Former governor of Kwara State, Bukola Saraki, has assured the Ilorin community that the acquisition of some parcels of land in the metropolis by the government was done in the best interest of the community as part of the master-plan to transform the state capital into a model city.

The assurance came on the heels of an alleged protest by some members of Ilorin Descendants' Progressive Union (IDPU) over "the land policies" of the state government.

The said policies, according to sources, have conferred on the state government powers to allocate lands originally under the ownership rights of councils.

A member of the IDPU was quoted to have told Saraki at a closed-door meeting with the aggrieved members of the displeasure of the Ilorin people over the policies as areas originally described as exclusive rights of the natives could now be sold to non-natives by the government.

The meeting in question was held recently at the Ile Loke Ilorin residence of Saraki, who, according to the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Abdulfattah Ahmed, Alhaji Abdulwahab Oba, explained the land policies, which came into being during his tenure as the governor. The former governor also gave the explanation when he visited Kwara State pilgrims in Saudi Arabia for the Lesser Hajj.

Saraki, who represents Kwara Central Senatorial District in the Senate, said it was his administration that acquired the said land in public interest and not the incumbent Ahmed administration.

"As your son in Ilorin, I cannot carry out any policy or measure that would be injurious to the collective good of the people. The said parcels of land were acquired as part of my administration's effort to transform Ilorin to be the best town in Nigeria," he said.

Saraki, who is the chairman of Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology, appealed to the people to cooperate with the state government in its developmental efforts that will transform Ilorin and other parts of Kwara.