Following eviction from Kwara State Stadium, Ilorin, Nigeria National League side Abubakar Bukola Saraki FC have asked Kwara State Sports Council to give them until the end of the 2020/21 season before the eviction takes effect.
In a statement, the club’s administrative secretary Funmilayo Owolabi said the club was not evicted as a result of refusal to pay rent.
The club accused the state’s sports council of playing politics with the move.
“We wish to correct the impression that we were evicted because of our refusal to pay rent for our office facility as we had no prior discussions or any requests by Kwara State Internal Revenue Service to pay for the facility,” the statement said.
“Our dealings with the KWIRS had been on the areas of tax payments, payment for the use of the stadium fields for our matches, in which we have continued to maintain our obligations.
“From the scenario in the last few months, it is evidently clear that muddling negotiations for payment and notice to vacate the facility for use by the sports commission depicts a clear case of contraction, which confirmed our fears of unseen forces and unsporting political undertones.
“Meanwhile, we had requested the council to give us some time to look for alternative office accommodation and to allow the club complete the ongoing Nigeria National League season, which has only four matches to go.”
Meanwhile, former Senate President Bukola Saraki, owner of the club, had clashed with the Kwara State Government over Ile Arugbo, home of Saraki’s late father Olusola.
