You and your party represent nothing good for our people –Saraki replies
The presidential campaign train of the All Progressives Congress (APC) stopped over in Kwara State yesterday with a call on the people to ensure the defeat of the senate president, Dr. Bukola Saraki in the national assembly election holding on February 16.
The national chairman of the party, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole and the national leader of APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu who took turns to speak at the rally held at Metropolitan Square on Asa Dam Road, Ilorin, said it was time to bring Saraki’s alleged hegemonic control of Kwara people to an end.
Tinubu, in his address said Kwaran State had over the years, been held captive Saraki.
“This is celebration of Kwara State’s freedom. It has been long that they have been swindling your collective patrimony.
“We are not here for conspiracy. We are not here to quarrel with the Saraki dynasty as Gbemisola Saraki is with us.
“She is a scion of the Sarakis. We are here to reject over lordship. We are here to say no to Bukola’s enslavement. He is a betrayal. We are chastising Bukola Saraki.
“This is the celebration of the fall of Berlin Wall. This is the celebration of the end to oligarchy; the emperor that has been existing for years.
“I want to assure you that the incoming administration of President Muhammadu Buhari will be fair to us and ensure that your lives are changed,” he said.
For his part, Oshiomhole said the senate president was already out of political reckoning.
He said the rally was a celebration of the end of Saraki who he alleged to have held the state by the jugular.
Oshiomhole said the crowd at the rally was an affirmation of the ‘O to ge’ meaning ‘enough is enough’ slogan across the state.
“For Bukola, it is finished. You must vote APC to oust Bukola, who has underdeveloped Kwara and who controls your governors as a master will control a cook. I cannot wait until Saturday, when the referendum to chase out Bukola Saraki will be carried out,” he said.
But Saraki in a statement signed by his spokesman, Mr. Yusuph Olaniyonu, said defeat was staring the APC in the face adding that the party had resorted to hurling abuses instead of discussing issues and telling the people what they will do for them.
“They came to Kwara State to hurl insults at me and my people, instead of explaining to the people what they want to do differently and what contributions their flag bearers and other leaders in the State have made to our various communities to justify the people shifting their loyalty to their dying party. They promised nothing concrete that will improve the standard of living of the people and provide infrastructure.
“They have only come to Kwara to vindicate my position that they have no good plans for Kwara State and its people. It is obvious that the APC have nothing to offer Kwarans. They represent nothing good for our people. My problem with them has always been that after we worked with our people to support them to win in 2015, they refused to work on infrastructure and other policy issues that can bring direct benefit to our people.
“As for Tinubu, we have never expected any good words from him. All his life, he will continue to belly ache and nurse grudges over my opposition to the Muslim-Muslim ticket idea in 2015. As far as he is concerned, I stopped him from realizing his ambition then. However, I believe my action then and now is in pursuit of national interest. Again, I supported President Buhari in 2015 because I believe he could make a positive change.
“I left the party when I realized he lacked the capacity and the desire to make any change. Tinubu on his own part said though he agreed with me about my assessment of the man, he would continue to support Buhari even if the man had to govern from the hospital stretcher because that is the way he ( Tinubu) could become the President in 2023. So, while my position is premised on national interest, Tinubu’s is based on his personal interest and ambition. Now that Tinubu’s new speciality is to hurl insults at people like former President Olusegun Obasanjo and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, focusing on me today is okay if it will help him feel good.
“It is surprising that a man like Tinubu will be talking about morality and corruption. This is a man whose disrepute is known both within and outside Nigeria. This is somebody who personifies everything that is wrong with the Nigerian system. Well, I am not ready to roll in the gutter with him. Unlike them, I will stay on the issues that are germaine to national development and the welfare of our people.
“However, let me make it clear that what Tinubu and his putative party chairman, Oshiomhole did today is to insult the people of Kwara State who are independent minded, forward looking, assertive and God- fearing. On Saturday, the APC will be punished for their bad behaviour. Kwarans will tell them that they cannot take dictates from power mongers, pretenders and hypocrites. The people of Kwara State will never take dictates from selfish individuals. Their evil design will be thwarted on Saturday and March 3,” he said.
