Re: IEDPU Denounces Sale of Eid Ground Rumour

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The attention of the Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union, the supreme socio-cultural organization of the people of Ilorin Emirate, has been drawn to a recent news item aired by the Radio Kwara and published by some National Dailies alleging that the National President of the Union, Hon. Justice Saka Yusuf, OFR, spoke with a team of journalists during which he described the suspended Urbanization Law of the Kwara state government as well-intentioned.

In her characteristic manner of avoiding unnecessary controversy, the union would have disregarded the News report but for its orchestration by the Kwara state government owned media and the negative effect such would have on unsuspecting members of the public.

Be that as it may, the organization is totally disappointed that in spite all her efforts at ensuring amicable resolution of the matter, attempts are being made here and there, by those who could be described as unpatriotic, to politicize the issue-at-hand. We have indeed restored too much confidence in ability of the state government to swiftly put-the-issue behind us but unfortunately it is as if the concerned authority has been playing game 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 existences of the emirate as a distinct policy. 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.

But that is not to say that the union or the community is at war or conflict with the constituted authority or it's conscientious functionaries as we are ever ready to engage in consultation, dialogue and even debate as well as ideological campaign (where and when necessary) which are the hallmarks of democracy, to ensure that the collective aspirations of Ilorin Emirate Community are given to deserved consideration and accorded due respect by those concerned. Not for anything but for the love of our people.

Before going further, we want to make it abundantly clear that no matter the situation or insinuation, the union would never allowed herself to be dragged into partisan politics. We have been and we shall continue to be an apolitical organization with many decades of rich history of struggle for the progress, unity and wellbeing of our people as we are also dedicated to the continuous protection of our peoples' interests at all time and wherever they may be.

The essence of this publication is therefore, to clearly straighten the record with a view to disabusing the minds of the good people of Ilorin Emirate and the members of general public who might have been erroneously misinformed by the said news report.

It is extremely essential to state that the National President or any other member of the union had never granted any press interview since her last Press Advert on the matter as published by the Nation as well as the Leadership Newspapers.

It is, therefore, regrettable and disappointing that an over-zealous and idle government functionary could rush to the press to report what was never said and thereby attempting to rubbish the polished and hard-earned reputation of the erudite jurist who has spent all his life serving our community, the state and the nation at large in several worthwhile capacities just to make himself relevant in a government that has scornfully rendered him redundant.

For the purpose of emphasis and the avoidance of doubt, the union wishes to categorically restate her stand on the highly-polemical Land Policy of the Kwara state government as contained in our position paper submitted directly to the Governor of Kwara state, Alhaji AbdulFatah Ahmed, on the 16th August, 2012.

The document-in-question specifically detested the import of the Kwara state Legal Notice No 17 of 2009 particularly as it declares the entire Ilorin Emirate as an urban area in view of its demonstrated capacity to deny the people of their inherited land or succession to customary title to their ancestral land as well as the right to repair existing residential buildings, erect new ones or farm even at their backyard without the consent of the Governor.

The union also in the paper, unambiguously, rejects the indiscriminate and wanton acquisition of land without dear definition of boundaries in simple language understandable by the customary land owners, 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 people of Ilorin emirate also made it clear in the memo that they also remain undelighted with the perennial re-allocation and sale of land acquired and used for public purpose to private individuals as in the case of the Flower Garden, which was re-allocated to a church, as well as the defunct NITEL land in Zango/Kulende area also re-allocated to another church!

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

It is, therefore, pertinent to say that the people of Ilorin Emirate would continue to detest, reject and spurn the compulsory and massive acquisition and mortgage of our land by the State Government for no other reason than the fact that land is limited and irreplaceable.

For the avoidance of doubt, we submit that the Ilorin Emirate Community shall continue to insist on the total reversal of the dreaded Land Policy. We do not want cosmetic suspension of the inclement Urbanization Law but a clear and non-negotiable return to the previous Land Policy which recognizes and encourages the survival of our people.

We must not round-off this memorandum without assuring our constituents, the very good people of Ilorin Emirate, that the union shall remain resolute, committed and steadfast on our stand not only on the issue of the Land Policy but to always reject any policy or programme that could be inimical to our collective will and progress.