Kwankwaso: ‘Eagles Square Belongs To All Nigerians,’ Saraki Slams FG

Senate President Bukola Saraki has frowned at the Federal Government’s decision to deny Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso use of the Eagle Square in Abuja for his Presidential declaration.

In a letter seen by THE WHISTLER and signed by Usman Raji, the facility manager of the Abuja International Conference Centre & Eagles Square, the government said the decision to deny the senator Eagle Square was to avoid disruption of “work flow” at the Federal Secretariat, a major hub of civil servants.

This came barely 24 hours before the former Kano governor’s declaration at the Eagle Square.

The letter reads: “We are sorry to inform you that the event can no longer hold on the said date because it is a political event and the 29th of August, 2018 happens to be a work day, as it would disrupt the usual work flow of the Federal Secretariat.

“We apologise for the oversight on our part to note the date in relation to the nature of the event. We regret every inconvenience caused by this.” Mr Raji said in the letter.

But reacting on Wednesday, Saraki said the government’s move “sends a wrong message about our democracy, particularly the tolerance level in our politics”.

According to the Senate President, the Eagle Square belongs to all Nigerians.

The refusal to allow Senator Kwankwaso’s campaign to utilize Eagle Square for his declaration, despite an earlier approval, sends a wrong message about our democracy, particularly the tolerance level in our politics. Eagle Square belongs to all Nigerians.

— Bukola Saraki (@bukolasaraki) August 29, 2018