Kwara House on 8-day recess as Saraki buried

SONY DSC

The Kwara House of Assembly on Wednesday adjourned sitting for eight days in honour of late Dr. Olusola Saraki, Second Republic Senate Leader, who died on Wednesday.

Saraki’s casket arrived Ilorin in a chartered flight Wednesday afternoon for burial.

The body was interred at his Ilofa, GRA residence in Ilorin at exactly 6:20 pm.

The corpse of the late politician arrived Ilorin International airport in an Overland airplane by 4.30pm amid a sea of heads that had thronged the airport to pay their last respect to the deceased. The Saraki family led by his wife, Florence, Senator Bukola, Senator Gbemisola and Olaolu had earlier arrived in a Rivers State aircraft.

The speaker of the house of representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal led the pack of members of the House of Representatives that attended the burial while the National PlanningMinister, Samsudeen Usman, led the federal government delegation, which included the Internal Affairs Minister, Comrade Abba Moro and the Minister of Sports, Bolaji Abdulahi. 

Other dignitaries that attended the burial included Senator Andy Uba, former Gombe state governor, Senator Danjuma Goje, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Alhaji Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, former acting National chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Abubakar Baraje, and his predecessor in office, Alhaji Haliru Bello Mohammed, Chief Jim Nwobodo, Dr. Wale Babalakin and Alhaji Kola Abiola.  

At the Eid praying ground, the chief imam of Ilorin, led the Janaza prayers at about 5.05pm.

The eid arena was filled to capacity as many supporters struggled to catch a glimpse of the corpse. It took several minutes before it was brought out of the ambulance..

Related News

Saraki’s casket arrives Ilorin for burial

The Speaker of the house, Rasaq Atunwa, announced the adjournment at the plenary session after announcing the demise of Saraki.

Atunwa, who ordered the suspension of all matters in the order paper for Wednesday, described the death of Saraki as “a rude shock.’’

The speaker, who shed tears during the session, directed members to observe two minutes silence in honour of the late politician and philanthropist.

Some of the legislators who paid tribute to the politician, described him as “political calculator and algebra,” in Kwara politics.

The member representing llorin East Constituency, Hajia Nimata Ibrahim, her counterpart for Ekiti Constituency, Mrs. Ebun Owolabi, wept on the floor of the house.

In their tribute, they described late Saraki as a father who contributed immensely to their career.
Other lawmakers, including Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) member, representing Ojomu Balogun Constituency, Tope Layonu, prayed God to grant the deceased eternal rest.

The house later adjourned sitting to 22 November.

The assembly flag was lowered at half staff after the adjournment as a sign of respect for the late politician.

Load more