Layi Olanrewaju, Ilorin

Different groups made up of indigenes of Kwara State have expressed divergent views on reported linking of the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, to suspects in the recent armed robbery incident in Offa town, including arrest and transfer of suspected cultists to Abuja by the  police.

The Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Kwara State chapter and a group of women in the state, on Tuesday organised a prayer session for the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, for God to grant him success in his current political travails, while another groups, Association of Concerned Offa Indigenes, Home and Abroad, and Offa Community Youth, called on the FG and the police to ensure thorough investigation on the matters.

The ALGON, in a statement by its chairman, Joshua Omokanye, condemned reported linkage of the Senate President and Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed with cultists’ activities in the state and Offa bank robbery.

Rising from a meeting held on Monday, the 16 Local Government Council Chairmen said that police should not politicise the matter

“It is quite unheard-of and unthinkable that the person of the Senate President, who has been in the vanguard of exterminating cultism and robbery in the country since his days as governor, will now be aiding and abetting cultism and criminality in his exalted position as the No. 3 citizen of the country”, he said.

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Kwara women in their hundreds yesterday in Ilorin at a special prayer, recited verses from the holy Qur’an and prayed to God to protect  the Senate President whom they described as their benefactor.

Addressing journalists during the prayer session, leader, of the group,Hajia Ramat Oganija , said they resorted to prayer because they were convinced that Saraki who they said was being implicated in the recent Offa bank robbery incident had encouraged entrepreneurship  by empowering women and youths in the state to be economically self reliance.

Also speaking with journalists in Offa on Tuesday during a peaceful protest round the town, spokesperson of the Association of Concerned Offa Indigenes, home and abroad, Chief Muideen Babalola, called on police authority to ensure that justice is prevailed, no matter the level of personality involved in the matter.

The protesters, who walked from Iyeru Okin African LGA primary school, Offa through Ibrahim Taiwo road to Idi Ogun, Olofa way, ended their protest at Ijagbo junction near Yidi praying ground. They also moved to popular Owode market, Offa and terminated the walk at the Olofa palace.

At the Olofa palace, the protesters were addressed by one of the high chiefs, the Asalofa of Offa, Chief Isiaka Adebayo Shittu, who stood in for the Olofa of Offa, Oba Mufutau Gbadamosi, who was said to be in Saudi Arabia for lesser hajj.

The high chief thanked the procession for their peaceful conduct, saying that the palace is open to all indigenes of the ancient town, adding that their matter would be conveyed to the appropriate quarters.