The President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, was on Thursday stoned by angry worshippers at the Yidi Ground, Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.
The Chief Imam of Ilorin, Alh. Muhammadu Bashir was not spared the wrath of the protesters.
Others who were victims of the spontaneous mob action were ex- Minister Bolaji Abdullahi, the Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Ali Ahmad, ex-Speaker Razak Atunwa ( now a member of the House of Representatives) Rep Amuda Kannike, a former National Chairman of the PDP, Alh. Kawu Baraje, the Taliban of Ilorin, Prof. Oba Abdulraheem, members of the State House of Assembly, all the Baloguns, Magajis and prominent leaders in Ilorin Emirate.
The protesters were said to be angry because of non-utilization of the bail out funds given to the state by the Federal Government to offset workers’ salaries.
They alleged that the bail out funds were used to offset the bill incurred on crowning Saraki as the President of the Senate.
Although the prayer was fixed for 10am, there was tension as early as 8am at the Eid Praying Ground as it was evident that most worshippers were out for showdown because initial sermon segment of the Sallah celebration fell on deaf ears.
The state Governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, had during the week directed that civil servants, especially those at the local government level, should be paid their salaries.
However, some equally alleged that the worshippers were still protesting the alleged sale of a large portion of the praying ground by Saraki.
It was learnt that indigenes of Ilorin based in Abuja had expressed anger at the Senate president when he showed up after his election to pray alongside President Muhammadu Buhari at the National Mosque in Abuja.
Some of them, it was learnt, had vowed to “show him” their other side when they gather for the Eid prayers.
The alleged sale of the praying ground had been an issue over the years.
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