- Saraki:”AbdulRazaq is jittery because I will steal the show as usual…”
- AbdulRazaq: “You have never attended the event since 2019…”
By Tolúlopé Olátúnjí
The ongoing conflict between former Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki and Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq escalated on Tuesday over Saraki’s decision to skip the Ilorin Durbar, a traditional festival in the state.
Recall that the Ilorin Emirates Council hosted its prestigious durbar ceremony in the state capital on Tuesday, June 18, 2024 capital as part of the Eid-el-Kabir celebrations. It was also aimed at showcasing the rich cultural heritage and traditions of Ilorin.
Meanwhile, the former state governor, Saraki, stated that he chose to stay away from the event out of respect for the Sheikh Alimi throne and to maintain peace. He claimed the state government, led by Governor AbdulRazaq, did not want him to attend due to his growing popularity among the people.
In a statement issued by his press officer on Local Matters, Abdulganiyu Abdulqadir, Saraki explained that his decision was influenced by appeals from prominent Islamic scholars and community leaders who sought to prevent any disturbance in the ancient town.
“For the sake of peace and the highest respect for the throne of Sheikh Alimi, he stayed off the Ilorin Durbar event today,” the statement read.
It added:”This decision was taken after respected traditional titleholders and top Islamic scholars appealed to him not to attend the event.”
The statement further accused the AbdulRazaq administration of pressuring the Ilorin Emirate Council to prevent Saraki’s attendance, suggesting that the governor was concerned Saraki would overshadow the event. Saraki’s camp argued that the governor’s failure to address poverty and provide quality leadership was the reason for his declining popularity.
“We understand that tremendous pressure was put on the Ilorin Emirate Council by the state government to stop the Waziri of Ilorin from attending the event. AbdulRazaq is jittery that the former governor, Dr. Saraki, will steal the show as usual,” the statement continued.
In a swift response, the state government dismissed Saraki’s claims as baseless and in bad faith. A statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Rafiu Ajakaye, criticized Saraki for not adhering to the standards expected of a statesman.
“Senator Bukola Saraki should leave Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq out of his self-inflicted shame of not being able to hold himself to the standard expected of a statesman,” the statement said.
“The governor has repeatedly shown humility and a large heart to accommodate everyone as bonafide citizens.”
Ajakaye added that since the APC’s victory over the PDP in 2019, Saraki had not attended the Ilorin Durbar, questioning his sudden interest in the event.
“Landslide victories in the 2019 and 2023 elections in Kwara are clear testimonies of how the people of Kwara State have preferred the governor to lead the state,” the statement read. “Finally, to the best of our knowledge, Senator Saraki has never attended the Ilorin Durbar since 2019. His statement, therefore, reeks of mischief and bad faith, which we leave history to judge.”
The escalating dispute underscores the deep political rift in Kwara State as both sides prepare for the upcoming governorship election.
