By our correspondent
The Kwara state government has demolished the Sarakis’ political home better known as ‘Ile Arúgbó’ in Ilorin.
The Demolition of the building on Thursday elicited protests by the people of Ilorin, including residents within the complex, both young and old, who criticized the government for taking such a move.
It will be recalled that AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, the state governor, in December had announced his decision to revoke the late Olusola Saraki’s property citing to alleged illegality in its acquisition.
The state government had claimed that the land was originally designated for the construction of a secretariat and parking lot of the civil service clinic, but that it was unlawfully allocated to a private firm — Asa Investments Limited — without any record of payment to the state government. An allegation which Bukola Saraki, the former Senate President has since countered.
According to him, “The property had been rightfully allocated to my late father under the name of one of his companies, Asa Investment Limited, since the 1980s and contrary to the claim of the Governor, the land was properly allocated and a Right of Occupancy title issued on it.”