Thursday was another embarrassing day for the camp of Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki as angry worshippers attacked him, the Emir of Ilorin, Alh. Ibrahim Sulu Gambari and many political figures at the Eid Praying Ground in Ilorin in protest against the state of the economy of Kwara, The Nation reports.
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The Chief Imam of Ilorin, Alh. Muhammadu Bashir was not spared by the protesters who also carried out spontaneous mob action on ex-Minister Bolaji Abdullahi, the Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Ali Ahmad, ex-Speaker Razak Atunwa (now a member of the House of Representatives) Rep Amuda Kannike, a former National Chairman of the PDP, Alh. Kawu Baraje, the Taliban of Ilorin, Prof. Oba Abdulraheem, members of the State House of Assembly, all the Baloguns, Magajis and prominent leaders in Ilorin Emirate.
Although the prayer was scheduled for 10am, there was already tension as early as 8am at the Eid Praying Ground as most worshippers appeared set for showdown because initial sermon segment of the Sallah celebration fell on deaf ears.
The newspaper reports that as Saraki and others arrived the praying ground, intermittent shouts of “Ole! Ole!! Ole!!!(Thief, thief, thief) rented the air, while others shouted “Ebi n pa wa!” “Ebi yii tito Saraki!””A o ki run, e fun wa lounje” (We are hungry, enough of hunger Saraki, give us food, teach us how to fish).”
It further noted that the thunderous vituperations had hardly been subsided when stones and missiles were thrown at the dignitaries.
The police, security agents, and members of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, battled spiritedly to rein in the protesters who remained defiant. The police and security agents resorted to sporadic firing of teargas canisters.
Temporary calm was restored after about 30-minutes of the impasse, giving way for the observance of the two Nafilats (prayers). But as the dignitaries were filing out , the protesters reportedly resumed hurling missiles.
