Saraki chooses peace, declines attendance at Ilorin durbar
The President of the 8th Senate, who also hold the title of Waziri Ngeri of Ilorin, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has reaffirmed his deep respect and love for the Ilorin Emirate Community and his unwavering commitment to maintaining peace. In light of this, he has decided to abstain from attending the Ilorin Durbar event today.
In a statement made available by his Press Officer on Local Matters Abdulganiyu Abdulqadir in Ilorin on Wednesday, Dr Saraki made this decision following appeals from respected traditional title holders and top Islamic scholars who advised him not to attend the event. This counsel came after it was conveyed to him that the administration of Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq preferred his absence from the festival due to personal and political reasons.
“We understand that significant pressure was exerted on the Ilorin Emirate Council by the state government to prevent the Waziri of Ilorin from attending the event. Governor Abdulrazaq is concerned that the former Governor, Dr Saraki, might outshine him as usual,” He said.
He criticized the current administration, attributing its rejection by the people to its failure to eradicate poverty, provide quality leadership, and deliver good governance.
He urged Governor Abdulrazaq to address these issues rather than blaming him for the challenges faced by his administration.
As the highest-ranked traditional title holder of Ilorin, he emphasized that his decision to stay away from the traditional festival was made to preserve peace and order. The statement clarified that the Waziri Ngeri should not be scapegoated for the failures of the Abdulrazaq administration.
The Statement noted that the Waziri Ngeri was initially eager to join the peace-loving people of the Emirate in celebrating the traditional festival until the government’s intervention to prevent his attendance.
“Regrettably, I wish to announce that for peace and tranquility, I am staying away from the Durbar celebration this year,” He expressed.
He extended his best wishes to the organizers of this year’s Durbar, hoping for a successful event and urging them to fulfill the promises made during the planning stages.
“I wish our people a happy celebration and many more to come. I implore us to celebrate with moderation and to avoid any actions that could disrupt peace and order in the state,” he added.
