The Kwara State wing of the Youth for Democracy and Change (YDC) has lambasted the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the state for doctoring a video portraying the palace of Ilorin, His Royal Highness, Alhaji (Dr.) Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, CFR, as a mere place for political protest.
YDC said the Kwara PDP has no regard for the Chairman Kwara State Traditional Rulers Council, Alhaji (Dr.) Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari and his office, if not so, would not have doctored a mischievous video surrounding the palace of all the places they could use in the state.
In a statement by the Director of Media and Publicity of the group, AbdulBaki Kure, on Sunday, February 18, said the doctored video is the Kwara PDP’s continuous attempt to ridicule the Emir, adding that the party was known for serially disrespecting him when it was in power.
The group said, “We have watched the recently doctored video by the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) where some children and adults are chanting ‘we are hungry’ at the palace of His Royal Highness, Alhaji (Dr.) Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, CFR.
“The doctored video was shot a few days into the 2019 general elections. It’s, however, disheartening and saddening that the PDP decided to use the palace for such a politically motivated video which ridiculed our beloved Father and his palace.
“The PDP is infamously known for disrespecting the Emir during their inglorious reigns. We see this condemnable doctored video as their continuous attempt to ridicule our beloved Emir, His Royal Highness Alhaji (Dr.) Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari and the throne of his forebears.
“That we chose not to pen a piece on the PDP scheme to dethrone the Emir if elected in the last governorship election in the State does not mean we were not aware of their evil plan. Why we didn’t pen a word to it was because we knew the Party had lost its winning streak.
“This press statement should serve as a warning to the Kwara PDP to desist from their continuous ridiculing of His Royal Highness and his palace. We do not ask them not to play their dirty politics, which they wear like a badge of honour, but they should, please, not bring the Emir into the picture.”
The group added that the PDP’s disregard for the Emir and his palace did not start today. It noted how they prevented the latter from giving his annual speech at the Eid ground by the politically motivated thugs loyal to the former Senate President, Bukola Saraki which one of them was later jailed for possession of gun.
“We can’t forget how members of the PDP prevented the Emir from giving his annual speech at the Eid ground some years ago by thugs mobilised to hail Saraki at Eid praying ground as if they were seeing him for the first time while their leader failed to caution them. This disrespect must stop. We can’t continue to fold our hands while these people ridicule our traditions for political reasons,” the group added.