Ilorin Emirate Council Dismisses Viral Video Showing Protest In Front Of Emir’s Palace

By Ayodele Oni

Feelers from the Kwara state capital indicate that the Emir Of Ilorin reportedly sneaked out of his palace as some protesters occupied it seeking for food.

Report, as shown in a viral video, indicated that on Saturday, there was chaos at the Emir’s palace in Ilorin, as the brunt of hardship faced by Nigerians worsens.

The protesters chanted “We are hungry, we need food,” as they  stormed the Emir’s palace in protest.

The protesters also called out the federal government during the demonstration saying, “The state is hungry.”

The Ilorin Emirate Council has reacted to the incident describing the viral video as not the true reflection.

In a statement, Mallam Abdulazeez Arowona, Spokesman to Emir of Ilorin and Chairman Kwara State Traditional Rulers Council said that the viral video was an old event.

“Our attention has been drawn to a video in circulation on social media platforms where some people are shouting and lamenting over poverty and hardship in front of the Emir’s Palace in Ilorin.

“We want to state categorically that the said video was part of the events that characterized and witnessed during the build-up to the 2019 general elections.

“The video does not have any connection with the current situation in the country and it would be recalled that in occasions of such, the Emir of Ilorin and Chairman Kwara Traditional Rulers Council,  Mai-Martaba Alhaji (Dr) Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari CFR, always express his concern on the need to ensure that peace and harmony continue to prevail in the society.

“At the height of the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, the emir expressed high level of concerns and joined governments at all levels in the campaign towards ensuring that the unfortunate situation was contained

“He also played frontline roles in championing the pains and interests of the masses during the scarcity of Naira currency which inflicted hardship nationwide with no exemption to anyone irrespective of social, political and economic status.

“On the current economic hardship, the Emir and his colleagues at the Kwara State Traditional Rulers Council level are engaging government at all levels on the need to continue to improve on the welfare, security and social life of the people of the state with commendations to the state government for being responsive to masses-oriented issues.

“We thereby appeal to the general public to disregard the video in circulation in order to avoid any misrepresentation of the scenario vis a vis the location of the gathering as reflected in the video, even as he plead with the people of Ilorin and Kwara State at large to remain peaceful and pray always.”