A youth group, Concerned Kwara Youths, has raised the alarm over an alleged plot by the Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, to instigate protests against a former Governor of the state and ex-President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki.
The group, in a statement on Wednesday, said the protests are to be staged across the entire state and allegedly coordinated by one Chief Tunde.
The focus of the protest, according to the group, will be on the alleged sale of government properties of the State Government by the Administrations of Saraki and the immediate past Governor of the State, AbdulFatah Ahmed.
The statement said: “Information reaching us from sources within the Kwara State Government House has it that the State Government is sponsoring a state-wide protest against former Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki and immediate past Kwara Governor, Dr Abdulfatah Ahmed over alleged unlawful sale of government properties.
“We learnt that the state-wide protest, which is to be staged in few days time is targeted at inciting the public against the duo of Saraki and Maigida and also to tarnish their image. The protest, we also learnt, was to divert attention from the Ile Arugbo demolition saga that has become a national issue of sort and has caused unending backlash and bad publicity for the present government. And the Governor is definitely not happy with this.
“It was gathered that Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq has released huge sum of taxpayers money running into millions of naira to prosecute this arrangee protest, which is being coordinated by one Chief Tunde.
“Our fear and concern is that this arrangee protest can cause public disturbance, crisis and large-scale violence within the State, as supporters of the State Government and that of Dr Bukola Saraki and former Governor Ahmed could clash during such protest. This is detrimental to the peace and harmony Kwara is reputed for.
“If an individual is accused of selling government properties illegally, the reasonable and lawful thing to do, is to carry out investigation and charge the person to court for prosecution, and not organising any arrangee protest or subjecting that person to media trial. Two wrongs do not make a right.
“We, therefore, in the interest of peace, ask Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq to halt this planned protest that can cause civil unrest and should recover millions of taxpayers’ money he has released for this purpose.
“Traditional and spiritual leaders are also enjoined to call Mr Governor to order. The continued peace and harmony of Kwara is our collective responsibility and we must not allow anything to affect it.”
