The Media Office of former Senate President Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki has sharply criticized Kwara State Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq for his inadequate response to the escalating insecurity in the state, especially in light of the recent bandit attack in Oke-Ode that resulted in 21 fatalities.
In a statement issued from Abuja by Yusuph Olaniyonu, Head of Saraki’s Media Office, the governor was accused of evading accountability for the worsening security situation by making “false, defamatory, and reckless allegations” against Dr. Saraki.
This response came after Governor Abdulrazaq’s comments during his visit to Oke-Ode, where he appeared to liken the recent surge in violent attacks across Kwara North and South to the 2018 Offa robbery incident.
“To equate a series of brutal killings and kidnappings with a single robbery event demonstrates either a profound insensitivity or a complete misunderstanding of the gravity of the current security challenges,” the statement emphasized.
Saraki’s team highlighted that more than 50 communities within the Kwara North and South senatorial zones have been repeatedly targeted, forcing many residents to seek refuge in Ilorin or relocate outside the state altogether.
The former Senate President’s office also condemned Governor Abdulrazaq for delaying five days before visiting Oke-Ode, suggesting that the governor’s visit was reactive and only prompted after Saraki drew national attention to the tragedy.
“If Dr. Saraki’s efforts finally motivated the governor to visit the affected area, then the intended purpose has been fulfilled,” the statement noted.
Further criticism was directed at the governor for attending a project inauguration in Imo State while his constituents were enduring violent attacks, labeling this as a clear misplacement of priorities.
The statement urged Governor Abdulrazaq to extend his visits to other violence-stricken communities such as Edu, Patigi, Isin, Irepodun, Oke Ero, and parts of Ifelodun Local Government Area.
It also recommended that the governor hold frequent Security Council meetings and actively engage traditional leaders to enhance intelligence gathering and improve grassroots security responses.
Addressing the governor’s attempt to revive allegations linking Saraki to the 2018 Offa robbery, Saraki’s media office reaffirmed that the former Senate President was exonerated by the Federal Government.
They cited two reports from the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) within the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation, dated June and August 2018, which found no evidence-direct or indirect-connecting Saraki to the crime.
“These accusations have always been unfounded and were part of a now-defunct smear campaign that facilitated the current governor’s rise to power,” the statement asserted.
The media office further accused Governor Abdulrazaq of supporting a politically charged lawsuit initiated by select family members of the Offa robbery victims, aimed at damaging Saraki’s reputation.
It was noted that the same legal counsel representing the plaintiffs is also defending the governor’s media aide, Michael Yinka Fafoluyi, in a libel case filed by Saraki.
The statement referenced a press briefing by the Offa community group Offa Koya, Offa Kowosi, which publicly distanced itself from the “political exploitation” surrounding the tragic robbery.
Moreover, some victims’ relatives reportedly appeared on TNT Radio in Offa in August 2025 to reject the lawsuit and appealed to political figures to cease using their loss for political advantage.
In closing, Saraki’s office urged Governor Abdulrazaq to cease politicizing the issue of insecurity and instead prioritize his constitutional role as the Chief Security Officer of Kwara State.
