The Olofa of Offa in the Offa Local Government Area of Kwara State, Oba Mufutau Gbadamosi, in a recent interview, He spoke on the April 5 bank robberies in the ancient town and the police investigation into the raids
When asked about some of the suspects arrested were allegedly seen at the wedding of Saraki’s daughter suggesting that they are close friends of his family.
He said:
You can see them at (social) venues. It is just like you sending someone with your car to go and get something from the market and he decides to use the car for another thing.
Would that mean that you are the one that sent him to go and do that? If I give you my car to pick a friend from Ilorin, and on your way, you decide to branch to Omu-Aran to go and do another thing, does that mean I am the one that sent you to Omu-Aran? That is it! If it is a question of thugs, all the politicians have thugs.
You would not know what they are doing. I listened to the confessions of the suspected robbers. They never said he (Saraki) sent them to go and rob.
They said they were his political thugs and that he was not aware of their robbery (operations).
Some people argue that Saraki, by empowering them and giving them vehicles, emboldened them to commit crimes and they felt protected or shielded by the number three citizen of Nigeria.
He gave vehicles to a lot of people. He gave many people all over the country. Many people received vehicles from him. Even in Offa, any time politicians are doing their empowerment programme, they give out cars, motorcycles and other items to people.
Did they give them such things to them so that they can commit crime? It is to empower them. If they are sensible enough, they use it for commercial purposes. Empowerment is not an encouragement to go and steal.
