Date: 2019-12-31

Member of the National Executive Council (NEC) of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Issa Aremu, has urged Kwara State Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq to have a rethink on his reported revocation plan of a portion of land belonging to the late politician, Dr. Olusola Saraki.

The state government had last week said the land in question was originally meant for government secretariat and parking space of the Civil Service Clinic but "was unlawfully allocated to a private firm, Asa Investments Limited, without any record of payment to the state government," adding: "No certificate of occupancy was ever issued in favour of the firm."

Aremu observed that the land revocation might constitute "unnecessary distraction" for Governor Abdulrazaq’s administration, which he said had commendably hit the ground running in terms of executing programmes and projects that have direct positive impact on the lives of Kwarans. According to the labour leader, the revocation of land belonging to the late Olusola Saraki was "an unnecessary and avoidable blunt on the good developmental news from the state" adding that the governor should remain focused and avoid distractions.

Aremu urged the governor to combine what he called "his acknowledged humility, simplicity and modesty with forgiveness and reconciliation in governance."

Read Also: Group condemns revocation of Saraki's land Aremu recalled that it was an unprecedented bipartisan popular mobilisation, which terminated 16 years of PDP rule in Kwara State during the 2019 election, adding that the government should avoid the temptation of "governance by conflict of personalities and old scores," which he claimed had bedeviled a number of states.

But in its reaction, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) described the revocation of the land as a further demonstration of Governor Abdulrazaq's vindictiveness and vendetta mission against the Saraki family.

PDP Chairman in the state, Hon Kola Shittu, noted that the action of the governor did not in anyway reflect the interest of Kwarans, adding that such move was capable of creating rivalry and crisis among people of Ilorin in particular and the state in general.

"The Kwara PDP maintains that there is no basis or justification for the Kwara State Government to revoke the land, which was duly acquired many years ago by the late Dr Abubakar Olusola Saraki. This is a great error on the part of Governor Abdulrazaq and greater disservice to the memory of Baba Oloye who during his lifetime made sacrifices and contributions to the development of not only Ilorin Emirate but Kwara as a whole and even beyond."

"As it is well known to the members of the public, the landed property houses the popular Ile-Arugbo, where aged people used to converge to receive food, financial support and healthcare services sponsored by the late politician and philantropist; a tradition that has remained unbroken years after Baba’s demise as it has been sustained by his son, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki CON.

"The widespread condemnation that has greeted the revocation of the property is a clear indication that the Governor's move is not in tandem with the interest of the people of Kwara. He is, therefore, advised to listen to voice of reason and have a rethink."