By Folayimika Akanbi
The residents of Upper Gaa Odota community in Ilorin West Local Government Area of Kwara State have disowned one Saad Rafiu, a social media influencer, over what has been identified as his caustic view against the state government on his verified Facebook Page.
They said the remarks attributed to Rafiu, who is not recognized as a member of Upper Gaa Odota community, did not represent the true position of the people of the community.
The clarification came via a statement signed by the Chairman,
Upper Gaa Odota Phase 0ne, Phase Two, Phase Three Community, Alhaji Abdulganiyu Apete, and made available to this medium in Ilorin on Sunday.
The statement expressed gratitude to the government for the installation of transformers and solar street lights, saying that the gesture had significantly enhanced the infrastructure and safety of the people of the community.
It noted that the support the community received from the government has been vital in improving the quality of life for many residents and assured that the people of the community value the partnership it has with the present administration.
The residents pleaded with the government to expedite action on the repair of roads in the community, recalling that officials of the state Ministry of Works had assessed the current conditions of the roads during their visit to the area.
“On behalf of the residents and dwellers of the Gaa Odota community, we wish to strongly condemn and disassociate our progressive, peace-loving, and law-abiding members from one Alhaji Saad Rafiu. We believe that his recent outbursts on Facebook regarding the state of our community’s development are exaggerated and unrepresentative of the true feelings and views of our people.
“For the records, Alhaji Saad Rafiu is not a recognized member of our community. We did not send him to attack the government, nor do we endorse his veracious assault and insults directed at government officials. His actions and words are his alone and do not reflect the position or sentiments of the Gaa Odota community.
“We are a community that values peace, progress, and respect for lawful processes. Our members work diligently to maintain harmony and foster development in collaboration with local authorities. It is therefore important to clarify that any inflammatory remarks made by individuals outside our community should not be confused with our collective stance.
“We deeply appreciate the contributions and positive impact of the Kwara State government in the development of our community. The support we have received has been vital in improving the quality of life for many residents, and we continue to value the partnership we share with the government.
“Specifically, we acknowledge and sincerely appreciate the government’s provision of transformers and solar street lights, which have significantly enhanced our infrastructure and safety. Additionally, the empowerment programmes for our women and youth have been a source of hope and progress for many families within Gaa Odota.
“In the spirit of ongoing collaboration, and in line with our continuous correspondences with the Ministry of Works, we kindly appeal to the government to expedite attention to the rehabilitation of our roads. The Ministry of Works and other government officials have already visited our community to assess the current state of the roads, and we are optimistic that this matter will receive the urgent attention it requires.
“We remain committed to working with all stakeholders to ensure that Gaa Odota continues on its path of development and peace. We urge all members of the community to remain calm, united, and focused on constructive engagement rather than divisive actions or statements. Together, we will build a better future for everyone in Gaa Odota,” the statement read.
Wind Gate News reports that Saad Rafiu, through his verified Facebook Page, has been consistent in his comments considered acerbic against the state government.
Visited 53 times, 1 visit(s) today
