Buhari Wades Into Saraki, Kwara Govt Feud Over Ile-Arugbo Demolition
POLITICS DIGEST – President Muhammadu Buhari has interfered into the feud between Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and former Senate President Bukola Saraki over the recent demolition of a house belonging to the Saraki family, Ile-Arugbo.
The President, said a source, set up a private investigative committee to examine the circumstances that warranted the demolition and report to him.
According to the source, President Buhari expressed concern about the crisis, which has dominated the media in the last two weeks.
The former Senate President and his younger sister, Gbemi Saraki, who is the Minister of State for Transportation, had chided Governor AbdulRazaq for the demolition.
The Sarakis said it was an affront on the memory of their father, Second Republic Senate President Olusola Saraki.
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But, the state government refuted the allegation, saying the land, which belonged to the state, was illegally transferred to the late politician by the Bukola Saraki administration.
The state government explained that the demolished structures were not meant for residence but a piece of land brought from an Ilorin family for a proposed state secretariat extension by the defunct military administration of Brig-Gen. David Bamigboye.
President Buhari’s intervention was premised on his concern for peace, unity and justice in Kwara, where power shifted from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in last year’s governorship election.
Although the source said the President had notified the governor about the private committee, he could not ascertain if he had also informed Bukola Saraki.
“I suspect that the President wants to foster cohesion in the party and government by setting up the panel. I suspect that he had taken note of the reaction of his minister, Gbemi Saraki, who complained that the governor did not inform her before the demolition, despite being in the same party and government with him. I am sure the President wants peace in Kwara.”
