From: LAYI OLANREWAJU,Ilorin
The Kwara State House of Assembly, on Tuesday, grilled managers and operators of hotels in the state over allegation that some hotels were operating nude clubs in the state.
The grilling followed the managers’ appearance on the floor of the House at plenary, consequent upon a Matter of Public Importance that raised by the House Leader, Hassan Oyeleke, that certain hotels in the state capital operate strippers clubs against the moral values of the people.
It was learnt that the motion came after complaints by some concerned citizens that some of the hoteliers were running stripper clubs with severe implication on the morality of the state.
Those grilled on the floor included the state Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the state Tourism Board, Harmony Holdings, Kwara Hotels, Princess Luxury, Henry George Hotels, Water-View and Bubbles 007 among others.
But the lawmakers walked out the representative of Bubbles 007 for being incompetent to respond to the questions thrown to her on the allegation that the club, which she represents, organises nude party.
The House Leader, who opened talk on the appearance of the hoteliers and other stakeholders, said the practice of nude parties and strip dancing betrayed common sense and alien to custom, tradition and cultural values of the people of the state.
Oyeleke stated that such abominable practice was an invocation of the wrath of Almighty God, explaining that instances abound in both Quran and bible, where the conduct is vehemently condemned.
“Parliament represents the face, the tradition, the culture, the core value system of a given society all over the world. And in this part of the world, there are certain things that are in the area of commonality about religion, our socialisation and our way of doing things.
“When new dangerous things try to enter the custom and tradition of our people, they cannot go to police station, they are not supposed to go and meet the executive, they will have to come to parliament and make a complaint.
“About a week ago, some clerics came to the (Kwara State) House of Assembly, they had a recorded video of strip dancing in some hotels. They had pictures of some posters and they also brought some posters to show and convince the House that strip dancing is taking place in our hotels.
“At the House of Assembly too, we also did our own little investigation to find out things. I want you to know that we are not demons, we live with people. We have some of our members, who have friends, who are your patrons. Those girls that patronize that place, they are also not spirits; they are related to some people.
“We were able to find out some of these hotels and other hotels, you are into strip dancing. Some have done it before and some are still doing it. Luckily we have relevant laws that make your impunity actionable, and before take action, this House of Assembly, I want to say, can direct necessary agency to withdraw your license. Go and look at the law.
“But we are not going to the last stage until when we look at how… if there is change from you or your reaction today (yesterday. In fact, we have resolved if any hotel did not come today, that hotel license will cease operating almost immediately. You are lucky that you are here.
“We called you because what is going on hotels is alien to our culture, our religion and alien to anything that is reasonable. You are either a Muslim or Christian, and what is obtainable in the two powerful holy book is that, both your action or inaction, all the shenanigans in your hotels have ripple effects on our lives.
“I’m a Muslim and it is well said in the Q’uran that if this thing is allowed, the wrath of Allah will not only be on you but all of us. And if you look at the bible, you know the story of Sodomy and Gomora. When it happened, it was only limited to people, who were practicing it, the whole set of people were destroyed. So, you cannot say because you are doing it we are not concerned. We are concerned spiritually, we are concerned emotionally and we are concerned socially”, Oyeleke said.
Some of the hoteliers, who appeared on the floor of the House, denied any knowledge of their hotel premises being used for nude parties.
The Deputy Speaker, Matthew Okedare, who presided over the plenary, expressed displeasure over the issue, saying that stakeholders and religious leaders would meet to deliberate further on the matter.
As of the time of filing this report, the House was holding a closed door meeting with the stakeholders.