•ex-Senate President flogs Ilorin marketers, throws money indiscriminately
Former President of the Nigerian Senate, Bukola Saraki, has been knocked from different quarters for disrespecting elder statesman and Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, on Friday at the Ilorin Central Mosque during the juma’t service.
Saraki reportedly created some scenes at the mosque when he decided to sit on the space allocated for the President’s Chief of Staff in defiance of explanation by the mosque’s crew.
According to a source familiar with the development, Saraki hesitated and dragged the issue with the mosque crew who later successfully made him vacate the seat.
Apart from being an elder statesman and Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Gambari is a prince from the Sheikh Alimi royal family.
Ilorin indigenes who spoke to our reporter saw Saraki’s action as an aberration which they say further evidences his pride and arrogance.
Prof. Gambari was in Ilorin to witness the launch of the UNDP economic revitalisation programme in Kwara State.
Earlier, Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq had conducted Prof. Gambari, UNDP chief Mohamed Yahya, among others, to the Garment Factory and Kwara State Social Investment Programmes (KWASSIP) office in Ilorin.
The Governor then joined the Chief of Staff in observing the juma’t prayer at the Ilorin Central Mosque where Saraki had created the melodrama.
The day coincides with the 27th coronation anniversary of the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari.
Meanwhile, the Chief Imam of Ilorin warned Saraki to stop coming to the central mosque with thugs and hooligans who disrupt the prayer session.
The Imam handed the warning as Saraki causes commotion inside the central mosque where some thugs were chanting his name in search of money.
During the process of his convoy’a return from the Central Mosque which was monitored by our reporter, Saraki’s security personnel flogged Ilorin market women and some passersby who had to suffer such ignominy.
The action is a flashback to the days of the dynasty which was characterized by disrespect for the people and inhumane treatment.
Governor AbdulRazaq has created a new order where his convoy meanders through the streets without commotion, blaring of sirens and brazen disregard for the people.
Saraki also threw money at thugs chanting his praises, thereby causing restlessness in Ilorin as they scampered for the money.
Salman Abdulhafeez, a student, who witnessed the event said it was a dark day that showed disrespect for human dignity, violent tendencies and commotion.
