+How Their Fathers Began The Fight 46 Yrs Ago
Last year, when the result of the Kwara State governorship elections was announced and Alhaji Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq, the APC Guber candidate was declared winner, many people in Kwara knew that the Saraki’s were in big trouble.
Why? This was because of the age-long fight between these 2 big Ilorin families from time immemorial. The Abdulrazaq family & the Saraki’s have not been best of friends.
Both don’t see eye to eye. In fact, the new Kwara Governor, Alhaji Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq and former Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki don’t like themselves at all. And for very many years, both have not been on talking terms. They barely tolerate each other. It is in fact, an open knowledge among Kwara indigenes that the 2 don’t like each other.
The reasons for their animosity dates back many years, to the frosty relationship that existed between their dads. Till he died a few years ago, the relationship between late Dr. Olusola Saraki (popularly called Oloye) and Alhaji AGF Abdulrazaq was not cordial. But they tolerated each other as adults. Their differences date back to 1974 when Oloye dabbled into Kwara politics. Both are great men from Ilorin. And for decades, the 2 men dominated Ilorin political scene before their sons emerged to take over.
Recall that late Dr. Olusola Saraki was the Senate Leader in the 2nd Republic. And Alhaji AbdulGaniyu Folorunsho Abdulrazaq was once Nigeria’s Ambassador to Cote d’Ivoire. He is also the first lawyer from the North.
But believe it or not, both AGF Abdulrasaq, the first Mutawali of Ilorin, and late Olusola Saraki, who held the title of Waziri of Ilorin, used to be very good friends, in those good old days.
They were both jolly good fellows. Late Saraki was a dashing & accomplished medical doctor in Lagos, while AGF was an eminent lawyer who represented his people well.
In fact, for years, AGF Abdulrasaq was Dr. Olusola Saraki’s lawyer, especially during his legal battle with Chief Nathaniel Kotoye, over the ownership of the controlling shares in the defunct Societe Generale Bank in the 1980s. That was before late Chief Rotimi Williams took over representing Saraki
The 2 families, have also produced Senators and Governors i.e Bukola Saraki and now AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq.
While Oloye, the patriarch of the Saraki dynasty is no more, AGF, who is in his 90s is less visible now. He has taken a back seat.
The two prominent statesmen fell apart in the early ’70s when Oloye moved into Ilorin politics.
An insider revealed that it is all these undercurrents that fuelled the current crisis in the state, over the state government’s decision to destroy plots of landing belonging to Oloye Saraki. The current demolition of Oloye’s property has triggered a 2nd generation bitter rivalry between the 2 Ilorin families.
On Friday, December 27, Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman Abdulrasaq announced the Kwara government’s decision to takeover of the plots of land owned by the Saraki Family in Ilorin.
The governor said the land was originally meant for Government Secretariat and parking space of the Civil Service Clinic but was unlawfully allocated to the late Saraki’s private firm, Asa Investments Limited, without any record of payment to the state government.
The senior Saraki had built on the property a house and named it ‘Ile Arugbo’ (Elderly Peoples’ home). But Kwara Government said there was no Certificate of Occupancy issued in favour of Asa Investments Limited. The governor then withdrew the allocation of those plots of land to the firm.
He said the land was unlawfully appropriated contrary to the purpose for which it was meant. He then announced that the State government has now made provisions in the 2020 budget for the Secretariat to be built on the land, although its construction will spill over to 2021.
BUKOLA SARAKI’S VIEW
This move got Bukky Saraki angry.
The former Senate President said the Kwara Governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq has crossed the line of decency with his recent efforts to erase the legacies of his (Saraki’s) late father, Dr. Abubakar Olusola Saraki.
Saraki, in a statement he personally signed and released in Lagos, stated that the war of attrition waged against the legacy of his father and everything that belongs to the late politician simply portrayed the Governor as a man who lacks the sense of history and sets out only to fight the Saraki family but not to serve the interest of Kwarans.
“Yesterday night, the Kwara State Governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq finally showed his true colour when he announced his decision to revoke the ownership of a property rightfully held by my late father, Dr. Olusola Abubakar Saraki on Plots 1, 3 and 5 Ilofa Road, GRA, Ilorin popularly known as Ile Arugbo, (Old People’s home) which since the Second Republic, has always been used to host the weekly gathering of a multitude of aged people in the society who are provided food, money and health services, as part of the social welfare programme sponsored by the late politician. The tradition has since been maintained.
“Before now, this same Governor had invited all the members of the State House of Assembly and directed them to commence the process of amending the law to change the name of the State University which the last administration renamed after my late father, Dr. Abubakar Olusola Saraki. He then followed up on this act of vengeance by initiating a bill to rename the University and expunge the name of the late Dr. Abubakar Olusola Saraki. Now, he has decided to also revoke the titles of the landed property which belongs to the late politician. May be, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq thinks his will be the last administration in Kwara State but definitely, this is self-delusion.
“The property had been rightfully allocated to my late father under the name of one of his companies, Asa Investment Limited, since the 1980s and contrary to the claim of the Governor, the land was properly allocated and a Right of Occupancy title issued on it. It should be noted that the excuse given by Abdulrazaq in his revocation order holds no water since it is clear that this is the height of his vengeance against my father, Dr. Abubakar Olusola Saraki and I.
“Till today, many Kwarans have been wondering what problem the Governor has with the late Oloye Abubakar Olusola Saraki or what the late politician did to offend him. It is surprising that of all vacant plots of land in strategic places across the Ilorin township, the one that Abdulrahman found useful for his vengeful plan is the one owned by late Dr. Saraki. It is beyond comprehension why a Governor would set as his main agenda the objective of undermining and waging a war of attrition against a man who is no longer around.
“This action is clearly a manifestation of vengeance and it shows that this Governor is not out to serve any public purpose or pursue any development agenda. In his narrow-mindedness, he believes his victory at the polls is empowerment, entitlement and enablement to settle scores, provoke and pursue inter-family rivalry. Those who voted for the party in power in Kwara State and Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq obviously did not vote for the man to enable him wage war against Dr. Olusola Saraki and his legacies. They expected the development and fulfillment of promises.
“If the Governor believes people are not taking stock of his misguided and deceptive actions and that because he is in power, he could do whatever he likes, he must be a joker. Also, this war against the Sarakis will not successfully veil his unpreparedness for governance and divert people’s attention from the glaring lack of visionary, clear-cut plan to deliver on his empty promises to the people. He definitely cannot get away with all the atrocities he has been committing.
“Since the outcome of the elections in March, despite the fact that there are clear grounds to challenge the results in court, I have decided to demonstrate maturity, statesmanship and sportsmanship. I have chosen not to make comments on the policies, programmes and actions of the administration in Kwara State or that of its head. Also, I deliberately stayed away from the State to avoid creating any distraction for the administration. My decision is borne out of a genuine restraint to enable the administration settle down and fulfill its numerous promises to the people of our state.
“However, 7 months down the line, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq has shown that its cardinal Programme is to wage war against my late father and I. He has demonstrated that his only competence and astuteness is in the area of viciously assailing the late Oloye Saraki and I. Definitely, he is a man with no sense of history. Enough is enough. Now, he has crossed the line.
“Perhaps, I should let it be known that if Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq thinks he is taking all these actions to get at me, he is only deceiving himself. There is no basis for competition between us. Our paths cannot cross because the status that he is struggling to attain, Almighty Allah has given it to me many years before now. I became Governor 16 years before him and served out my constitutional limit of eight years. Within the period, I was Chairman of Nigerian Governors Forum. I have moved on to serve in the federal legislature and by the grace of God, I headed the National Assembly as the number three man in the country. No matter, how well he tried to rewrite history, it is on record that I left Kwara State a lot better than I met it. In fact, the University that he is struggling to rename was established by my administration as just one out of many legacies we left behind. This Governor needs a lot more efforts, years, Intelligence and resources to attain the level Allah has taken me, not to talk of my late father, Dr. Olusola Abubakar Saraki, the Senate Leader in the Second Republic. As Governor, I used the position to serve the people and during the period I did not dishonour his own father or anybody’s father for that matter.
”Just as I did after the election, my advise to Gov. Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq that he should devote his time and energy to providing good governance and genuine development of the state.
“It is well known to the Governor that I fear nobody, except Almighty Allah, the ultimate owner of all powers. With all his subterranean and open moves against my family, person and property, I remain unmoved. However, his open antagonism against my late father and his legacies is unwarranted and will not be tolerated. He has definitely gone beyond bounds as he cannot be allowed to ride roughshod on the deceased. In this war against my late father, he will not win.
“This Governor has shown that he is not a man who wants peace, co-operation and development. He believes that a constant attack on my family and I is all that he needs to win the hearts of Kwara people. The need to provide good governance is secondary to him.
“However, it should be made clear to Abdulrazaq and his administration that their attack on my late father cannot erase the legacies of Oloye. No evil design, negative plot or propaganda can successfully rewrite the history of Kwara State. This plot against my late father will not stand. And I will like to make it clear that we will contest this petty, malicious, dubious and bias action of a parochial, vicious and vindictive administration through all legal means. We are sure this is not an action taken in public interest. Rather, it is done in pursuit of a selfish and devious objective”, Saraki stated.
GBEMI SARAKI’S VIEW
Where does Gbemi Saraki, Bukola’s immediate younger sister who is now the Minister of State for Transportation, stand in all these. She too has spoken. She has taken a stand. She is unhappy.
According to her account, “at 3:00am Thursday 2nd of January 2020, the Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, gave orders to the Police to open fire on aged women, at the contested welfare home, popularly known as “Ile Arugbo” (Home for Aged), owned by my father, Dr. Abubakar Olusola Saraki.”
As a staunch and loyal member of APC, I have kept quiet to date on the happenings in my state, Kwara State. I had done this for a number of reasons including trying to “keep my head when all about me are losing theirs”. But all in all, I had kept quiet, as being a loyal member and supporter of the party, i did not want to get into any squabble with the Governor despite so many provocations.”
“Again, as a loyal and dedicated daughter of my father, Dr. Abubakar Olusola”
Saraki, whom I hold in very high esteem, I did not want to express my opinion on the propriety of the Governor’s recent political actions as it would be seen as biased because the late Waziri is my father.”
“However, given the turn of events and the violent nature of the Governor’s position, it is only right for me to speak now.”
“There might have been some elements within my party, APC, who wanted to change the OToGe narrative of the 2019 elections to be about the Sarakis, and not about what it was — the removal of a failing PDP Administration.”
“But clearly by some recent steps taken, especially with Thursday’s actions, Kwara State APC must be careful to not allow a few elements with their own agenda, other than governance, to turn their personal vendetta into the official position of APC in the State. They must not be allowed to hijack the narrative of what our party stands for.”
“The APC has, since its inception, preached and worked earnestly for genuine good governance, security, increased welfare, progress and development of the people, as exemplified by President Muhammadu Buhari, who in the face of direct provocation and deep personal attacks remains true to the oath he took to govern ALL Nigerians, in spite of allegiances.
That is why it is important that my silence is not misconstrued as tacit approval or support for the actions taken by the Governor.
As stated earlier, I chose to refrain from commenting on the onset of this landsaga and did so for three reasons:
I believed that this was a matter that would go through the rightful forum and due process to ascertain and establish my father’s legal rights or otherwise.
My family individually and/or collectively have NEVER derived and continue not to derive ANY commercial benefit from that piece of land. At the end ofthe day, what is on that land is nothing — no block of flats that the family is getting rent from; no office building, no factory, or any other commercial venture. Just a bungalow where the old women gather and get their basic needs attended to.”
“Nonetheless, were my father alive today, surely, he would have been saddened to see bulldozers in Ile Arugbo. However, I am comforted by the knowledge that my father’s good work and his respect, support and love for the aged, which was sadly lacking in the Governor’s activities of Thursday, simply cannot be erased by demolishing a bungalow. When it comes down to it, Ile Arugbo is a piece of bare land that holds symbolic value of what my father stood for — humanitarianism, and that doesn’t start nor end with a building”.
“But after the events of Thursday when the aged women were tear gassed and shot at in the wee hours of the morning (3:00AM), I do not want my silence to be misconstrued, as mischief makers have used that silence to attribute false statements allegedly made by me.
The level of force and violence that the Governor chose to adopt was totally unwarranted. What resistance to protest justifies firing live ammunition and tear gassing old women? Even my own personal home was not left out of the attack as numerous empty bullet shell casings and dispersed tear gas cannisters were found inside my home.
I feel that at this point not only as a child of the late Waziri but as a member of the APC, I need to speak. I do so not only as a daughter but as a member of the party, to ensure that those thousands of members of APC who are Sarakites that supported the OToGe Movement are not alienated. In addition, I do so to ensure that the resounding victory that APC enjoyed in Kwara is not short-lived or diminished.”
“Governments acquire properties, even compulsorily without necessarily resorting to unprovoked violent attacks in the dead of night. It is especially disrespectful to me personally, as a member of the APC since 2015, who welcomed and supported those who only joined us a couple of months to the elections, which includes the Governor himself, that my position as a member of the party was not given any consideration and/or regard when approaching this issue.”
“Furthermore, given how well and how long I have personally known the Governor beyond Kwara State, so much so that I have always regarded him as one of my older brothers. Even in the political arena, over the years, we have known each other as political opponents and allies and I have always accorded him respect which he has not accorded me.”
“As one of the APC leaders in the State, I have consulted broadly and have also sent messages appealing to party members not to be provoked by this unwarranted assault on my late father. I do this with all sense of responsibility so that party cohesion and unity is not undermined by arbitrariness to rush into an attempt to settle perceived old generational family political scores. Revenge cannot be a policy thrust of governance.
I am also using this opportunity to appeal to our teeming supporters to remain calm and poised and maintain peace in the face of unwarranted provocation. “Allah Bring about ease after difficulty” Q 65 vrs 7.
“I condemn in totality the actions taken on Thursday 2nd January 2020 by
Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq, especially unleashing terror and mayhem on innocent defenseless aged women simply exercising their right to peacefully protest.”
“We must stand up against vindictive politics, driven by envy, motivated by jealousy and practiced without integrity. Honour should be our code”.
