The face-off between Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq and former Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki reached a climax on Thursday as the state government in the early hours of the day demolished the Saraki’s political home better known as ‘Ile Arúgbó’ in Ilorin, Kwara state capital.
The building, originally built by Senator Saraki’s father and Second Republic Senate Leader, Dr Olusola Saraki, was demolished after security operatives dispersed protesters, including aged women within the complex.
When the enforcement team got to the scene about 3am, they were initially resisted by some women. The policemen keeping watch in the area eventually used teargas to restore order.
The government had reportedly fixed midnight for the demolition exercise to avoid a clash with Saraki’s loyalists who had been keeping a vigil in the area.
The Kwara State Government later defended the demolition of the property.
Alhaji Murtala Olanrewaju, Kwara State Commissioner for Information, said in a statement that by the demolition of the property, government has only taken back what belongs to the people.
He said, “The Kwara State Government early today began the physical reclamation of the plot of land bordering the civil service clinic in Ilorin.
“The reclamation exercise began in the early hours of Thursday to avoid any needless confrontation. Attempts by some persons to provoke government’s agents on lawful duty were resisted by the security agents who exercised the highest level of restraint and professionalism.
“Contrary to the claim that the State Government was served court papers on the matter, we state that no court paper has been served as at the time the government took steps to preserve what lawfully belongs to the people.
“Finally, we urge the people of the state to remain calm, peaceful, and be guided only by facts of the matter and not be drawn into emotional outburst that is targeted at distracting the public from the issues at stake.
“While the administration is focused on restoring sanity to the state after years of barefaced impunity, we will do so within the limit of the law.”
It will be recalled that government had some days ago alleged that there was no evidence that Abubakar Saraki, the father of the Senate President bought the land.
But the former Senate President who is also a former governor of the State had denied the allegation as he said his father legally acquired the property.