APC knocks Saraki, Popoola over alleged attempt to rewrite Offa robbery history
By Mosunmola Ayobami, 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 what it described as an attempt to distort the history of the 2018 Offa robbery.
The robbery, which claimed 33 lives, including those of police officers, resurfaced in public discourse after Popoola reportedly admitted at the weekend that he deliberately linked Saraki to the incident to settle political scores.
Addressing journalists at the party’s secretariat in Ilorin on Monday, the APC State Publicity Secretary, Abdulwaheed Babatunde, insisted that evidence presented during the trial of the convicted robbers had linked Saraki to the incident.
Babatunde 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 robbery, which was subsequently tendered and admitted as evidence in court.
He further cited alleged links between Saraki and some of the convicted robbers, including the provision and concealment of vehicles used in the operation, photographs and the presence of some suspects at events associated with the former Senate president. He also claimed that some of the suspects were arrested wearing clothes associated with Saraki’s daughter’s wedding.
The APC spokesman argued that Popoola’s recent admission could not invalidate the judicial proceedings or the evidence considered by the court. He accused Saraki of attempting to influence public perception and described Popoola’s statement as evidence of a lack of credibility. Babatunde also urged residents, particularly those in Offa and Kwara South, to consider integrity and public trust when choosing their representatives.
The party expressed confidence that Offa residents would maintain their support for the APC, describing the community as politically conscious and insisting that it would not abandon the party because of political campaigns or visits by influential figures. Also speaking, the APC Deputy Chairman, Abdullahi Samari, described attempts to revisit the robbery narrative as insensitive to the families of the victims, who continue to live with the consequences of the tragedy.
Samari maintained that the case had already been determined by a competent court and urged security agencies to consider prosecuting Popoola over his comments. He said the party considered the remarks provocative and unnecessary, given that a judgment had already been delivered on the case.
