The Kwara State Government has strongly criticized former Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, for his comments on the recent Local Government elections in the state. The government declared that Saraki lacked the moral authority to condemn the election process or its outcomes.
This was revealed in an official statement released by Bola Olukoju, the Kwara State Commissioner for Communications. The government’s remarks come in response to Saraki’s condemnation of the election results, where candidates from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) were declared winners in all Local Government Chairmanship and Councillorship positions.
The elections, conducted by the Kwara State Independent Electoral Commission (KWASIEC), sparked controversy after Saraki, a leading figure of the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP), criticized the process, raising concerns about its fairness.
In the government’s statement, it accused Saraki and his party of attempting to disrupt the election through various means, including court actions and alleged violent tactics. The statement emphasized that despite these efforts, the people of Kwara still came out to vote, ensuring a victory for the APC.
“We are bewildered that Saraki’s party is confused between floating the narrative that no election took place and claiming a victory from an election it said was never held. That is the lot of confused, desperate people that Senator Saraki leads,” the statement read.
The Kwara State Government further claimed that Saraki’s criticisms were hypocritical, given his own record as a leader in the state. The statement mentioned past issues during Saraki’s tenure, such as delays in salary payments, the use of thugs, and the general decline in the well-being of the people.
The government argued that Saraki’s time in power left lasting negative impacts, particularly on the welfare of the workforce and ordinary citizens.
In a direct reference to Saraki’s concerns about welfare, the government expressed disbelief, stating: “We also find it incredible that Senator Bukola Saraki was talking about people’s welfare.”
According to the government, the current administration had worked hard to earn the trust of the people, leading to its electoral success, regardless of Saraki’s objections. The statement concluded by stressing that the election results were a reflection of the people’s will, with no external influence or intimidation.
