…Bukola, Gbemisola kick
The Kwara State government has destroyed a major learning centre in Ilorin yesterday, marking what many political commentators say is yet another move capable of escalating the already tense political climate in Kwara politics.
The learning centre, Sola A. Saraki Library Complex, erected in honour of Olusola Saraki, a former Senate Majority Leader and strongman of Kwara politics, was torn down in Ilorin-West local government area yesterday afternoon.
According to locals, the library has been used for years as a learning and resource centre for people around the local government.
It is unclear why the governor ordered the demolition of the knowledge facility, which served thousands of State residents every year, although the timing fuelled insinuations of a political vendetta.
The State governor, Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq, and the former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, whose father the library was named after, have been at political loggerheads amidst tussle for the control of the state’s politics.
Some political observers point out that Governor AbdulRazaq wrestled the State in 2019 after decades of domination by the Sarakis.
In a swift reaction, former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, and his sister, Gbemisola, who is the current Minister of State for Transportation, have kicked against the demolition of the library. The siblings wondered why the governor continued to demolish properties linked to their father.
In a Facebook post yesterday, Bukola wrote, “Just got the news that the major official assignment carried out by the governor of my state, Kwara, today, is the demolition of an old public library named after my late dad, Dr. Olusola Saraki. May Almighty Allah continue to retain a place for Oloye in Aljannah Firdaus”.
Although, the spokesman for Governor AbdulRazaq did not return a request seeking comments about the demolition, however, Bukola Saraki condemned it and insinuated that the governor has no grip on his administration’s priorities.
“I just got the news that the major official assignment carried out by the governor of my state, Kwara, today, is the demolition of an old public library named after my Late dad, Dr. Olusola Saraki,” Bukola said, in a statement on Tuesday night. “May Almighty Allah continue to retain a place for Oloye in Aljannah Firdaus”.
Recall that last year, Gov. AbdulRazaq ordered the demolition of ‘Ile Arugbo’ — a building constructed by the Late Saraki for the welfare of aged people in Ilorin.
In her own Facebook post, Gbemisola, who is of the same political party as the governor, said such demolitions must stop.
