Saraki Arrives Ilorin To Tumultuous Welcome

From Victor Seyi, Ilorin

Senate President Bukola Saraki arrived his hometown of Ilorin, Kwara State at the weekend to a tumultuous reception led by Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, the state chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ishola Balogun-Fulani and a mammoth crowd of party supporters, associates and well-wishers.
The mammoth crowd had waited patiently from 8a.m. till 1.35P.M when the presidential jet that conveyed Saraki and his entourage touched down at the Ilorin International Airport.
Yesterday’s visit would be Saraki’s first visit to Ilorin sincehis election as Senate President on June 9, 2015.
Saraki arrived in Ilorin in company of Senators Ahmed Sanni Yerima, Andy Uba, Danjuma Goje; former Osun State Governor, Olagunsoye Oyinlola; and former Acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje.
It was a thug of war before the Senate President could move from the tarmac to the arrival hall as everyone struggled to catch a glimpse of him.
In a brief chat with reporters, a beaming Saraki thanked Kwarans for their support and prayer towards his emergence as the Senate president.
“It is a great reception. I will have time later to thank the people of Kwara State. It is a great opportunity for people of Kwara State to have one of them to serve at this level. I thank all the people for their support and prayers and everything, and I assure them that I will not disappoint them”, the Senate president said.
From the airport, Saraki’s motorcade drove to the palace of the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, to pay homage.
After exchanging pleasantries, Saraki, the Emir and other dignitaries walked from the palace to Ilorin Central Mosque to observe Juma’at service.