Newscenter Media News The Kwara State Government through its Commissioner for Communications, Mrs. Bola Olukoju, on Thursday, launched a scathing attack on former Senate President Bukola Saraki over his claims that the recently concluded local government elections in Kwara State lacked legitimacy.
Olukoju described Saraki’s party as “confused and desperate” for simultaneously disputing the election’s validity and claiming victory. “It is bewildering 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,” she said.
Saraki had earlier stated that the elected chairmen and councillors lacked legitimacy and mandate, thanking the people for rejecting the APC. However, Olukoju countered that Saraki lacks moral standing to discuss people’s welfare, given his past governance.
“We also find it incredible that Senator Bukola Saraki was talking about people’s welfare. As far as people’s welfare is concerned, Saraki lacks the moral standing to talk.
“He is a bald hairdresser recommending his unfailing hair restorer. He is a snail claiming a championship in a community of horned animals,” she quipped.
According to Olukoju, the government has done well enough to win the trust of the people, evident in its many programmes, infrastructural projects, and social protection initiatives that strengthen the purchasing powers of the people. “The government is also not denying people their wages while its appointees enjoy the perks of office as the Saraki-inspired government did.”
Saraki’s claims of electoral irregularities were also addressed by Olukoju, who emphasized that the popular will of the people prevailed, despite the noise from Saraki’s camp. “It took the popular will of the people to cast their ballot… That was what played out, regardless of the noise from Saraki’s men.”
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In response to Saraki’s assertion that the people rejected the APC due to bad governance, Olukoju highlighted the efforts of President Tinubu to ease economic challenges and Kwara State’s commitment to public welfare.
Earlier, on Wednesday, former Senate President, Bukola Saraki had said the recently concluded local government election in Kwara State produced chairmen and councillors who have no legitimacy and mandate of the people.
In a statement by his Press Officer (Political and Local Matters), Abdulganiyu Abdulqadir, Saraki thanked the people for the “courage demonstrated, against all odds, in sending a clear signal of rejection to APC”, during the exercise.
According to Saraki, despite the alleged collaboration between the government and SIEC, the people rose above partisan consideration to take a stand against bad governance.
“In a manner that went beyond partisan consideration and gave expression to the protection of community interests, people from Kwara mobilised themselves to the polling units and met the absence of electoral officials and shoddy preparations by the electoral body.
“It is a shame that the 16 local government areas now have chairmen and councillors who would be in office without legitimacy and people’s mandate,” he noted.
The dispute underscores the deepening political divisions in Kwara State, with both sides trading barbs and counterclaims.
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