Date: 2020-01-22

A 29-member stakeholder's committee has been set up to wade into the ongoing dispute between the Kwara State Government and the Saraki family over the controversial demolition of Ile-Arugbo.

A statement signed by Olarewaju Ishowo in Ilorin on Tuesday said the Peace and Harmony Stakeholders took the decision at a meeting held at the residence of Justice Abdulkadir Orire, a retired Grand Khadi of Sharia Court of Appeal on Monday.

Ishowo said the 29-member committee comprised of retired Justices, Khadis of Sharia court, university lecturers, business men, administrators, retired civil servants, religious leaders and officials of the Ilorin Emirate Descendants Union.

He explained that the aim of setting up the committee was to broker peace and seek amicable settlement between the Saraki family and the state government.

Some members of the committee include Alhaji Umar Saro, Mr Lanre Sagaya, Alhaji Kola Belgore, Justice Mutalib Ambali (retd.), Khalifa Adabiyah, Alhaji Dan Bornu, Prof.Abubakar Aliagan, AIG Yisa Ojibara (retd.) and Mr Kola Ibrahim.

Others are Hajia Muitanat Sagaya, Hajia Funmilayo Gold, Hajia Halimat Yusuf, Alhaja Rihanat Arowolo, Dr Alimi Abdulrazaq, Senator Hairat Gwadabe, Alhaji L.A.K. Jimoh, Alhaji Kawu Baraje, Dr Ali Ahmad, Alhaji Shehu Gafar, Senator Gbemisola Saraki, IEDPU President, Vice-President, National Secretary, Alhaji Y.O. Ahmed (IEDPU's immediate past president), Justice Abdulkadir Orire and Justice I.A. Haroon (retd.).

However, a group from Kwara North had expressed opposition to the composition of the reconciliation committee which it said comprised mainly of indigenes of Ilorin.

A statement signed by Haliru Abdullahi, President of Kwara North Youth Focus, said that it was surprised that the membership of the committee was limited to a particular community.

Meanwhile, the Concern Citizens of Kwara State Yoruba has said it rejected the advice given by Justice Abiodu Adebara who was handling the case that it should be settled out of court.

The group in a statement signed by its President, Mr Michael Ologunde, said the case should be fought to a logical conclusion as it was between the state government and ASA Investment Limited and not between the state government and the Saraki family.

"If the land truly belongs to the Kwara State Government and the people of Kwara State, we want to know the true owner of the land whether the government, the late Dr Olusola Saraki or ASA Investment Limited and this should be done through the court," it added.