The Kwara state government has demolished the late patriarch, Dr. Abubakar Olusola Sarakis’ home, popularly called ‘Ile Arúgbó’, in Ilorin, the state capital.
Newsheadline247 understands Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq led government commenced the demolition of the popular home of the late politician around 4:00 a.m after security operatives dispersed protesters including aged women who kept vigil to prevent demolition.
It was gathered that the government had on Wednesday around 2 a.m. tried to demolish the structure but was stopped by protesters.
The state government, however, fixed midnight for the demolition exercise to avoid a clash with Saraki’s loyalists.
Read Also Dreams never die – Akinlade rekindles desire to become Ogun governor
In December 2019, Governor AbdulRazaq announced his decision to revoke the late Olusola Saraki’s property owing to alleged illegality in its acquisition.
He said the land was originally designated for the construction of a secretariat and parking lot of the civil service clinic, but that it was unlawfully allocated to a private firm — Asa Investments Limited — without any record of payment to the state government.
But Dr. Bukola Saraki, former senate president, countered this statement, saying his late father lawfully acquired the land from the state government.
“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,” Saraki said.
Dr. Saraki further said in another statement that governor, AbdulRazaq was all out to wage war against the late patriarch, Dr. Abubakar Olusola Saraki and his entire family.
In a strong-worded message to the governor, Dr Saraki described AbdulRazak’s decision as moves to erase the legacies of the late Kwara political generalissimo and attempt to reduce the strength of the family’s political dynasty adding that the governor had crossed the line of ‘decency’.
