Do not involve me in your self-inflicted shame – Gov AbdulRazaq sends stern warning to Saraki

AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, the Kwara State Governor has cautioned the former Senate President, Bukola Saraki to behave accordingly as expected from a Statesman.

TopNaija gathered that AbdulRazaq warned Saraki to move on from his self-inflicted embarrassment of being unable to demonstrate decorum, decency, and decent behavior.

The ex Senate President was warned while the governor was reacting to a statement by Saraki stating that he stayed away from the Ilorin Durbar for peace to reign.

Former governor of the state Saraki reportedly said in a statement by his Press Officer on Local Matters that he decided not to attend the event following the intervention of eminent Islamic scholars and community leaders appealing to him not to create a disturbance of peace in the ancient town.

He also said that his great popularity among the people made the state authorities reluctant to let him participate in the Durbar ceremony.

According to him, “So, for the sake of peace and the highest respect for the throne of Sheikh Alimi, he stayed off the Ilorin Durbar event today.

“Saraki’s decision not to attend was taken after respected traditional titleholders and top Islamic scholars appealed to him not to attend the event.

“This he disclosed after he was briefed that the government of AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq does not want him around the festival for their personal and political reasons.

“We understand that tremendous pressure was put on the Ilorin Emirates Council by the government of the state to stop the Waziri of Ilorin from attending the event. AbdulRazaq is jittery that the former governor, Dr Saraki, will steal the show as usual.

“The rejection of the AbdulRazaq-led government by the people is because it fails to eradicate poverty, provide quality leadership and the inability to deliver on good governance. We implore the governor to sit up and stop blaming Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki for the problem he created for himself and his government.

“Saraki, who is the highest ranked traditional titleholder of Ilorin, is staying away from the traditional festival for peace and orderliness. He is not responsible for the failure of Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq administration and should not be a nightmare or means to cover for the government’s failure.”

The government, however, opposed the statement, which it said was in bad faith, adding that the former Kwara State governor never attended Ilorin Durbar since five years ago, in 2019.

A statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Rafiu Ajakaye, said, “Senator Bukola Saraki should leave Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq out of his self-inflicted shame of not being able to hold himself to the standard expected of a statesman, who should exhibit decorum, decency, and good behaviour.

“The governor has repeatedly shown humility and a large heart to accommodate everyone to operate as they wish as bonafide citizens. He is not about to go low because of Senator Saraki’s provocative behaviour and intent to foul the atmosphere with his unstatesmanly conduct at public events.

“Repeatedly, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has demonstrated his belief in politics without bitterness through his all-inclusive politics that addresses the needs of all citizens in the state, irrespective of any differences.

“In a sustained demonstration of his statesmanship and large-heartedness, the governor shook hands with the former Senate president and other opposition politicians at the Ilorin Eid praying ground.”

It added that since the defeat of the Peoples Democratic Party by the All Progressives Congress in 2019, Saraki had never attended Durbar and would not see a reason for the sudden change of mind.