‘We Linked Saraki To Offa Robberies To Settle Political Scores’ — Kwara Politicians Admit

It was a confession galore in Offa, Kwara State, at the weekend where politicians exonerated former Senate President Bukola Saraki of complicity in the infamous 2018 Offa bank robbery saga, admitting that they deliberately linked the incident to him to settle political scores.

The revelation came during the Peoples Democratic Party’s tour of Kwara South, led by Saraki, at the palace of the Olofa of Offa, ValidViewNetwork reports .

THE CONFESSION

The Kwara South Senatorial candidate of the PDP, Saheed Popoola, said he aligned with the All Progressives Congress to play a formidable role in the “O to ge” movement that removed Saraki from the political scene in Kwara.

According to him, most of them wove lies against Saraki to settle political differences.

Speaking at the palace, Popoola said his support for the APC was regrettable. “I regret fighting Saraki because I was misinformed during the Otoge struggle,” he said. “All the money in the entire banks in Offa and Ilorin put together is not enough for Saraki to spend in three days”.

He explained that the Offa robbery incident could not have involved Saraki if not for political interest and a calculated move to tarnish his image, saying: “a dead issue of Offa robbery has been reawakened just because of politics”.

THE REGRET

The convener of Orisun Igbomina, Chief Gbenga Awoyale, who said he was among the people that led the Otoge campaign and brought the APC to the limelight, also expressed regret.

“Now, I and many others regret our actions and deeds,” he said. “For the sake of my conscience, I must fight this government. God and the unborn generations will not forgive us all if we don’t rise against it” .

He lamented that no fewer than 30 monarchs in the state have abdicated their thrones due to insecurity while 25 communities have become desolate.

“Even the man contesting the House of Representatives slot in Ifelodun, his community has been sacked by the bandits,” he said .

SARAKI’S DEMAND

Addressing the monarch, Saraki recalled his role during the selection and enthronement of Oba Esuwoye in 2010, saying he supported the king against the choice of some others.

“I slept in Offa to see you today because of my respect for you. Let us here and beyond know that I am not a visitor here in Offa, particularly in this palace,” he said. “I recall 2010 when the chiefs and kingmakers decided they wanted you, I accepted you as a preferred candidate against petitions and complaints from many quarters. When they write about this town and this Oba, you must add my name to it because some people attempted to influence me into rejecting you, but I refused, I stood my ground. Now is the time I seek your support like I did for you in 2010. Kabiesi, our PDP won’t disappoint you” .

He urged the monarch to help convince his people to vote PDP in 2027.

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THE N50 MILLION DONATION

Meanwhile, Saraki donated N50 million to address the over 40-year-old electricity crisis in Offa.

The donation is expected to facilitate the replacement of obsolete electricity cables, which were installed about 55 years ago during the administration of the late Premier of Northern Nigeria, Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto.

Residents reportedly receive only two to three hours of electricity daily, a situation that has adversely affected businesses, commercial activities and the general well-being of the people.

The ageing infrastructure has also been linked to several fatal incidents in the community .

THE CONTEXT

The Offa robbery incident occurred on April 5, 2018, when armed robbers attacked multiple banks and a police station in the town, killing at least 33 people, including nine police officers.

Saraki was accused of sponsoring the robbery, but he has consistently denied the allegations, pointing to legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions in 2018 that found no evidence linking him to the crime.

The Kwara State Government, however, filed charges against Saraki and former Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed in April 2026, arguing that the DPP advice was not an exoneration. The case has been mired in preliminary legal battles, with the government recently amending its charges to drop armed robbery counts and retain charges of conspiracy to belong to a gang of thieves.

WHY IT MATTERS

The confession is a rare moment of political accountability in Nigeria.

For years, the Offa robbery was used as a weapon against Saraki, a tool to destroy his political influence in Kwara.

Now, some of those who wielded that weapon are admitting that they lied.

For Saraki, the confession is a vindication.

For the people of Offa, it is a reminder that their grief was exploited for political gain. And for Kwara politics, it is a signal that the old alliances are shifting.

The 2027 election is approaching. The truth has been told. And the people of Offa will decide who they believe. ValidViewNetwork reports.