As stakeholders and a group of people imbued with the burning spirit of ensuring the interest of the emirate is adequately protected and that actions capable of posing a threat to the reigning peace in the state are avoided,  we therefore cannot but react to the articles  published by Mallam Is-haq Moddibo Kawu on  the 5th February and 21st February entitled ‘Let Us Collectively Save The Emir’s Palace’ and ‘Bukola Saraki Can Criticize President Jonathan But He Must Not Be Interrogated In Kwara’ respectively.

Kawu claims to be a journalist and a Muslim.  These identities should have fortified him with sound analytical mind and piety. Rather, he has become a peddler of falsehood.  He is indeed guilty of raising false alarm with mischievous intention and pre-calculated plan to incite the public against the government. Certainly these are characteristics, features and traits that are antithetical to the true spirit of the two stated platforms i.e journalism and Islam.

Journalists as the fourth estate of the realm are accorded status seemingly of an ‘oracle’. Views and opinions expressed by journalists are respected. On the religious lane too, salvation is also rooted solely on truthfulness and the mercy of Allah in Islam the religion he professes.

Muslims therefore regard liars as sinners dangerously preparing hellfire for themselves. Falsehood ordinarily should not find accommodation in a Muslim journalist. Asides from being a Muslim, Kawu is also a bonafide son of Ilorin, a city renowned for its special Islamic status.

Making accurate information available to the people is a sacred duty because whilst you have made use of your pen in dishing out wrong information and might possibly get the right perspective later, the harm can’t be undone as many would have been fed with wrong information. Therefore information dissemination is aimed at transmitting knowledge based on facts and values.

Ilorin Watch Group’s response to Mallam Moddibo Kawu’s article is not to celebrate or display grammatical flamboyancy but it is primarily aimed at setting records straight in respect of the issues raised in the write ups mentioned above.

The role of the media and the opposition is no doubt first and foremost to the people, to be the people’s watchdog and to ensure that the government of the day  not only does not overstep its constitutional bounds but also that it caters conscientiously for the best interests of the governed.

The right to these roles is not in contest but it must be done in a way that it would be crystal clear that such is devoid of sentiments and biases, transfer of aggression and settling of personal scores.

Mallam Kawu’s high level of exposure and breadth of vision is not in doubt. It is therefore disappointing that he still refers to the administration in Kwara state as that of Senator Bukola Saraki when there had been change of baton since 29th May, 2011.

These cynical  descriptions signal a thinly-veiled contempt for Senator Bukola Saraki and Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed. If this inference is correct then we are unapologetic in stating that our learned oga is blissfully ignorant of how government businesses are conducted. Being a Muslim, Mallam Kawu should know that Allah gives power and authority to whom He wills and the entrenchment and strengthening of the Saraki’s political leadership in the state would not have been possible if not Divinely sanctioned. It is not strange that situation arises where a recognized political leader handles political matters while the head of government focuses purely on administration. He should therefore note that to the Glory of God Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed is the Executive Governor of Kwara state a position he has occupied since 29thMay, 2011.

During the first republic while it was clear that Sir Ahmadu Bello was the NPC leader, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa was the head of government at the federal level, yet he as a matter of importance deferred to Bello on political matters.

It is nothing alien or strange. Political leaderships are established across the world where it is divinely sanctioned. Thus, we have the Bush family in USA, the Sir Seretse Khama in Bostwana, Lauret Kabila of Democratic Republic of Kong, the Nehru Ghandi of India and others.

There are questions that are germane; is Bukola Saraki the problem? Is an established political structure with proper leadership not beneficial to the people? Is there a Bukola Saraki party? The truth is that the existence of an established political structure has ensured peace in the state and saved it from crises attendant with primaries and congresses. There is peace because there is a meeting point and platform where such issues are resolved in-house.

Dr. Bukola Saraki is a member of a political party, the APC, a party with membership spread across states in the country and the party has a constitution guiding and regulating its activities. It is not unusual or odd that he is the state political leader. There can’t be a commander without troops. Saraki does not unilaterally pick people for positions. He consults with people and satisfies their yearnings. In how many states was it possible to replace serving elective office holders without rancour?

Dr. Bukola Saraki is the rallying point, he is the political leader and he ensures the yearnings of the people are met.

The most saddening aspect of Kawu’s misfired missile was the sarcastic insinuation that the palace of His Eminence Emir of Ilorin could be taken over and sold by government in the nearest future. We challenge Kawu to name anywhere in Nigeria where even the palace of a local chief had ever been taken over during the pre-colonial or post-colonial eras. The Emir’s palace is a monument and it is sacrilegious for anyone to even nurse such insinuation.

It is on record that Senator Bukola Saraki spearheaded efforts for the re-modeling of the Central Mosque which is now a sight to behold by all. May we refresh Kawu’s memory that while emissaries were sent to then governor of Kwara state, Dr. Bukola Saraki, in respect of the mosque, it was merely to seek his support for its renovation but he had a better idea and he introduced the idea of re-modeling the mosque and turning it to an architectural masterpiece and he ensured such was nurtured to fruition.

On the alleged planned sale of the Eid praying ground, it is most unfortunate that someone of Kawu’s caliber could descend so low as to join in the promotion and celebration of  such ‘beer parlour’ talk.

The reality is that government owns and has exclusive control over the use of land but no serious government would contemplate the idea of relocating eid ground without prior consultation and agreement. When the idea of relocating the NUJ Press Center was mooted it was a serious war between NUJ and the government before the plan could sail through.

Today, stakeholders in NUJ would secretly wish it had come earlier. It is also on record that the Army Barracks had to be relocated from Baboko to Sobi when it became expedient to do so. Mallam Kawu also devoted good time to recall fond memories of emotional attachment to the state legislative quarters and the premises of KWTV which he claimed had been sold and his lamentations seems real but a discerning mind knows that such is quite demagogic and laughable.

The present Amusement Park was the old eid praying ground and expansion and development made relocation to the present eid praying ground inevitable. Yet our brother Kawu did not show emotional attachment even when he was then much younger. A visit to Haram in Mecca shows expansion and relocation projects in Kaaba area almost on a yearly basis as the need arises.

Mallam Kawu is too experienced and informed to claim ignorance of tilting of government policies towards privatization. That is the trend and the in-thing globally. Kwara must not lag behind.  If anything the governor should be credited for his efforts at sustaining the tempo of internationalizing the state of harmony and for coming up with system of shoring up IGR without causing hardship to the people

Back to the issue of sales of land, it is known by all that states have been campaigning against total reliance on monthly federal allocations and that the need to shore up Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) has become imperative.

Kwara is gradually being transformed from a civil service state and no government would toy with the idea of a tax regime that would affect the people and make things difficult for them.

It is therefore not out of place for a system to be evolved to ensure good use and proper utilization of our natural resources and utilities and unlike what obtained in the past when people just allocated government lands to cronies almost at a giveaway price. Government has succeeded in changing the orientation of seeing government land as a mere gift and it is now one of the sources of revenue for the government.

More importantly it also has the security angle. Leaving a large expanse of land without use naturally makes it a fertile place and location for commission of crimes. We could recall that during the period the mysterious ‘cutlass’ people were on rampage in Ilorin, an unused  and underutilized expanse of land in Taiwo area was fingered as the take-off point for the criminals.

The sale of legislative quarters followed normal and due process, it was on occupiers’ as first buyers basis and there was nothing hidden about it. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo introduced the monetization policy to check wastes in government and it has assisted in blocking fund leakages. Apo Legislative Quarters in Abuja was sold years back.

For the purpose of enlightening the likes of Kawu, funds had been wasted on maintenance of such structures in the past. Yet they suffer neglect and suffer deterioration once considered  government property.

This is due to the poor maintenance culture we have when it involves government property. We challenge Kawu to tell us when an instance was recorded that ten of serving legislators ever resided in the quarters at same time. Kawu’s period as GM of KWTV ought to also make him know how large the premises are and what the level of development was in the area when he was there.

Possibly the next building to the station then could be 500 metres away.  Developments therefore made it imperative that such expanse of land left unused could be turned to a good source of revenue for government and also get prevented  from being used as possible take off  points for criminals or a place where ammunition are kept by people with criminal inclinations.

It is the duty of government to take decision in the best interest of the people and as such Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed would continue to use his ingenuity and private sector experience not only to make judicious use of state funds but also to look out for windows to shore up IGR without causing hardship to the people. In what way would an undeveloped portion of the land carved out for development purposes hamper the discharge of duties of KWTV staffs?

Or is Kawu insinuating that the sight of large expanse of land will assist them in the discharge of their duties? It is indeed ridiculous.  The truth is that development come in stages a city that was for years comfortable with single lane roads would later require dual carriages to ease traffic.  One would have expected Kawu to also show emotional attachment to the old post office roundabout and simply refuse to use the flyover.

Another unpardonable display of ignorance by Kawu was the reference made to Shoprite. It is assumed he would know that it is an international outfit, just like you have Ibis and Hilton Hotels, Max, Hub in major cities in the world, Shoprite is an international outfit and any serious government would do anything to encourage its location and establishment in the state.

The current busy Ilorin international Airport route was due to determination of the immediate past administration. Despite criticism, the government remained focus in encouraging airlines to fly the route and alas! It was done for few months before it became a destination for all.

At the risk of stating the obvious, Kwara Mall is owned by the Kwara State Government and a private company and has not been sold off to any private investor, group or individual. It is the height of absurdity for anyone to insinuate private ownership of such an international outfit.

Our International Airport, Shopping Mall and good infrastructure are attracting people to Kwara State. Many are willing to relocate to Ilorin because it boasts of features required of a first class city.

It is our advice to Mallam Moddibo Kawu to remember his status as a Muslim and as a journalist and stay away from promotion, celebration and pontification of falsehoods, concocted stories and ‘beer palour’ talks as we would all be held accountable for our deeds in the hereafter.

We also have few words for the ‘masters’ acting behind the scene since it is a clear case of ‘the hands of Esau and the voice of Jacob’.  Politics must be transformed from the old scenario of bitter wrangles into a healthy game of constructive political arguments and discussions.

Tunde Aluko is President, Ilorin Watch Group and writes from Ilorin.