Religious leaders in Ilorin Emirate have endorsed the chairman, Senate committee on Environment and Ecology, Dr. Bukola Saraki as the political leader of Kwara State.

This followed the open declaration of support for the junior Saraki’s political leadership of the state by the Chief Imam of Ilorin and its environ, Sheikh Muhammad Bashir Salihu.

Traditional rulers in the Emirate under the aegis of the Magaji and Alanguas forum had recently endorsed Saraki as the new political leader of the state following the death of his father, Dr. Abubakar Olusola Saraki in November, 2012.

Salihu while leading a special prayer session in Ilorin, Kwara state capital to mark the third year in office of Saraki as senator representing Kwara central district at the national assembly, described the former governor of the state as God’s chosen leader for the people of the state.

The chief Imam who acknowledged Saraki’s giant stride at developing the state during his eight years tenure as the governor of the state, urged all peace loving people of the state to accept him as the God’s chosen political leader of the state in the interest of development of the state.

He prayed Allah to continue to bestow the federal lawmaker the wisdom and sound health required to move the state to a more greater heights.

In his lecture, an Ilorin based Islamic cleric, Alhaji Abdulrasaq Adugba, admonished political office holders not to sell out their people for selfish interest when taking political decisions, warning that there is now high level of awareness amongst the electorate.

He also urged political office holders in the state in particular to imbibe the virtues of kindness, generosity, sincerity and love for the people as demonstrated by the late strong man of Kwara politics, Dr.Abubakar Oluola Saraki during his life time.

The cleric, however, charged the governed to always have respect for their leaders, those in positions of constituted authorities including traditional and religious leaders for peace to continue to reign supreme.

The prayer which was at the instance of the senator’s mandate constituency office under the leadership of Engineer Musa Yeketi, was attended by Secretary to the state government, Alhaji Isika Gold who represented the state governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, former Minister of Sports, Alhaji Bolaji Abdullahi, top government functionaries, leaders and members of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the state.

The cleric said the former governor’s political leadership was greater than that of his late father because he ( Bukola) had been sustaining the legacies.

He blamed the current challenges facing most north eastern states of Nigeria on lack of quality leadership, disregard for traditional and religious institutions which according to him, the senator had succeeded in entrenching in the politics of Kwara State.