Just in: Emir of Ilorin breaks silence of viral video depicting citizens lamenting hardship

The Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji (Dr) Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari CFR, has refuted the authenticity of a viral video depicting citizens lamenting hardship and poverty in front of the royal palace.

This was confirmed in a statement made available to Afri Reporters by Mallam Abdulazeez Arowona, spokesman to HRH Emir of Ilorin and Chairman Kwara State Traditional Rulers Council.

The statement said the video does not have any connection with the current situation in the country.

Nigeria has been struggling with rising cost of living as inflation currently stands at nearly 30%, the highest in the history of the West African country in decades.

Prices of food, fuel, transportation, and telecommunication have increased to new record levels following the removal of fuel subsidies.

On the viral video, the statement by Mallam Arowana clarified that, “The video does not have any connection with the current situation in the country and it would be recalled that in occasions of such, the Emir of Ilorin and Chairman Kwara Traditional Rulers Council, *Mai-Martaba Alhaji (Dr) Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari CFR,* always express his concern on the need to ensure that peace and harmony continue to prevail in the society.

“At the height of the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, the emir expressed high level of concerns and joined governments at all levels in the campaign towards ensuring that the unfortunate situation was contained while he also played frontline roles in championing the pains and interests of the masses during the scarcity of Naira currency which inflicted hardship nationwide with no exemption to anyone irrespective of social, political and economic status.

He added that, “On the current economic hardship, the Emir and his colleagues at the Kwara State Traditional Rulers Council level are engaging government at all levels on the need to continue to improve on the welfare, security and social life of the people of the state with commendations to the state government for being responsive to masses-oriented issues.

“We thereby appeal to the general public to disregard the video in circulation in order to avoid any misrepresentation of the scenario vis a vis the location of the gathering as reflected in the video even as he plead with the people of Ilorin and Kwara State at large to remain peaceful and prayer always,” he said.