Kwara Government speaks on why Saraki’s ‘political home’ was demolished before dawn

The Kwara State Government has revealed why it demolished Saraki’s political home popularly known as “Ile Arúgbó” in Ilorin in the early hours of Thursday, January 2, 2020.

Kwara state’s commissioner of communications, Murtala Olanrewaju said the demolition began quite early to avoid ‘needless’ protests. He also debunked claims of the state government receiving a court order stopping the demolition as he appealed to residents of the state to remain calm.

The statement read in parts;

“The Kwara State Government early today began the physical reclamation of the plot of land bordering the civil service clinic in Ilorin.

“The reclamation exercise began in the early hours of Thursday to avoid any needless confrontation. Attempts by some persons to provoke government’s agents on lawful duty were resisted by the security agents who exercised the highest level of restraint and professionalism.

“Contrary to the claim that the State Government was served court papers on the matter, we state that no court paper has been served as at the time the government took steps to preserve what lawfully belongs to the people.

“Finally, we urge the people of the state to remain calm, peaceful, and be guided only by facts of the matter and not be drawn into an emotional outburst that is targeted at distracting the public from the issues at stake.

“While the administration is focused on restoring sanity to the state after years of barefaced impunity, we will do so within the limit of the law.”