• I was not attacked –Saraki
From Layi Olanrewaju, Ilorin
Disgruntled workers in Kwara State civil service almost disrupted Sallah prayers at the Eid praying ground in Ilorin, Kwara State yesterday.
Some workers showed their displeasure at being owed arrears of salaries, which were not paid before close of work on Wednesday. To drive home their anger, some worshippers threw missiles in the direction of dignitaries, including Senate President Bukola Saraki, yesterday at the Eid ground. While some of them complained about the non-payment of outstanding salaries, some alleged that the bailout funds were being used for “Abuja politics” — an insinuation thought to be in reference to Saraki, who is a former governor of the state. Ibrahim Sulu Gambari, Emir of Ilorin, was one of the dignitaries in attendance, along with Bolaji Abdullahi, former minister of sport; Abubakar Kawu Baraje, former acting national chairman of the PDP, and Razak Atunwa, former speaker of the House of Assembly.
Kwara State governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, was not at the praying ground when the incident happened. Ahmed reportedly observed his prayers at Share Local Government. An iron barricade designed to protect dignitaries was pulled down by the protesters.
In its reaction, the Kwara State Government denied claims that the protests were caused by delays in salary payment. A statement by the governor’s spokesman, Muideen Akorede, said the majority of state and local government workers, including primary school teachers, had received their salaries. He said others would be paid next week after the public holidays. Meanwhile, Saraki has denied being attacked at the Eid prayer ground yesterday.
His media adviser, Yusuf Olaniyonu dismissed claims that missiles hurled by disgruntled workers were aimed at the Senate President.
“The Senate President arrived at the venue this morning without any incident, prayed with other Muslim faithful, including the Emir of Ilorin, the Speaker, and a former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), among others.
“Before the Senate President left the prayer ground, he spoke to reporters who had asked him about his message for Nigerians to mark the Eid-el-Kabir.
We want to say that nothing can be further from the truth as the Senate President was never attacked nor was there any attempt made on his life to warrant him being ‘whisked away’ as reported by a section of the media.”