By Mike Adeyemi
Reactions have continued to trail the impromptu cancellation of this year’s Ilorin Emirate Durbar festival by the AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq led government, National Pilot can report.
The annual cultural event was abruptly halted by the Kwara State government citing intelligence report that was not in favour of the hosting of the event.
The colourful event, which features horse riding by the Emir and his entourage, is one of the cultural events Ilorin shares with other northern cities in the country.
The spectacular ceremony which has become a tourist attraction over the years was supposed to hold a day after the Eid-el-Kabir celebration.
Speaking with our reporter yesterday, a chieftain of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) youth leader and Chairman, North Central Youth Leaders Forum, Prince Haliru Dantsoho Mahmud said the cancellation was done in bad faith.
He further alluded the cancellation to what he described as the fear of ex-Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki by the present administration in the state.
According to him, ‘It has become clear to AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq led government that they have lost contact with the people of Kwara State having seen what transpired at the Eid prayer ground where Saraki was showered with accolades.
“The fear of Saraki has become the beginning of wisdom for this government. They have seen the handwriting on the wall that the crowd that hailed the former Senate president at the Eid prayer ground would be double if they allow Durbar to go on.
“The people of Kwara State, as observed, are now regretting voting an irresponsible person into government hence they accorded to Saraki such an honour, signaling come 2023 they will vote for PDP,” Dantsoho said.
He added that the present government has lost its popularity having come into power through propaganda.
“AbdulRahman AbdulRaszaq has clearly seen it clearly that he is no more popular among the people of Kwara and if he allows Durbar festival to go on, people will accord Saraki tumultuous honour. I think the Governor cancelled Durbar to avoid more embarrassment.
“If the primary duty of every government is to protect lives and property, how would a responsible government halt a mere cultural festival in the sake of alleged insecurity. I think the governor is jittery of Bukola Saraki, nothing more,” he stressed.
“In my own opinion, I think the cancellation is in bad faith. One, that event was not a government affair. It’s a cultural event of Ilorin Emirate.
“Even at that, if it were to be cancelled, the pronouncements should have come from the Emirate Council of which the Emir of Ilorin had set up a committee. We also have a prominent socio-cultural organisation, Ilorin Descendants Progressive Union (IEDPU), that was not carried along by the government,” he said.
Continuing, “the cancellation shows that the government of Kwara State is not aligned to its constitutional responsibility of securing of lives and property.”
“Government cited insecurity as reason for the cancellation despite it had been aware of what is going to happen. If government cannot provide security for that event, it means the Kwara state government can no longer provide security for the entire state.
“The Governor went to Eid prayer ground, only little accolades was given to him by the people of Ilorin. And while Dr. Bukola Saraki was given high ovation. It is a signal that the people of Ilorin Emirate have accepted their son and the PDP national leader in Nigeria to be a man of honor and integrity.
“The accolades showered on him is also a further attestation by the people of Ilorin that he has done a lot for them in the past and he is still doing,” he stressed.
The source added that the ban of Durbar by the government was as a result of the large crowd hailing the immediate past senate president at the Eid prayer ground as he said the fear of Saraki as become the beginning of wisdom.
“The Durbar cancellation is a bad precedence in Ilorin Emirate. It has never happened in the past.
“Another side effect of the Durbar ban is the economic loss to Ilorin people. Some of them have taken loans to buy goods and services for the event.
“The cancellation also portend dangers for investors to the Emirate. Some people had to come from overseas because of this event. It was a disappointment. We all saw what happened.
“The people of Kwara State have come to realize that this government came onboard through propaganda and falsehood. This is a government that could not manage it’s own family(APC). Such a government cannot lead us to any where. PDP will takeover Kwara come 2023,” he prayed.
The ex-lawmaker further added that the APC led administration in Kwara State is a government of deceit as it is more like a dictatorial regime.
“The government is an administration of deceit. You can imagine that this government have 15 commissioners and it appears we don’t have any. a government that do not stay to manage the affairs of the state.
“The government that has not tarred 5 kilometer road in Kwara. Kwara have moved beyond using interlocking of road that is not up to 1 kilometer and trying to tell us he has done a lot. This a government that appointed TIC and came to deny that. They have dugged their grave for 2023 already, ” the lawmaker affirmed.
Also reacting, a former lawmaker, Honorable Ayansola Mohammed said the Durbar cancellation by the Kwara State government has brought about economic woes to the state.
“When you look at the economic value of it, it has affected the state. What the governor had done further put the assertion that Kwara is a civil servant state aright.
“I don’t think the cancellation has anything to do with insecurity. People are insinuating that what happened at the Eid prayer ground was the reason for the ban. What we witnessed there is a pointer to what will happen in 2023.
“The economy of Kwara has been badly affected and I want to suggest that the governor should compile list of people who have committed monies to this Durbar and compensate them.
“It is the fear of Saraki that led to the Durbar cancellation. Kwarans have spoken via loud ovation accorded Saraki that they are tired of AbdulRahman AbdulRaszaq government and they are supporting Saraki come 2023. Kwarans have spoken,” Ayanshola said.
