By Steve Oni, Ilorin
Armed policemen have been deployed in the large expanse of land belonging to the late Second Republic Senate Leader, Dr. Olusola Saraki, which the Kwara state government revoked last Friday.
The apprehensive residents of Ilofa, GRA, Ilorin, where the land is located, feared that the deployment of policemen in the area was preparatory to a possible demolition of the structures erected on the land.
Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq had announced plans to construct a new secretariat on the land which government said was obtained without any documentation, a claim the immediate past Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki denied.
Since the revocation order was issued last Friday, Abdulrazaq and Saraki had engaged in accusations and counter accusations over the land, which the state government said belongs to the Civil Service Clinic and which Saraki said belongs to his late father.
It was gathered that heavy security presence was noticed around the area as early as 6:00 am on Tuesday
It was further gathered that the presence of the armed policemen in the area might be to prevent the aged women, who usually thronged the place at the end of every month to receive monetary gifts from the Saraki family, from gaining entrance into the facility.
Reacting to the development, the spokesman for the state police command, Ajayi Okasanmi, said the deployment of the security men in the area was for security purpose, adding that “it is important to forestall the breakdown of law and order in the state, following perceived media war trailing the issue and various reactions from politicians on the matter.”
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