By Ibraheem Solaudeen.
A picture has surfaced online suggesting that the sitting arrangements at today’s democracy day celebration in Ilorin exempted the Speaker of Kwara State House of Assembly, Hon. Yakubu Saliu Danladi.
While the governor, his deputy, the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Zulu-Gambari and other government officials at the event were sitted on a comfortable black sofa in the front row, the young speaker, who sat beside the governor, was sitted on what looks like a plastic chair without armrests.
The photo, posted by one of Kwara’s most popular social media users, Ibraheem Taofeeq was captioned, “Thanks to that spectator who borrowed our speaker a seat. Without him, our speaker wouldn’t have sat among the dignitaries because it’s obvious no arrangement was made for him.”
Known PDP supporters who are ardent critics of the current government in the state have ascribed meanings to the situation, with suggestions that the 34-year old Speaker must have been neglected as a result of his age.
However, the Governor of the State, Alhaji Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq was reported to have frowned at the poor seat arrangements at the event which left out the Speaker on the front row reserved for dignitaries.
“You can see Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq sitting conveniently. Our governor wasn’t happy with the arrangement. He was mad at the organisers for downgrading the speaker”, a social media user identified as Comrade Bolakale said.
INSIDER reached out to the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Rafiu Ajakaye, who neither denied nor confirmed the report, but asked our correspondent to direct his enquiries to the protocol team.