By Omowumi Omotosho
A major protest broke out in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, on Tuesday as angry residents took to the streets to express their frustration over the deepening rift between Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara state and Senator Saliu Mustapha, who represents Kwara Central.
The demonstration drew a large crowd, including youths, women, and influential figures from across the Ilorin Emirate. Protesters marched through key roads, demanding an end to the political clash, which they claim is stalling crucial development efforts and disrupting governance in the state.
Chanting solidarity songs and carrying placards with messages such as “Enough of Political Witch-hunt,” “Don’t Sabotage Federal Projects,” “Ilorin Deserves Better,” and “Turaki is Working, Let Him Be,” the protesters accused the state government of deliberately obstructing key constituency projects facilitated by Senator Mustapha.
While addressing the press at the scene of the protest, a prominent figure from Ilorin East, Alhaji Mumini Alaya, condemned the situation, labeling it “a betrayal of public trust.” He lamented that ordinary citizens were bearing the brunt of a power tussle between two leaders who ought to be working together for the state’s progress.
“This is not about politics anymore. This is about our health, our roads, our children’s future. Senator Mustapha has attracted meaningful projects to our communities, and now they are being blocked for petty reasons. Enough is enough,”Alaya said.
At the center of the controversy lies the sudden suspension of a federal hospital renovation project in Ilorin East Local Government Area, an initiative spearheaded by Senator Saliu Mustapha to enhance healthcare access for underserved communities in the region.
It was allege that the project was brought to a halt following instructions from the council chairman, Lukman Agbelere, a staunch supporter of Abdulrazaq. Public outrage intensified after a video emerged online showing Agbelere addressing a gathering, stating that the renovation would not proceed because Senator Mustapha was considered “an enemy of the Governor.”
The footage, which quickly went viral, triggered a storm of criticism across Kwara Central, particularly in Gambari Ward I, home to the affected hospital and many low-income residents who rely heavily on its services.
A youth leader from the ward, Rukayat Jimoh, denounced the chairman’s remarks as “irresponsible, inflammatory, and a direct threat to community welfare.”
“People are sick, mothers are dying in childbirth, and the only facility we rely on has been left in ruins. And someone dares to say development should stop because of political rivalry? It’s unacceptable,” she said.
