The peace and historical stability of the Ilorin Emirate may be under threat following what has been described as a “protracted envy” evolved into a bitter rivalry between the families of former Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, and the Executive Governor of Kwara State, Mallam Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq.
This alarm was raised on Saturday by the Alaro family of Ilorin during a world press conference held at Popo Giwa, Ilorin.
The family, which shares direct maternal blood ties with the Sarakis, warned that the escalating hostility and revisionist narratives ahead of the 2027 general elections could undermine the heritage of the ancient city.
Addressing newsmen on behalf of the family, Alhaji Muritala Saka Alaro clarified that their intervention was not as outsiders but as stakeholders. He traced the family’s roots to the Saraki patriarch, Alhaji Muktar Saraki (Baba Abidjan), through his first daughter, Alhaja Humulquthum Akanke Alaro.
“We know ourselves, and we know the antecedents of every family in this city,” Alhaji Alaro stated.
“In Ilorin, lineage is not merely about origin, it is about contribution, consistency, and character over time. It is therefore troubling when individuals attempt to rewrite history or create artificial divisions for short-term political gains.” He said.
The family expressed deep concern over the sustained attempts to link Dr. Bukola Saraki to the 2018 Offa robbery case, a matter they noted has already seen the conviction of the actual perpetrators by the courts.
Describing the narrative as “weaponized propaganda,” the Alaro family challenged the Abdulrazaq family to a comparison of service records rather than character assassination.
“In the absence of any comparable record of service, why is there a sustained attempt to dislodge this family by associating it with the Offa robbery case? Why the silence of key stakeholders, including the Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union (IEDPU), on an issue that strikes at the cohesion of our community?” the statement said.
In a bold move, the Alaro family called on the Waziri Ngeri of Ilorin, Dr. Bukola Saraki, to immediately institute legal action against Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq and the Kwara State Government for defamation.
The family further issued a resolution, stating, “Should Dr. Saraki choose not to act, we, the Alaro family, will take it upon ourselves to institute legal proceedings against Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq and the Kwara State Government if it is established that the Offa robbery has no link to the Waziri of Ilorin.”
The family also took a swipe at historical claims suggesting the Saraki family originated from Abeokuta, dismissing such tales as “products of envy” that surfaced during the lifetime of the late Dr. Olusola Saraki and resurfaced in 2019.
Concluding the briefing, Alhaji Alaro appealed to the Emir of Ilorin, religious leaders, and the IEDPU to break their silence and defend the truth and justice of the Emirate’s history.
“Silence, at a time like this, can easily be misinterpreted as consent. We must not allow falsehood to define our collective history. The responsibility to preserve the peace and dignity of Ilorin rests on all of us,” he added.
