Hundreds of women on Monday took to the streets of Oro in Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, protesting against former Senate President Bukola Saraki shortly after his campaign visit to the community.
The protesters, comprising APC women and other community members, carried brooms, sang solidarity songs and chanted slogans rejecting Saraki’s return to political leadership in the area.
Saraki had earlier visited Oro as part of his statewide political tour, where he met members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and representatives of various groups, including the Oro Descendants Union, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), League of Imams, National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and Okada Riders Association.
The women reportedly took over major streets of the ancient town minutes after the former Senate President’s convoy departed.
One of the protesters, Mrs Tawakalit Sulyman, told journalists that the community would not support Saraki, accusing his administration of failing to deliver meaningful development to Oro.
“I am surprised that Saraki will even be bold enough to enter Oro to campaign after all the disappointments he meted out to Oro people when he controlled the state,” she said.
“There is no tangible project from Saraki in Oro land. We will never allow Saraki again. We can’t accept all those deceits again.”
Sulyman accused the former governor of undermining the economic development of the community through policies which, she alleged, nearly crippled the Kwara State College of Education, Oro.
She recalled that the late Professor Shehu Jimoh-led committee had recommended the college as the proposed site for Kwara State University before the institution was eventually established at Molete.
“The Saraki administration crashed the NCE programme at COED Oro in the name of reform, which drove many prospective students away. There was no physical infrastructural development in his time, unlike now that the State Governor has done a lot and also influenced federal projects to the institution. I can recall those days of non-regular payment of salaries. He is not a lover of labour unions. He governed as if he would never leave office. Oro and the entire Irepodun will vote en masse for APC,” she added.
Also addressing the crowd, APC Chairman in Oro Ward 1, Chief Gani Alawode, said residents would not return to Saraki’s political camp.
He accused the former Senate President of failing to fulfil promises made to the community, particularly the proposed elevation of the Oloro of Oro to a first-class traditional ruler.
“Saraki is full of promise and fail. He promised several times to upgrade the Oloro of Oro to a First-Class Oba but never did. Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has been fair to history and upgraded our revered Oba. So what do they want to campaign with? Nothing at all,” Chief Alawode said.
Alawode also credited Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq with the renovation of Oro General Hospital and Oro Grammar School, as well as the rehabilitation of the NITEL/Okerimi-Oro Junction road, which he said had suffered neglect for more than four decades.
“Governor AbdulRazaq has upgraded and renovated the Oro General Hospital which was abandoned for years by previous administrations. Go to Oro Grammar School today, the Governor gave it a total facelift. Same with the NITEL/Okerimi – Oro Junction road which had begged for attention for more than 40 years. Governor AbdulRazaq has tarred the road.”
The APC chieftain also questioned the purpose of Saraki’s statewide tour, arguing that the former Senate President was not contesting any position in the forthcoming election.
“My major worry is that we don’t even know what he is contesting for, yet he is doing a statewide campaign. He is not running in any election but going about Kwara South with candidates. It shows that the candidates he handpicked do not have the capacity to face the people. But unfortunately, Saraki doesn’t know he is living in old glory. Kwarans have moved on. We are now wiser and will not buy their packaged lies. He should rather go back to Ilorin and leave us alone,” he concluded.
The protest disrupted traffic for several minutes as residents came out to join the women in the street rally.
