The President of the Senate , Dr Bukola Saraki hails from Ilorin, the Kwara state capital, the Supreme Court ruling that gave the Kwara state former governor a clean bill of health was naturally expected to give birth to reactions . We gathered that scores of loyalists and supporters of the Senate President marched through the major streets of Ilorin on Friday to celebrate Saraki’s Supreme Court victory. The Ilorin Emirate Community under the leadership of the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu Gambari also offered special prayers to show gratitude to God over the verdict. We learned that the special prayer session which was led by the Chief Imam of Ilorin, Sheik Muhammad Bashir was held immediately after the Friday’s Jumat service at the Ilorin Central Mosque, Bashir sought for Allah’s continued guidance and protection over Saraki and elevation. Women, youths and loyalists of the Senate President had besieged the Emir of Ilorin’s palace immediately the news of the court victory spread soon in order to share the joyful moment with the monarch. Speaking with reporters, a youth leader, Alhaji Abdulfatai Solagberu said the youths were overwhelmed with joy over the court victory which has finally got Saraki absolved of wrongdoings regarding the declaration of his assets. The youths couldn’t have according to him done less because of the passion the Senate President has for their growth and development. He recalled how Saraki has consistently empowered many youths and facilitated job opportunities for them both at federal and the state levels . Solagberu thanked the judiciary for being an unbiased umpire stating that the apex court’s verdict has shown that the judiciary is indeed the last hope of the common man. Also speaking, the leader of Kwara market women, Alhaja Nike Lambe who thanked the Emir and men of goodwill who she noted stood with Saraki whilst his ordeals lasted also assured the Senate President of the continued support of Kwara women, noting that Saraki has empowered many women through his numerous empowerment schemes since his first election as Kwara state governor in 2003. In his remarks, the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim- Sulu- Gambari hailed the Supreme Court’s verdict, he also thanked them for their show of love and affection for Saraki who he described as his ‘beloved son’. The monarch who said he is proud of Saraki’s achievements as governor and Senate President, prayed for his elevation , sound health and long life. Meanwhile , the Kwara state governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, has also in a statement by his media aide Abdulwahab Oba hailed the Supreme Court verdict . Ahmed described the apex court as the bastion of democracy in the country and said its judgment has reinforced the belief that the judiciary remains the hope of the common man. The Kwara state governor who submitted that the judgement has vindicated the Senate President and had him presented as a trustworthy and patriotic Nigerian that will do everything necessary to take the country to an enviable height, he also recalled that throughout the duration of the legal battle , Saraki noticeably remained unperturbed, unshaken and committed to providing purposeful leadership as the Chairman of the National Assembly. ‘What the judgment has done is to re-energize the common man’s hope and belief in the judiciary. It is the only hope for a better and free Nigeria. The judgement is a watershed in Senator Bukola Saraki’s political journey and it will lay his political persecution to rest’ he said. Speaker , Kwara state House of Assembly , Dr Ahmad Ali has also through his media aide Shuaib Abdul Kadir congratulated the Senate President on his court victory and lamented what he referred to as the vilification the Kwara state former governor had been made to face in a statement made available to Beth News He also alleged that there are people who desperately want to exterminate Saraki’s political career for no just cause. ‘We thank the judiciary for withstanding the pressures and standing by the truth and the weak. Because he is innocent, the trial court, Court of Appeal and now the Supreme Court have discharged and acquitted him. Saraki is probably the first politician in the world that is vilified the most by his own political party. We were led to believe that Saraki was going through a fair, run-of-the-mill trial superintended by people with integrity. It was a hoax. Valuable man hour and stupendous amount of public funds were wasted on what the Supreme Court referred to as a ‘forensic somersault’. During the similar case of FRN V. Tinubu, the then Jonathan Administration never appealed the acquittal of the defendant, despite the fact that he was a member of the opposition. Also, the fact that the courts threw out the charges against Saraki unanimously based only on his no-case submission and before he opened his defence shows that the trial was done in bad faith’ he stated
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