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. See: The Tyranny Of The Saraki Family And The Kwarans’ Struggle For Liberation, By Remi Oyeyemi
Update
“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.
