Senator Bukola Saraki: stoned in Ilorin

It is not a season of good times for Nigeria’s Senate President Bukola Saraki.

Just few days after he went through a humiliating trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal in Abuja over allegations of false declaration of assets,  protesting worshippers in Ilorin, Kwara state,  were unsparing today as they threw assorted missiles in his  direction at the Eid praying ground, tearing down an iron-barricade meant to shield him and other dignitaries.

Saraki had ruled the state between 2003 and 2011 and left a protege, AbdulFatah Ahmed, in charge since then.

Witnesses said the missile throwers were protesting  about the non-payment of outstanding salaries, with some alleging that the bailout funds were being used for “Abuja politics”

Ibrahim Sulu Gambari, Emir of Ilorin,  Bolaji Abdullahi, a former minister of sport; Abubakar Kawu Baraje, former acting national chairman of the PDP, and Razak Atunwa, former speaker of the House of Assembly were all in the VIP area of the Eid that was stoned by the protesters.

Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, observed his prayers at home in Share local government.

The attacks  prevented the Chief Imam from delivering his annual sermon just as the emir also abandoned his Sallah message.

Some of the worshippers who spoke with NAN, said they were only able to offer one of the two mandatory prayer rakats.

NAN reports that security operatives who accompanied the Senate President to the praying ground, had to throw tear gas and fire several shots, which sent worshippers running helter-skelter for safety while one of emir’s horsemen was injured in the melee.

The Public Relations Officer of the Kwara Police Command, Mr Ajayi Okasanmi, who spoke with newsmen immediately after the prayer, confirmed the attack on the Senate president.

He said the action was sparked by some miscreants who were looking for Sallah gift from the Senate President.

According to him, those behind the attack would be identified by Monday as arrests have been made in connection with the attack.

Okasanmi said the situation was promptly brought under control and the prayer resumed.

He said that a total of 2, 000 policemen and women were deployed across the state to keep law and order during the Eid prayers.

However, Dr Muideen Akorede, the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Governor on Media and Communication, however, said the attack was not targeted at the Senate President and Gov. Abdulfatah Ahmed.

Akorede, who corroborated the PPRO’s view, said the attack was carried out by miscreants who wanted to extort money from Saraki.

“Gov Ahmed was not even at the Eid praying ground; he was at his home in Share where he prayed; so the attack could not be targeted at him,” Akorede added.

Government also  debunked the idea that the protest was motivated by delayed salaries and suggested it was engineered by some political forces.

A statement by the governor’s spokesman, Muideen Akorede, said the majority of state and local government workers, including primary school teachers, had received their salaries.

He said others would be paid next week after the public holidays.