Like the old wine in a new bottle whose taste is always the same, the cold battle between Kwara state government and Ilorin Emirate Descendant Progressive Union (IEDPU) over the acquisition of land within the emirate axis has turned a new dimension.

There was an allegation against the government that it sponsored a false story that the union had agreed with government on the urban law which empowered it to take over the land.

Ilorin union, headed by Justice Saka Yusuf had however denied in a counter publication that there was no time he granted interview to journalists and said anything about the union yielding to the government.

A statement issued by Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Alhaji Oba Abdulwaheed disclosed that the people of Ilorin Emirate have dissociated themselves from the insinuation making the rounds that the Kwara state government intends to sell the Muslim praying ground and the Emir's palace.

According to the statement, Justice Yusuf was reported to have clarified that IEDPU never raised such accusation because there was no need to do so, adding that, "we never said that. We couldn't have said such a thing.  IEDPU never said the government wanted to sell the praying ground and the Emir's palace. Who will the government sell them to and for what purpose? May be the politicians are at work again."

The statement read in part: "The IEDPU president emphasized that the union is a non partisan one and would not involve in any act that could embarrass Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed or Senator Bukola Saraki.

Yusuf explained that the misunderstanding that ensued over the urbanization law was as a result of communication gap, adding that IEDPU's utmost concern was the interest of Ilorin Emirate and not that of being a watchdog of the government.

He added, "whatever happened was never a planned affair, but expression of our people's apprehension. He noted that the urbanization law as enacted by government was not properly understood by the people and urged government to do more of public enlightenment through well publicized public hearing and sensitization on its policies."

The national president of IEDPU however denied the entire story.

The publication entitled: "Re: IEDPU denounces sale of eid ground rumour," the retired jurist wondered why the state government would sponsor such story while he did not grant any interview.

He continued: "The organisation is totally disappointed that in spite of all her efforts to ensure an amicable resolution is reached on the issue, attempts are being made here and there, by those who could be described as unpatriotic, to politicize the issue at -hand. We have indeed reposed too much confidence in the ability of the state government to swiftly put -the- issue behind us but unfortunately it is as if the concerned authority has been playing games with the potentially-volatile matter.

"The report under review was and should be seen as a sacrilegious violation of the sacred cultural template of Ilorin. It was an unethical sensationalisation of a serious matter cardinal to the continuous existence of the Emirate as a distinct polity. It was also a disparage and a deliberate misrepresentation of a venerable senior citizen as well as a disdainful attempt to ignite unnecessary confusion in a community that cherishes harmony. It was to say the least a symptomatic display of professional misconduct and journalistic lethargy which is a pathological characteristic of either an unrepentant quack or a diabolical quisling."

Reinstating its belief in the scrapping of the urbanization law, the IEDPU leader said the people of Ilorin Emirate stand on their previous position that they reject the indiscriminate and wanton acquisition of land without clear definition of boundaries and without payment of fair compensation and devoid of due consideration to the original land-owners as in the case of Budo Osho, Malete and Lanwa among others.

"The organization also made it crystal clear her disappointment with the manner with which premises of educational institutions in the Emirate are balkanised and sold to private individuals. These institutions included the premier post-primary school of the state, the famous Government Secondary School(GSS) Ilorin, the farm centre within the hitherto premises of the Ministry of Agriculture as well as the Taoheed Nursery and Primary School, Ilorin, to mention but a few."

However, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in a statement issued and signed by its Director of Publicity, Alhaji Mosud Adebimpe linked the unresolved cold war to the opposition party in the state.

Adebimpe stated that the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) meant to cause public disaffection against the PDP administration of Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed by rekindling a resolved misunderstanding between the government and the Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union (IEDPU) over the suspended Urbanisation Law 2009.

The statement stated: "Kwara PDP, accused the ACN of attempting to destabilize the government by manipulating the public using sensitive issues that have been amicably settled by the concerned parties.

"As a responsive government, the PDP administration in the state has met with leaders and agreed unequivocally that there is not and there has never been a plan by the state government to sell the Eid praying ground to any individual or group. The meeting also agreed that the dispute over the implementation of the Urbanisation Act 2009 was due to a communication gap which has since been bridged. It is therefore mischievous and unpatriotic of the ACN and its cohorts in the opposition to heat the polity by scheming to unearth an issue that had been amicably resolved."

The party added that incitement was against the tenets of the law saying "PDP warned those it described as 'disgruntled elements who lack the capacity to add any value to governance in Kwara state to desist from their reprehensible act or face the wrath of the law as the issue will be reported to the police for investigation if the opposition continues to foment trouble in the state."

In its reaction, the state chairman of CAN, Mr. Kayode Olawepo said "Our response to PDP is that the party should endeavour to stand on the neck of its non-performing government to face the challenge of governance and be truthful in its dealings. This red-herring and growing phobia for opposition would do PDP no good."

As the cold war continues to re-echo between the warring parties, Governor Ahmed has also disclosed during an interaction with journalists that the government had discussed with the union and they have been told to write a memo on the controversial clauses in the urbanisation law before it would be re-forwarded to the House of Assembly for necessary amendment.

Nevertheless, since community has vowed to fight on, those that occupied the affected areas are living in fear over the possibility of losing the portion of land they acquired through the Bureau of Lands.