By Steve Oni- Ilorin
Kwara State House of Assembly has revoked the acquisition of Alimi Chalet by the former Governor of Kwara State, Dr Bukola Saraki.
The revocation followed the void of the acquisition, valuation and certification of Land title (Right of Occupancy) in respect of the chalet in the personal name of Dr Bukola Saraki for non compliance with the provisions of Pensions Law 2010.
These were part of the resolutions of the House, following the presentation of the report of the House Committee on Lands, Housing and Urban Development, by its Chairman, Hon. Omotayo Felix Awodiji at the Floor of the House.
Reading the resolutions of the House, Speaker Engr. Yakubu Danladi Salihu said the revocation became expedient to ensure an enduring end to all forms of illegalities and abnormalities to pave way for meaningful development of the state.
The House then urged the state government to immediately explore every available legal process to recover the chalet from the former Governor.
The Chairman of the House Committee on Land, Housing and Urban Development had while presenting his report observed among other things that the Alimi Chalet was purposely built by the state government as a Guest Chalet for the sitting governors and not transferable as exit package for any outgoing governor while the chalet, according to him, does not fit into the recommendations of the pension law of 2010.
He, however, explained that the House was not probing former Senate President but only mandated its standing Committee to investigate the ownership of Alimi Chalet.
Other members who spoke on the report eulogised the Committee for carrying out a thorough assignment and urged the House to adopt its recommendations with a view to recovering the chalet from a private hand.
The House also in its Tuesday’s Sitting, mandated its Committee on Health and Environment to investigate the current deplorable conditions of hospitals in the state with a view to proffering solutions to make hospitals in the state respond to the health needs of the people following a Matter of General Public Importance on the deplorable conditions of hospitals in the state, raised by member representing Essa/Shawo/Igboidun Constituency, Hon. Abdul Waheed Gbenga Yusuf, at the floor of the House.
The House equally in its Tuesday’s sitting received a message from Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq on why he withheld assent on Freedom of Information Bill passed by the 8th legislature in May this year.
But a source close to Saraki said: “What is the big deal about this bungalow? At least, government has since broken into the house long before now and the Deputy Governor had been living inside the bungalow. Did their report state that the property was illegally acquired? No, it is just that the Governor and his people are interested in the house and they can have it, if it makes them feel better.”
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