Families and Clerics in Kwara Accuse Governor of Stoking Tensions Over Saraki
Amid escalating legal tensions between Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and former Senate President Bukola Saraki, Islamic clerics and the Agbaji Development Association (ADA) convened a special prayer session on Wednesday. They have accused the governor of attempting to destabilize Kwara State through what they describe as frivolous charges.
Allegations of Political Campaign and Propaganda
The ADA, which represents all indigenes of Agbaji, the ancestral home of the Saraki family, addressed the media at the area's central mosque in Ilorin. They alleged that Governor AbdulRazaq is making bold and calculated moves to stir unrest and disunity within the Ilorin Emirate. According to the group, the situation is no longer about justice but a calculated political campaign driven by propaganda aimed at tarnishing the image of Dr. Bukola Saraki and his entire family.
Alhaji Yunus Abdulkadir Lasiele, the national president of ADA, issued a stern warning, threatening to lead members and other Kwarans in protest if further attacks on Saraki are heard or unleashed. He dismissed claims that a sitting governor could organize a bank robbery as untrue and unfathomable, questioning whether the incumbent governor could do the same.
Criticism of Media Use and Calls for Restraint
The group criticized the alleged indiscriminate use of media platforms, state influence, and coordinated voices linked to the AbdulRazaq family and their allies to malign the Saraki family. They described these actions as unacceptable, provocative, and dangerous, cautioning that the Ilorin Emirate should not be a theatre for political vendetta.
They emphasized that the Saraki family has contributed significantly to the history and development of Kwara State, and any attempt to rewrite that history through blackmail and public manipulation will be firmly resisted. The people of Ilorin are watching closely, and any escalation of this smear campaign will meet with strong public resistance.
Appeals for Intervention and Peace
In their statement, the ADA urged the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, to intervene urgently and call all parties, especially those fueling discord, to order. They also called on the media to stop serving as channels for politically motivated attacks and instead promote peace and truth.
Finally, they appealed to the Ulama to intensify prayers, stressing that Ilorin Emirate must not be dragged into avoidable conflict. They expressed a desire for Ilorin to remain a land of honour, not a battlefield for political intimidation and propaganda.
