Date: 2018-08-16

A political group, Ilorin Emirate for Buhari (IEB), has said loyalists of Senate President Bukola Saraki are still members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State.

The group is campaigning for President Muhammadu Buhari's re-election in Ilorin Emirate, which comprises Kwara Central and a part of Kwara North.

A statement by its Director of Publicity, Mr. Rotimi Sulyman, urged those opposed to Saraki's hegemony, and desire Buhari's re-election, to be cautious when relating politically with such people.

According to him, some party chieftains have a long history of closeness to Saraki, casting doubts on their loyalty to APC.

The statement reads: "We have witnessed with mixed feelings events in Kwara APC on whose platform we are campaigning for President Muhammadu Buhari's re-election, particularly as regards the make-up of members.

"We are convinced that Senate President Bukola Saraki does not have the traction of President Muhammadu Buhari in Kwara, and the Saraki’s yoke will be broken in 2019.

"But we have well-founded suspicion that some Kwara APC chieftains may not be committed to Buhari's re-election, but ensure the people miss out on witnessing the curtain falling on the Sarakis' dominance of the state politics in 2019."

The group berated Saraki's visit to former Head of State Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (rtd), in Minna, Niger State, saying his action and statement underlined his alleged hatred for Kwara and its people.

"The expression 'show me your friends and I will tell you who you are' holds true of the romance between Saraki and Babangida. Saraki threw bile at Buhari, who had a hand in the making of our son, the late Maj.-General Tunde Idiagbon, as chief of staff between 1983-1985.

"Babangida overthrew the government that was more or less led by a Kwaran, given that it was the only military regime where the No.2 man was as prominent as his boss. To add insult to our injury, Babangida ceded Kanji dam, which was under Kwara State, to his home state of Niger.

"The same Babangida also robbed Kwara of the Upper and Lower Niger River Basin Development Authority to pay Minna. It was during his time as military leader that the Ilorin headquarter of the Federal Government agency was relocated to Minna, to the displeasure of Kwarans.

" It is not so difficult to understand why Saraki is full of disdain for Buhari but lionises and fetes Babangida. It is because both are alike in their streak of hatred for Kwara and its people."