The Muslim Eid al-Adha prayers in Ilorin, capital of Kwara state were this
morning disrupted as the country’s embattled Senate president, Bukola
Saraki was pelted with stones and pure water sachets as he arrived in his
car convoy.
The chaos caused by the stoning of the senate president who has been
charged with 13 counts of corruption and false asset declaration, caused the
prayers to be disrupted with the loud speakers not calling the prayers and
several thousands of faithfuls unable to say the prayers.
People were gathered to patiently stone him after the prayers. NewsRescue
reporters saw stones flying into the sky.
Eid in Ilorin; chaos as Saraki stoned
The Senate president was reportedly disguised or covered up and
whisked out of the grounds to save him from the anger of the crowds.
This was the first Eid Saraki was attending as senate president.
Kwara state has been slavishly under the control of Saraki and his late father
for decades.
“Shortly after the senate president and other dignitaries arrived, some people
started throwing stones and sachet waters in the direction of the Senate
President and other important people,” one witness told PREMIUM TIMES.
“They started chanting Ole Ole Ole (thief), “Pay us our salaries”, “Where is
our bailout money” and “Don’t use bailout money to service Abuja politics.”
Before long, the situation deteriorated, as some of the protesters started
destroying cars and other properties in sight.
One of the vehicles destroyed is an unmarked bus, with a federal government
of Nigeria number, belonging to the University of Ilorin.
“The protesters erroneously thought the bus was among vehicles in the
convoy of Senate President Saraki,” a witness said. He requested not to be
named for fear of reprisal.
The witness said as the violence continued, Mr. Saraki and other dignitaries
were whisked away by law enforcement amid heightened security cover.
Other dignitaries to which the angry worshippers directed their missiles
included the Emir of Ilorin, Ibrahim Sulu Gambari; the Chief Imam of Ilorin,
Muhammadu Bashir; former Minister of Sports, Bolaji Abdullahi; Speaker of
the Kwara State House of Assembly, Ali Ahmad; former Speaker of the Kwara
House of Assembly, Razak Atunwa( now a member of the House of
Representatives); a member of the House of Representatives, Amuda Kannike;
a former National Chairman of the PDP, Abubakar Kawu Baraje; among
others.