Offa LG boss debunks rumour of defection

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From ALI MUHAMMAD RABIU Ilorin
The Executive Chairman of Offa Local Government area of Kwara state , Prince Saheed Popoola, has described as misleading and untrue the claims that he had defected from the Action Congress of Nigeria(ACN)  to the PDP and  pledged allegiance to former Governor Abubakar  Bukola Saraki.
Popoola said the misunderstanding was as a result of his attendance and comments at the palace of Olofa, Mufutau Gbadamosi, when Saraki paid the monarch ‘a thank you’ visit following the death of his father Olusola Saraki.
Popoola  in a statement issued in Offa a copy of which was made available to New Nigerian said  : “I wish to debunk in strongest terms claims that I have defected to the PDP or submitted myself to the political leadership of former Governor Bukola Saraki.
“The insinuation understandably flew from the fact that I honoured the call of the Offa monarch to join him in hosting Saraki who came on a thank you visit to Offa. While there at the Olofa palace I indeed acknowledged the political strength of the late Oloye Olusola Saraki, that I got some appointments through him and that he left behind a politician of note in his son who incidentally is the leader of PDP in Kwara.
“Indeed. I share the call by the Olofa that Offa should not be isolated in development, regardless of it being in the hands of the opposition. Whatever comments attributed to me amounted to sheer political joke/banter. But at no time did I in truth declare allegiance to Bukola Saraki or the PDP – and I have no reason to do so – as I remain a bona fide member and chieftain of the opposition ACN on which platform I was elected. I hope this would put paid to whatever mischief being done. Offa remains an ACN-controlled local government and would remain so until the people feel otherwise.”
New Nigerian recalls that Offa local government monarch and council chairman yesterday in seperate statements  pledged their allegiance to Senator Abubakar  Bukola Saraki’s political  leadership in the state.
The offa local government is the only council being controlled by ACN in the state.
Speaking in his palace when Saraki paid him a thank you visit, the Olofa of Offa, Oba Mufutau Gbadamosi said the traditional rulers in the state have endorsed Bukola as the political leader of the state.
Corroborating the monarch, the chairman of ACN- controlled Offa LG, Prince Saheed Popoola who shouted “ Up PDP “thrice and capped it up with “Olooye” pledged his allegiance to Saraki’s leadership.
He declared “ all politicians in Kwara state passed through Baba Saraki’s political school of thought. It was Baba Saraki that made me the secretary of Offa LG. I will remain loyal to the leader”.

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