2019 Durbar: Kwarans condemn Abdulrazaq over alleged plot to delist Saraki, loyalists from invitees

*Gov doles out N10m for event, promises institutionalisation

*3 days after report, C’ttee keeps mum over purported exclusion

Import 700 horses for ceremony

By Adebayo Olodan and Mumini AbdulKareem

Kwara State Governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, has continued to receive knocks from some Kwarans and residents of the state capital following reports of his purported plans to influence the 2019 Ilorin Durbar Committee to exclude former Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki and other leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who are indigenes of the emirate from being invited for the event.
Since National Pilot exclusively reported the story, it has trended for days now in many social media platforms and online medium in the state with the majority of the responses criticising the action of the governor and the committee for allowing themselves and a programme that was meant to unite the community to be used to settle political scores.
However, the Durbar committee has refused to either deny or confirm the exclusion of Dr Saraki more than three days after it was first reported. Its Chairman, Engr. Suleiman Alapansanpa did not pick calls put across to him on Sunday.
Speaking on the issue last night, former Special Assistant (Political) in Kwara Central to the immediate past governor, Alhaji Hassan Gegele said the development is uncalled for and very bad asking whether Dr Saraki is no longer an indigene of Ilorin.
“I don’t know why people will just sit down and decide his name (Saraki) should be removed. Is it that he is no more an Ilorin man? Somebody that has been contributing to the cause of the Emirate and development of Ilorin for the past 15 years, this is uncalled for and it is too bad.
“The Emir is trying to ensure love and peace reign among the Ilorin people, why this? Although I have not heard him saying it, but what we read was that when the committee met the governor, he said he will not contribute anything to it if the name of Dr Saraki is not removed.
“The Governor and the leader are from Ilorin. I can tell you that Saraki has been praying for the governor to succeed in his administration, he has not instigated anybody against the government because he said since he is from Ilorin, we should leave him and let him have his four years for us to compare. Saraki will never do this or try to destabilize the government. What is the Governor still looking for after God had made him win the election?
“What does the name of Bukola has to do with this and nobody knows tomorrow?” he added.
Also, a former House of Representatives member, Hon Abraham Ashaolu said it appeared the government is jittery of having Dr Saraki on the same podium for such a big event for fear of intimidation.
“I believe the government is being jittery and they know that even if all of them put together when they have an outing and Dr Saraki is present, they will more or less pale out to nothing. That is the truth.
“As a Kwaran, this is strange to me because based on the narrative we have read, the programme is not a government affair. If the committee decides on what to do and the government say no, my take is that the people who are the organisers are the one to put down their feet. The Durbar is a thing they have been doing before and they have never been Armstrong not to pick people they deem fit. Why now, the event as we have read about the ongoing narrative is not a government affair,” he noted.
Some Kwarans and residents of Ilorin, who reacted to the issue on various social media platforms, yesterday, warned Governor Abdulrazaq and the leadership of the APC in the state against politicising the socio-cultural event.
Mohammed Abdulganiyu Bello wrote on his Facebook page; “The issue at stake now is not about personality degradation, let those in government bring their developmental agenda and leave Saraki alone. We all own Ilorin and his contributions to the community are yet to be surpassed by any of his contemporaries as at today. The Great Leader of our time. I believe will do more; I pray to Allah to allow me contribute to the society like Waziri N’geri Ilorin.”
Reacting via his twitter handle @Ayinde Saad, another indigene of Ilorin wrote, “ The noise about Durbar shouldn’t have been an issue to discuss outside we Ilorites but for the main cause of the noise as alleged. It was rumored that @RealAARahman rejected the funding of the program because Saraki was invited; that will be too rbad if true.
“This only means AA is here to fight Saraki and that will be a great task equal to the task of developing Kwara in four folds… calling AA to order isn’t out of order now but rather necessary to prevent him from plotting his own downfall this early time.”
On his part, Olabimiji Fanijo said, “Saraki is the first Kwaran to reach such esteem (senate President) in the history of Kwarans both home and abroad. He is worthy to be celebrated.”
Meanwhile, it was gathered that the Governor has released N10million largesse for the event following a meeting with the leadership of the Durbar committee led by its chairman, Engr Alapansanpa.
It could not be established last night whether the cash was part of government’s support for the programme or Abdulrazaq’s personal contribution to the event.
Government House sources who confided in this medium said the governor directed the committee to meet Kale Belgore to collect the cash after their meeting held at the presidential lodge.
Efforts to get the response of the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Rafiu Ajakaye over the matter were not successful last night.

…700 horses to be imported for ceremony

By Mumini AbdulKareem

The Chairman, Ilorin Emirate Durbar Committee, Engr Suleiman Yahaya Alapansanpa has revealed that over 700 horses will be used during the event scheduled to hold at the front of the Emir’s palace on Monday- a day after Eid-el-Kabir celebration.
Alapansanpa who spoke during an exclusive chat at the committee’s office at the Emir’s palace assured that plans are in place to ensure this year’s event will be a vast improvement from the last edition.
He said some of the event that could not be held last year like horse racing will grace this year’s edition adding that the event will be beamed live on four gigantic television screens that will be strategically placed around the city to decongest the crowd at the palace and promote safety.
“For the event, we are looking at about 700 horses from Niger Republic, Kebbi, Katsina and other northern states in addition to the ones we have here.
“The event will boost the economy of Ilorin and Kwara as a whole and we are partnering with mobile networks providers throughout the event. We don’t envisage as much crowd within the palace premises as we had last year because of live transmission, so that there will be space and less security threat to do the horse racing.
“The plan also includes showcasing Ilorin pottery and clothing. We’ll serve our local delicacies like Kangu, Kulikuli, robo, masa, kunu, zobo and a lot of our people will put on the Aso-Ofi with different types of Aso Ebi customised Durbar clothes”, he added.
Alapansanpa called on those with the means to come out with their horses and entourage to celebrate the culture diversity of Ilorin.