Saheed Popoola, a former chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State, has admitted that he played a leading role in the political campaign that linked former Senate President Bukola Saraki to the 2018 Offa bank robbery. He said the allegations were deployed as a political weapon to settle scores against the former governor.
Popoola, who is now the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senatorial candidate for Kwara South, disclosed this at the palace of the Olofa of Offa during Saraki's political tour of Kwara South on Sunday. He acknowledged that some of those who campaigned against Saraki deliberately associated him with the robbery for political reasons.
The 2018 Offa bank robbery, which claimed more than 25 lives including police officers, had become a major political flashpoint in Kwara State. The state government is prosecuting Saraki over alleged sponsorship of the attack, an allegation he has consistently denied.
Popoola, who was among prominent figures in the APC-led O To Ge movement that culminated in the removal of Saraki's political structure from power in 2019, said their opposition to the former governor was driven by political interests and misinformation rather than any factual basis surrounding the robbery.
"I was a leading member of the APC then that started the politicisation and revival of the issue of Offa robbery just to get to Saraki. But after we finished and won, it was me that was being persecuted," Popoola said.
He also noted that songs and slogans were used to associate Saraki with the incident purely for political purposes.
"This includes the use of songs and slogans to associate Saraki with the incident just because of politics. However, God has intervened and the reality is that Saraki is back in Kwara," he added.
Popoola also challenged those outside Offa who continued to politicise the tragedy to demonstrate genuine concern for the victims and their families. He alleged that many of them had neither reached out to the affected families nor offered meaningful support since the incident.
On whether Saraki could have been motivated by financial considerations to sponsor the robbery, Popoola dismissed the suggestion outright. "All the money in the entire banks in Offa, Ilorin, Patigi and the entire Kwara state put together is not enough for Saraki to spend in three days," he declared.
He said the former Senate President's return to Offa went beyond mere political calculations and reflected genuine concern for the people.
Saraki, in his remarks, recalled his role in the emergence of the Olofa, Oba Mufutau Gbadamosi Esuwoye II, in 2010. He said he stood by the traditional ruler's selection despite petitions and opposition from some quarters.
"I recall 2010 when the chiefs and kingmakers decided they wanted you. I accepted you as the preferred candidate against petitions and complaints from many quarters," Saraki said.
"Some people attempted to influence me into rejecting you, but I refused. I stood my ground. Now is the time I seek your support."
The former Senate President appealed to the monarch and the people of Offa to support the PDP in the 2027 general elections, assuring them that the party would not disappoint the community.