"SURELY THOSE WHO COME TO EQUITY MUST COME WITH CLEAN HANDS"

THE DEMOLITION OF ILE ARUGBO

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 ofthe 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:

(1) 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.

(2) 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.

(3) 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 ofthe 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 ofthe 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 defenceless aged women simply exercising their right to peacefully protest.

I call upon the Inspector General of Police to call the State Commissioner of Police to order — using security agencies and live ammunition to settle political and personal scores is NOT what the Buhari Administration is about.

We must stand up against vindictive politics, driven by envy, motivated by jealousy and practiced without integrity.

Honour should be our code.

SEN. GBEMISOLA RUQAYYAH SARAKI

Too little,too late

Kwara politics is funny. If you ask me , they will only keep on suffering. It seems in some states people vote for personality.

You can't serve two masters at a time, you are trying to pay your loyalty to the governor why he is destroying your father legacy.

yns4real:


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 ofthe 2019 elections to be about the Sarakis, and not about what it was — the removal of a failing PDP Administration.

Well spoken madam. But no reference was made to the ownership of the said land and it's master plan.

Baby please don't cry, he who brings ants infested wood should not blame the invasion of lizards. It is "otege' who campaigned vigorously and voted for its manifestation. That's the dividend of otege so please enjoy it

Oshin56:
You can't serve two masters at a time, you are trying to pay your loyalty to the governor why he is destroying your father legacy.

Fullstop

You are only a woman amongst a den of vicious men out to settle old scores with the help of federal might.

No one will hear your cry!
Besides, you are working with the political arsonists.

Everything has a price.

This beautiful intelligent lady just played into the hands of vindictive people calling themselves APC.

I wouldn't be disappointed.

Some youths would come here to defend Saraki.

Defending their oppressors while wailing about how bad things are.

I know the place.... I in fact had a close friend there. Frankly, it's very close to the land of the Civil Service Clinic. I wouldn't be surprised if it was "appropriated " by the Sarakis.

Let the Court decide!

the demolition was uncalled for

Its just an old building for old folks.
You claim to be serving the people, yet you are destroying their livelihood just because you want to get back at your political enemy.

This demolition wouldn't even hurt Oloye Saraki one bit...rather he would use it to gain sympathy from the masses...stupid move by the rascal governor

Even if you wanted to demolish it for something worthwile, atleast do it through a legal process and not this rascal style

I read somewhere on Facebook where someone called Gbemi a bastard for being silent on the demolition of his father's properties. To be sincere, APC members are mean and the level of inhumans in this party gone beyond fighting for the rights of the citizens. Some are naturally blinded by nepotism and they feel they can do anything since General Buhari has laid precedence for them. Only a fool and vagabond will be happy when his/her father's properties are being destroyed. I still believe there are many to come from Mr governor.

Bukola Saraki may be corrupt but we all know that ile arugbo was demolished to settle personal score, kudos to Gbemi. In charlie puth voice '...how can we not talk about family when family is all that we've got...'

We nairalanders no send her breaking of silence, the deed has been done.

This governor just destroyed history like that.. Someone just told me about the seven houses in Kwara just last year, that's how I heard about the ile arugbo.. But this governor just came and demolished it because of politics..lol.. APC and their normal intimidation style of ruling.. Land full everywhere but na this one concern him.
History that was there before Saraki's father.

SarakiBukola:


I wouldn't be disappointed.

Some youths would come here to defend Saraki.

Defending their oppressors while wailing about how bad things are.

I know the place.... I in fact had a close friend there. I wouldn't be surprised if it was "appropriated " by the Sarakis.

Let the Court decide!

Say something oga Bukola about your sister

You never see anything

Shey you think say you wise pass your brother

Gbemisola Saraki should look for the nearest bush and eat dry shi.t!!! Anyone who rides on the back of Otondo the Beast will definitely be digested in its belly.

Sorry gbemi....pele

Story

Foolish woman

I have not seen an evil party like APC that turn on its own people.

This is the revenge for Late Fmr. If you know you know. that ile arugbo is just like almajiri home used to camp aged women's that supposed to be receiving proper health care, sharing of 100 naira with 1 muddle of rice, this women would trek a distance of oshodi to iyanapaja, some faint on the road.

My people what goes around comes around.

On Nigeria artist voice that says WaKa JeJe, when you are in power not all toes you step on, bcs this administration many leader go hear am like banger.

It's a trying time for the Sarakis
Gbemi is in between the devil and the deep blue sea
I feel her pains

YES

'On the day of blood relations, friends would go'

- Buchi Emecheta in Bride Price

CuriousX:


Say something oga Bukola about your sister

Mesujamba ni