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The fact that about 50 churches were attacked, destroyed, and looted by Muslim Youths in Ilorin beginning the week ending of December 18, 1999 was very disturbing to me and made me think twice about repatriating myself to Nigeria. Ilorin is the least place someone would think that Moslems would attack churches. Kwara State would be the State I would love to settle for the fact that it's been a peaceful state since its creation in 1967. The location of the burnt down churches, along Amilegbe, Ojagboro, Post Office and Lanjorin areas were not in the heart of Ilorin. Regardless what happened between Moslems and Christians, it should never resolved into attacks on the house of worship.

After visiting the sites of the burned churches, in company of his Deputy Governor, Kwara State elected Governor, Rear Admiral Lawal, advised Christians not to provoke their Muslim brothers. I believe he has Some intelligence/security information that we don't know. Nonetheless, the statement is not diplomatic enough. What the people of the state knew was that the Muslim Youths attacked Churches and Pastors in their personal houses. Such statement is least expected from the man who is responsible for the welfare of Kwarans. The Governor was elected by both Christians and Moslems, may be with a greater Christian votes than Moslems. Such statement credited to the Governor made me to ask: Who provoked whom? What type of provocation came from the Christians that warranted the destruction of Holy Places Of Worship? Was such provocation life threatening that made these young Moslems destroyed holy places of worship, the personal houses of the Pastors; and STEALING their properties, under the name of religion? Was such provocation meant to diffuse peoples' attention from demanding good programs from the Governor? Was such provocation a family affair or States'? As an ex-military man, peoples' expectations would have been for him to strongly condemn such acts. Sometimes you wonder if Nigerian Generals could even kill a rat.

Kwara State has been a very peaceful state, one of the reasons why we have the Jews of Africa, the Igbos, going about their businesses in Kwara State, and making Kwara State, Ilorin in particular, their second home. Ilorin is the least place I would expect Muslims to attack churches. That was worse than the events that happened in Kano in the 1980s.

A couple of months ago, the Emir of Ilorin, Justice Zulu Gambari directed that all Christians should relocate from his emirate. He did not deny nor denounce the statement. Another amazing thing from the Church burning was that, the Muslim Youths carried the body of one of their members, shot by the police, to the Emir's palace, before burial, and demanded that the Emir guaranteed their safety. Does the Emir have anything to do with the burning of Churches?

The Emir of Ilorin, a former High Court Judge in Ibadan, before he ascended the throne of his late, humble, highly respected father, was one of those that Kwarans look forward to in giving meaningful leadership to the State. I remembered our discussion when he visited Clark Atlanta University in early 1990s in company of his uncle, my humble Professor Gambari. He sound very humble, soft-spoken, cool and collected, typical of a high court judge. As soon as he got to the Emirship, he seemed to have changed. His first step was to change his name from Kolapo to Ibrahim - I have no problem with that. He took another step by requesting all Ilorins to change from their Yoruba names. Dr. Abubakar Olusola Saraki still keeps his names. What happened in Ilorin is uncalled for in all its ramifications. Peoples' expectations from our leaders was to come out to condemn such acts.

Well meaning Kwara leaders should come out and condemn the burning of churches in Ilorin. Dr. Saraki's condemnation on this act was timely and welcomed. I do agree with him that Ilorin has accommodated Moslems and Christians, and lived in peaceful coexistence for decades. More important though, investment could be attracted only when there is peace and religious harmony. I would be interested to know what Dr. Saraki told Emir of Ilorin when the latter demanded for Churches to relocate from his emirate.

My knowledge of late Zulu Gambari is that of a good ruler, leader, a holy man, and a good father to all the citizens of Ilorin, and even Kwara State. May his soul rest in Perfect Peace? What a good man he was. One of his messages then was religious tolerance. I believe the current Emir of Ilorin would take some pages from his father's ruling book. Late Zulu's best friends were Christians. I know of a particular young man, who was the Treasurer, Ilorin Native Authority then, Margi, as they all called him. He was among the best friends of late Zulu. He wined and dined with Joseph Ojo Daniel. I wonder what people like J.O. Daniel would be thinking when burning of churches is the order of the day during the reign of his best friend's son.

The coexistence of Christians and Muslims in Ilorin went back to years of good relationships. They celebrated festivals together. That coexistence has been challenged now under the leaderships of Governor Lawal, Emir Zulu Gambari, and Dr. Olusola Saraki. However, where are other leaders like Adebayos, Wole Okes, Fatoyinbos, Shaabas, Fadumilas, Olawoyins, Adedoyins, Ajes, Ogunsanyas, Oniyangis, Abdul-Rasaqs, among others. Unfortunately Kwara State virtually is not on a sound economy. I doubt if there is any major industry except for the Oduku (sweet potato) in Offa.

Ironically, plans are just underway for the sons and daughters of Kwara State living in the United States of America to lure some businesses to the State. They formed themselves into a formidable association, Kwara State Association of Nigeria, Inc., among other things, to help uplift Kwara State. For instance, the Washington, D.C. Chapter of KSA, formed in the early 1990s, adopted the School of handicap in Ilorin, and donated a lot of school materials to that school. Another branch sprung up in Georgia lately, and they are in the process of organizing a business forum for the State executive to take advantage of, especially focussing on agriculture. What type of signal is coming from Kwara State with attack on churches? How do you expect a right thinking investor to invest his money in a State that does not tolerate other peoples' religion?

The unfortunate part of the outbreak of church burning in Ilorin is that, this is the period of Ramadan for Moslems, when Moslems were supposed to be sober, be reminded of their behavior to their neighbors, and their lives generally, and ask Allah to forgive their past wrong deeds, and continue to live a decent life. Coincidentally, the Christians were preparing to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Sometimes you get confused as to the teachings of Islam and Christianity; Love and Harmony I believe. I know Christianity teaches love your neighbors, as you love yourself. I believe Islam teaches same thing. Is this the religious war, the rattlesnake that is coming to devour Kwara State? Is it righteous for any believer, Christians and Moslems, Traditional Believers, to destroy other believers places of worship? Was the timing appropriate?

Let us take a closer look at Kwara State that was created in May 1967. Kwara is neither in the North nor in the South. The North would use Kwara as fishing baits whenever something is needed from the Federal Government. When they finally got it, Kwara would not have any share. The case of almighty Awoniyi is still lingering there. The South would normally refer to Kwara as part of the North. No help would ever come from the South. Kwara State Governor should use Kwara position to the state's advantage, rather than waiting for manner to fall from heaven. Not anymore. Kwara is no where in the Nigeria development. Meaning that, you have to reach out on your own and help yourself.

The question at everyone's mind is what major project is in that State as of today, 1999? Let us take a quick look at each administration from Col. David Bamigboye, Colonel Ibrahim Taiwo, Colonel George Innih, Col. Ifere, Alhaji Adamu Atta, Chief C. O. Adebayo, Group Captain Salaudeen A. Latinwo, Wing Commander Mohammed Undatsu Umaru. Lt. Col. Ahmed Abdullahi, Group Capt. Ibrahim Alkali, Col. Alwali Jauji Kazir, Alhaji Mohammed Shaaba Lafiagi, Col. Shekoni, and now to Rear Admin. Mohammed Lawal. Which of these administrations did something solid for Kwara State, my be one - George Innih? Chief Adebayo's administration was never allowed to take off ground before Buhari/Idiagbon sent him parking. Innih's administration struggled very hard to implement some meaningful projects for Kwara State before he handed over to Alj. Adamu Atta. The rest of them passed through Kwara State like a snake would pass through a rock without any mark.

Ibrahim Babangida shattered the hope of Kwarans by stealing the Ilorin International airport facilities and took them to Minna. The purpose of constructing the airport in Ilorin was to act as an alternate to Murtala International Airport in Ikeja, Lagos, in case of poor weather; and to assist the Hajji operations.

Kainji Dam that was serving as a tourist center for Kwara State was surgically removed from the State and was made part of Niger State. Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Babangida was the Surgeon General who performed this operation on Kwara State.

Surgeon Babangida did not stop there, he went further to dismantle the River Basin Authority, Ilorin, an agricultural program established to aid farmers in the state, and taken to Minna again.

Ajaokuta Steel site was taken away again under the disguise of State creation. It became part of Kogi State. That is allright Surgeon General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida.

I believe Babangida's operations should be of concern of Kwara Leaders, rather than jetting round the world at the expenses of the voters' needs in Kwara State.

Kwara State was one of the highest producers of Sugar Cane, and a sugar factory was established in Ilorin - Tate and Lyle. What become of this lucrative factory in Kwara State?

Are you going to close down the Kwara Breweries, producer of Noble Beer, when you finally introduced Sharia Law? Remember that is one of the areas of revenue sources for the State.

Thanks to Small Businesses that keep Kwara State going for years. Those who proposed to establish huge farm produce along Asa River were discouraged by some undercover policies.

Kwara State like watching a wrestling matches. Recently, there is an episode of the wrestling soap with World Championship Wrestling. The boss hides behind the camera; you could hear his voice, see his hand, but not his face. Using wrestlers against one another. He's the power that be. That is exactly what is happening in Kwara State. Who is the power that be, that is behind the scene? The wrestlers would unmask him very soon. Same with Kwara State, the power that be would be exposed very soon. People could not be fooled for long. We do not read any program for the State from the elected Governor. Kwara leaders should be well concerned about the welfare of Kwara Citizens, by showing them how to fish rather than giving them fish to eat.

Kwarans are awaiting the miracle from the Governor's N8.913 billion Budget of Liberation to liberate Kwarans. The governor has promised that this would correct the structural imbalances. I am happy that the Governor has identified the structural imbalance in the state, while focussing on the urgent needs of the state, which among other things are: