Date: 2015-09-25

The account of yesterday event at the  Eid praying ground has been as diverse  as the number of persons and media on the new media on both online and offline. Those hell-bent on seeing Bukola Saraki out as Senate President have lapped on the story to feed their vengeful mission. The account of the pro-Bukola has been contradictory, at times self indicting. The Kwara State APC admitted the incident happened but attributed it to outside influence - a worn out image management strategy. Bukola's media aides deny anything humiliating happened to the Senate President. This claim is easily vacated in the face of a video showing people shouting "olee  olee  when Dr Bukola was entering the Eid. The police on their part admit the event happened but said it  was carried out by miscreants.

Some have even insisted the incident prevented Dr Bukola Saraki  from observing his prayers at the Eid prayer ground . It was not true that he could not or was prevented from observing the prayer. With all sense of fairness Dr Bukola Saraki was at the Prayer ground. He prayed alongside other notable persons  like the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Alfa Belgore, Prof Oba Abdulraheem and the regular faces around Bukola Saraki .What is factual is  that, he was greeted with shout of "olee, olee. I saw that in a video. Newspapers reported he was stoned.

NOW THE STONING "CULTURE" IN ILORIN

There is an observable practice of stoning as protest tool in Ilorin This practice is  traceable to the stoning at the annual end of Ramadan  Ajiwere musicians’ competition popularly and locally referred to as “Challenge Ile Oba” The event held regularly in the  70s  until it was stopped in the early 80s. The stoning missiles are stuffed inside the flesh of the orange after the liquid has been sucked. Any of the musicians who is adjudged in the wisdom of the audience-crowd, to be dishing out substandard stuff, was given the orange-stone treatment. The ‘action’ would be preceded by a stern warning: sokale, sokale, come down from the stage. Refusal of the musician to obey the crowd’s order was taken to mean he preferred the humiliating option of the orange stone treatment.

The recent political era witnessed the historical stoning of Governor Mohammed Lawal, at the Central Mosque during the beginning of the battle of attrition between him and Dr Olusola Saraki. So also is the alleged stoning of Dr Olusola Saraki at his Agbaji Quarters that led him to boycott visiting the place for years

Outside of politics or event, was a mild stone throwing practice among teenagers courting young girls. This stone throwing practice is a form of communication​  when boys and girls are still at the courting stage. As a way of announcing his presence around the girl’s house without attracting the attention of the girl’s parent; the boy would toss some stones on the corrugated iron roof. The noise created by the “channel” of communication serves to inform the girl of the presence of the boy. It was a sign language used to effect in those days.

The story of the stoning of Dr Bukola Saraki at the eid prayer ground is the latest in the practice of stone throwing. No matter the argument, it is a detestable culture that ought to be discouraged. Though, I am not aware of a subtle encouragement of the practice by the cultural elites or cultural vigilantes, it has not been vigorously discouraged or condemned as well.  Responsible citizens especially in a town that claim frontline row among Muslims should not embrace stone throwing as standard of protest culture. It is a volatile practice that can claim intended and unintended victims.  When the Lawal stoning happened, Bolaji Abdullah dramatised the event in his Column when he was still with ThisDay. Today he was part of the Senate President’s entourage that was petted with the missile. The more things change, the more they remain the same. Or is it turn by turn?

  However, the masses need to be encouraged, empowered and guided to imbibe an enduring resistance culture. A culture of resistance to brazen rape of our commonwealth, culture of impunity and politics devoid of development in a form that is sustainable and non violent is   long over due among Kwarans and Nigerians generally.

Last line:

Some are still rumouring (actually hoping) that Dr Bukola  Saraki will be given another round of the treatment at the Jumat service today.

If  Bukola decides to be at the Jumaat service today, I don't expect a repeat of what happened at the Eid ground. What happened yesterday was LARGELY a result of the non-payment of salaries of LG workers and primary school teachers. The workers were hungry and justifiably angry. But as the drama was unfolding at the eid ground, workers were getting salary alert for the month of August. But if Bukola Saraki attends Jumaat Service and stoning happens again ...hmmm. .

The mere fact that the stone throwing and the shout of olee ,..olee happened in Ilorin is a solid sign of the state of discontent of the people towards Dr Bukola and the Sarakites. The sign must be read well and dispassionately.

Oba Abdulkadir La'aro is a Lecturer, Mass Communication Dept., University of Ilorin and a PhD Candidate at Universiti Utara Malaysia