From Taiye Joseph, Ilorin
The Kwara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has criticised former Senate President, Bukola Saraki and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for Kwara South Senatorial District, Saheed Popoola, over comments concerning the 2018 Offa robbery, which claimed 33 lives.
The party described Popoola’s reported admission that he deliberately linked Saraki to the robbery to settle political scores as insensitive, reckless and disrespectful to the families of the victims.
Popoola had reportedly admitted at the weekend that his earlier comments linking Saraki to the deadly robbery were politically motivated.
Addressing journalists at the party’s secretariat in Ilorin, the APC State Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Abdulwaheed Babatunde, maintained that evidence presented during the trial of the convicted armed robbers had linked Saraki to the incident.
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Babatunde said the statements made by the convicted gang members and other evidence admitted during the trial could not be dismissed because of Popoola’s recent comments.
He also alleged that Yusuf Abdulwahab, a former Chief of Staff to ex-Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, had made a statement to the police linking Saraki to the case, which was subsequently tendered and admitted as evidence during the trial.
“The number plate (SARAKI) on the vehicle and their photographs together, some at the Saraki daughter’s wedding, all established a strong link with the criminals,” he alleged.
Babatunde further claimed that some of the convicted robbers were arrested wearing clothes associated with Saraki’s daughter’s wedding.
He added that the suspects were familiar with Saraki and had allegedly been part of his entourage when he visited Offa to commiserate with residents after the robbery.
The APC spokesman argued that Popoola’s recent comments could not invalidate the judicial proceedings or the evidence considered by the court.
Babatunde also accused Saraki of attempting to present a distorted account of the incident to the national audience, insisting that residents of Kwara had their own experiences of the period.
He said, “Saraki may want to feed the national audience with distorted facts, but the people of Kwara State know the truth because they lived through the dark days under Saraki’s leadership when thugs took control and were often on rampage across the state.
“It is naive for Saraki to think that a volte-face by the characterless Saheed Popoola or his ilk will upturn the well-documented verdict of history on how he enabled the armed robbers.”
The party urged residents of Kwara, particularly those in Offa and other parts of Kwara South, to consider integrity and public trust when choosing their political representatives.
It also expressed confidence that Offa residents would continue to support the APC, describing the community as politically conscious and historically progressive.
Also speaking, the APC Deputy Chairman, Alhaji Abdullahi Samari, described Popoola’s reported admission as unfortunate and insensitive, noting that the 33 people killed in the robbery left behind children, wives, parents and other relatives still grappling with the consequences of the tragedy.
Samari questioned the appropriateness of making such comments at a time when the victims’ families were still mourning their loved ones.
“The 33 people who lost their lives still have family members living. Some of them have children, wives and parents. How would they feel with this kind of statement coming around this time?” he asked.
He described the statement as careless, warning politicians against exploiting sensitive issues for electoral advantage.
Samari maintained that the robbery case had already been determined by a competent court, arguing that attempts to introduce alternative narratives would not alter the judgment.
He also called on security agencies to investigate Popoola’s statement and consider appropriate action over what he described as reckless comments on a matter already decided by the court.
