2019: Magajis/Alanguas Forum plans unity summit for Saraki, Emirate candidates
…holds talk with Dr. Amuda Aluko, Ayinla Folorunso, Yinka Aluko, others
By Mumini AbdulKareem
The Magajis and Alanguas Forum last night continued its efforts to unite the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki with other prominent indigenes of the Emirate,National Pilot, has learnt.
The forum which commenced the move about two weeks ago is reportedly planning to hold a unity summit involving Saraki and all other emirate indigenes across all the political parties in the state before the forthcoming election with the interest of the emirate, the major agenda.
According to findings by this reporter, although no date has been fixed for the proposed summit yet, the leadership of the forum which cut across Kwara Central and Kwara North, is presently working on modalities for the invitation to ensure everybody irrespective of political affiliation is present.
The community head were reportedly spurred to action following the alleged divisive comments from the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed over the fallout of the last bye-election for Irepodun/Ekiti/Oke-Ero/Isin federal constituency in Kwara South.
Alhaji Mohammed while reacting to the victory in a national daily had described the APC victory as the defeat of the “Berlin Wall” of Kwara politics, a statement, the Magaji Nda of Ilorin and Secretary General of the Forum, Alhaji Solihu Woru Mohammed said was tantamount to a declaration of war by Lai Mohammed and the APC with the Emirate.
Reliable sources close to the leadership of the forum who confided in National Pilot because they were not authorised to speak officially to the press on the matter said what they are looking at is an all inclusive summit that will be “frank, soul searching and forgiving” in order to find a common ground among participants.
One of the sources said the discussion on the issue so far centred on the need to hold “a very frank deliberation where all parties will express whatever grievance they might have nursed against their counterpart with genuine solution and modalities for real reconciliation.
“This is not about parties or political affiliation. The perception is that there is a clandestine move by the presidency and some cabal to use our sons especially the politicians among them to cause chaos and division in the emirate.
“The Forum believes and is aware that they are making the issue to look as if they love the Emirate more than the indigenes or Saraki. But that is just a decoy. What they are really after is getting rid of the Emirate system through any means necessary and they have vowed to resist that”, he added.
Another source who also spoke on the issue noted that the move by the community heads has the blessing of many top indigenes to see that the interest of the emirate tops the agenda for next year’s election rather than any plan to defeat Saraki at all cost.
Meanwhile, the forum on Tuesday held talks with the Tafida of Ilorin, Dr Amuda Aluko, APC gubernatorial aspirant, Ayinla Folorunsho and APC senatorial aspirant, Hon Yinka Aluko.
The meeting, it was gathered, was said to be revealing and fruitful. Although, it could not be confirmed last night the venue and time of the separate meetings, some of the candidates were reportedly spoken to on the mobile phone.
APC governorship aspirant, Amb. Yahaya Seriki has also been pencilled down as one of those to meet, latest next week.
Recall that the forum this week met with former chairman of the Federal Character Commission (FCC), Prof Shuaib AbdulRaheem Oba, former minister of National Planning, Prof Abubakar Olanrewaju Suleiman and former PDP Ag. National Chairman, Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje.
Other opposition politicians also in the pipeline include former member of the House of Representatives for Ilorin West/Asa, Hon Moshood Mustapha and the proprietor of Sobi FM, Alhaji Lukman Mustapha.
