It’s a game, they are trying to counter us as usual – Senator Saliu’s Media Aide

Senator misled the public, he didn’t buy any tickets from us – Kwara United FC Chairman

By Temitope Muhideen, Ilorin

Despite receiving considerable backing from its supporters, Kwara United has been struggling throughout the current season. As of match day thirty-one, the team finds itself in a disappointing 10th position on the league table, having accumulated only forty-one points.

In an unexpected turn of events, early on the morning of Wednesday, March 26, 2025, news attached with a graphic design circulated widely on social media that Senator Saliu Mustapha had purchased match tickets for fans to attend the upcoming game between Kwara United and Nassarawa United, therefore declaring entry free at the newly renamed George Inih Stadium in Ilorin at exactly 4pm.

However, not long after the news broke, the management of Kwara United felt compelled to address the situation. In a formal statement released later that day, Tititiloye Kumbi, the club chairman, clarified that the announcement regarding the Senator’s ticket purchase was untrue. He firmly described the Senator’s actions as misleading and stated categorically, “No Senator has paid for free entry,” he went further to affirm that the management had earlier declared free entry for its supporters.

In this investigation, Temitope Muhideen examines the reasons behind the back and forth.

Apaokagi Yunus (62) is a diehard Kwara United supporter, and a member of the people democratic party in Ilorin West, when this reporter approached him, on the crisis he had this to say ” I have been watching United matches as far back as 1975, what happened today is a testament to the fight between Kwara State governor and Sen. Salihu Mustapha, why will the management of Kwara United declared free entry after Turaki informed the public that he has paid for everyone, they should not confuse us with their politics, Kwara United need our support, we have been supporting them with our little resources before both of them come on board”

Dr. Mahfuz Ibrahim, a medical practitioner and a supporter of the Harmony Boys has a different perspective ” I think Turaki is becoming too desperate, from what I have confirmed, his team did not approach KWIRS or Kwara United Management to purchase the ticket, they are playing politics with us (supporters), it’s bad that even our darling Kwara United is now a battleground to settle political scores, the surgeon concluded.

Senator Saliu’s Media Aide reacts

Reacting to the controversy, the media aide to distinguished Senator Saliu Mutapha, Sholagberu Nasif through a WhatsApp message said “You should know it’s a game, they are trying to counter us as usual.

We bought the ticket right from the agent that bought it from the management, After our announcement they came up with their own, if truly the state govt wishes to sponsor the match, the Kwara united we all know would have notified the public before today. Why is the announcement coming immediately after our own, he concluded.

Senator misled the public, he didn’t purchase any ticket from us – Kwara United Chairman, Kumbi Titiloye

When this reporter reached the chairman of Kwara United FC, Kumbi Titiloye, he described the senator’s action as misleading and unfair. “One Emmanuel Abiodun came to negotiate for gate tickets. Upon agreeing to 550k, they now went on air to say Senator Mustapha bought the gate for millions. How do we reconcile that in terms of accountability and factuality? “The guy that came to purchase the gate didn’t ever mention that he was representing Sen Saliu, a man I know very well. The money the said agent paid for did not cover the entrance fee for all, yet they went ahead to announce that Turaki paid for everyone”

When asked about the reason why Kwara United Management’s declaration on free tickets for fans came after the Turaki’s team announcement, Kumbi said, “After the stakeholders meeting a day before the match, it was agreed to open the gate to assuage the feelings of our darling fans”.

Agent released a video

The agent involved in the crisis, Olatunde Abiodun released a video that was circulated online before the match, he pronounced that he has been in the business of purchasing tickets from Kwara United FC for a long, alongside his friend ” I purchased the tickets a day before the match after negotiation and agreement on a certain amount, I made payment immediately, apart from other miscellaneous expenses, while pondering on the additional cost, my friend approached me that he would purchase the match tickets from me on behalf of Senator Saliu Mustapha which I obliged, I immediately transferred all necessary documents to him, it was after the Senator’s team publications that I received a call from Kwara United office when I got there they alleged that I had breached protocol, they said I didn’t inform them that I purchased the ticket on behalf of anyone, hence they will refund my money” the agent concluded.

As of the time of filling this report, the GM of Kwara United, Bashir Badawiy, had yet to respond to text messages sent to his mobile