29-man stakeholders committee set up to resolve Ile-Arugbo crisis

A 29-man stakeholders committee has allegedly been set up to wade into the ongoing Ile-Arugbo dispute between the Kwara State government and the Saraki family.

It is recalled that the Ile-Arugbo, a landed property allegedly owned by the late political icon in the state, Dr Olusola Saraki, was demolished by agents of the state government on January 2, 2020.

The Tribune Online gathered that the committee, known as Peace and Harmony Stakeholders Committee, is headed by pioneer grand khadi of the state, Hon. Justice Abdulkadir Orire rtd. (Marafa Geri).

However, elders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State, including a sociopolitical youth group, Kwara North Youth Focus, have criticised the constitution of the 29-man crisis resolution committee.

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Speaking with the Tribune Online in Ilorin on Tuesday, one of the elders of the APC, Alhaji Adebayo Azeez, said that the committee is not necessary.

“This is a land originally owned by the state government. Every Kwaran, regardless of the senatorial district are entitled to enjoy and benefit from the land in question being the property of the state government.

Moreover, the land dispute is presently being addressed in court and we see no necessity to the constitution of such committee.

“The committee is aimed at distracting the governor who has deemed it fit on assumption of office to adequately cater for the interest of all Kwarans, irrespective of ethnicity, religion, political party or senatorial district.

“We will like to urge the executive governor to remain focused and be undistracted in protecting the interest of the entire Kwara populace”, he said.