Former Minister of Youth and Sport Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi has again put his claim of being an Ilorin indigene to question with his undignified outburst and careless vituperation against the Turaki of Ilorin Mallam Saliu Mustapha who is incidentally jostling for the Kwara Central senatorial seat with him in the coming election.

Bolaji despite touting himself as ‘omoluabi’ threw to the bin all known omoluabi ethos to attack the Turaki. That’s not who we are in Ilorin. In our culture, we cherish relationship. Despite our differences, we don’t do gutter fight. I’ve observed the Turaki to have resisted from confronting Bolaji Abdullahi until his latest outburst. Bolaji on the other hand keeps dragging the Turaki. He even unleashes some mannerless boys who are attack dogs to spread all manner of hate and malice against the Turaki.

Bolaji Abdullahi surely does not know our realities in Ilorin. Over this reason, people barely see him as part of us. He can’t point out to anything impactful or significant he has done to contribute to the growth of Ilorin emirate. Yet he is bent on attacking those spending their hard-earned resources to do so. All his big ideas are big-for-nothing just like the Turaki has remarked in his response.

I urge the Turaki to continue on his path of dignity and henceforth ignore Bolaji Abdullahi who is only trying to prevent his imminent defeat. We the Ilorin people know where we are going to on the day of election. We will reward the one that truly cares for us. Next time Bolaji should live up to his nickname and be courteous in his interventions. Or else it will be giving life to rumours that he is truly not from Ilorin but Igbeti in Oyo State.

Dr Abdulkadir Sodiq writes from Ilorin