A public library in the Ilorin West Local Government Area of Kwara State has been demolished by government officials on Tuesday.
The Nigerian Tribune gathered that the community library, located at Kuntu area, Agbo-Oba in the Ilorin metropolis and named after the former Senate Leader, late Dr Olusola Saraki, was demolished by officials of government.
It was also gathered that the library was built in the year 2000 by the administration of late Alhaji Gafar Mogaji of Ilorin West local government council area of the state.
It was also reported that students of the University of Ilorin, Kwara State Polytechnic and students of secondary schools had made use of the library since it was built.
At about 4.00 pm on Tuesday, some officials of the government from Ilorin West local government council area of the state were said to have moved to the site of the library and demolished the building.
Reacting to the development, the former Senate President and a son of the late Saraki, Dr Bukola Saraki, said that, “I just got the news that the major official assignment carried out by the governor of my state, Kwara, today is the demolition of an old public library named after my late dad, Dr Olusola Saraki.
“May Almighty Allah continue to retain a place for Oloye in Aljannah Firdaus.”
Also, the Minister of State on Transportation and a daughter of the late politician, Senator Gbemisola Rukayyah Saraki, said, “Yet again, today we find that the Governor of Kwara State’s focus is not on building up Kwara, but on demolishing buildings which were owned or named after my late father, the Waziri of Ilorin.
“No matter how many structures are demolished, Baba Saraki’s legacy can never be destroyed, because it lives in the hearts and minds of the great people of Kwara.
“May Allah continue to guide and protect us all.”
Meanwhile, in a statement credited to the chairman, Transition Implementation Committee (TIC) of Ilorin West, Abdulgafar Muktar, he said that:
“The facility is dilapidated and was serving as hideouts for some anti-social elements with consequences for public safety.
“The community appealed to the LG authorities to do something about it.
“The LG has moved in to remove parts of it in preparatory to rehabilitating the facility by adding an ICT centre for public use. After its reconstruction, it should retain the honorary name of Baba Saraki.
“CLARIFICATION: the facility, to be clear, does not belong to Baba Saraki. It is the property of Ilorin West LG named after Oloye. The owner is set to renovate it.
“No cause for alarm, please. The owner is fixing its property. And it will retain the honorary name earlier given to it after renovation.”
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