if he demolishes the building, can he demolish that of the minds and conscience? They asked?
In his position, Dr. Nick Ogbokwu, a lecturer at International Institute of Journalism, Abuja said, “Am not an Ilorin man but I know little about the town as a youth corps member, I served in Ilorin in the early 90s and I knew how these aged women use to throng into Baba Saraki’s house to get stipends, food items and rapper on weekly basis whether is around or not, the late Saraki has registered his name in the minds of this set of woman and there is nothing the present Governor can do about it. Take it or leave it Saraki is loved and cherished given his philanthropic kind gesture. It is a thing of mind and not casted in any building.
“Let me tell you my brother Saraki will still be loved and cherished even if he did not left any building behind, he is naturally endowed, he empathized, he is always there for his people, a down to earth man. It will be better for the traditional and spiritual leaders in the state should wade into the matter. So that it does not become a generational rivalry between the two families. In my language, there is an adage that we only know the beginning of enmity we may not know the end of it. It will do the Governor a lot of good to purse developmental projects that will have impact in the lives of the people is leading.
Alhaji Musa Adesina shared a different view, he said, if the land is not properly acquired, it should be revoked and should be used to better the lots of the people. According to him, “Is because, it is Saraki family, I want to believe, if it were to be any other person, it won’t generate these much long controversies. To me anything that is wrong should be right irrespective of anybody that is involved.”
Meanwhile, aged women in their hundreds throng out to occupy the popular Ile Arugbo Ilofa road to protest against the revocation of the property belonging to the late kingmaker, as they were chanting that Governor cannot collect what belongs to the father from the son and that Governor should not collect what belong to them from them.
In a chat with Hajia Saadatu Anifowose, she is in her early 60s said, “the late Saraki is the only person that we know that identifies with the aged women and Bukola is the only person he bequeaths to us and he is taking care of us. Ile Arugbo is our home and nobody can take it away from us. Please help us to tell him to face his business and leave our house for us.”
As at the time of publishing this story, it remains shrouded in obscurity where the younger sister of the the former Senate President and the State Minister of Transport, Gbemisola Saraki belomgs in this tight water, it is not in doubt that Gbemi supported the present Governor of Kwara State to clinch into power. Is this recent development pays her well as a return in O to ge struggle?
Appreciating her beloved father, Gbemisola Saraki announced that she had changed the “GRS family to “GRS-Oloye Movement, she added that her family had a history which she is proud of. “We have history and we are proud of that history”. With this it is evidently clear that the fight is not a Bukola Saraki’s fight it is a fight against the political hegemony, as the popular adage says, blood is thicker than water.
In a related development, he Kwara State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has advised Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq to respect the rule of law and stop all actions that can lead to breakdown of law and order in the state.
In a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Tunde Ashaolu, the party, while responding to the early morning deployment of policemen to the Ilofa Road GRA property belonging to late Dr. Abubakar Olusola Saraki whose title the Kwara State Governor last weekend said he revoked, also called on the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Adamu, to ensure that the police were not used to foment crisis in the state or subvert the on-going court process on the property.
“We noticed that early in the morning today, policemen from the Kwara State Police Command were deployed to take over Plots 1, 3 and 5 Ilofa Road property of late Oloye Olusola Saraki, apparently on the orders of Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq.
“This action was taken in violation of the rights of the Late Saraki and his heirs to own property and in subversion of the rule of law as we are aware of a court process that has been filed by the Saraki family at the state High Court, Ilorin.
“The process with Suit No KWS / 463 / 2019 between Asa Investments Limited as claimant vs Governor of Kwara State, Kwara State House of Assembly, Attorney General of Kwara State, Director General of the Kwara State Bureau of Lands and the Inspector General of Police had been served on the IGP through the Kwara State Police Command and also the Attorney General of the State.
“In the suit, the claimant is seeking for a declaration that the revocation/ recovery of Plots 1, 3 and 5 TOS/ MISC 139A situate at Ilofa Road belonging to the Claimant without a proper notice of revocation is unconstitutional and void and that the purported notice of revocation is equally null and void and of no effect in that the said purported Notice was not personally served on the claimant.
“With the matter now before the courts, the Governor should stay all actions on it and wait for the final adjudication on the matter, instead of taking actions that will pre-empt the court decision and render the judicial verdict useless.
“The PDP noted that if not for the grace of God and the maturity of all concern there would have been a clash between the old women who usually congregate on the property in issue for their welfare package and the policemen. The Police withdrew after the women held the ground and refused to be intimidated.
“We call on the IGP to prevent any action that would lead to break down of law and order by insisting that policemen are not used to intimidate innocent people and help in the plot to present the court with a fait accompli. Land matters are civil cases and therefore should not involve the use of armed policemen to intimidate people.
“The State Governor is equally advised to shun actions that amount to abuse of powers, illegality and seek to create tension in the state. The Governor knows that he has not served the necessary statutory notices on the owners of the property and also have to respect the fact that with the filing of the case, the issue of the said land is now subjudice. All parties should respect the institution of the courts and wait for the resolution of the case.
“Kwara people are peace loving people. They are appreciative and supportive of all the contributions of Oloye Saraki whose property is now being threatened by the Revocation order to the development of the state. They do not want anything that will threaten the existing peace in the state. We do not want a repeat of the pre-2003 situation in Kwara State.
“The Governor should promote peace and not take any action that will threaten peace. We in PDP will hold the Governor responsible if any violence is wreaked on any Kwaran”, the party stated.