The local government election in Kwara State is less than four weeks and Dr Bukola Saraki and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) have been doing everything possible to ensure the election isn’t held on September 21, 2024, as scheduled by the state electoral commission.
Initially, Saraki and the PDP tried to use the court to stop the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from releasing the voter register to KWSIEC and when that didn’t work, they resorted to sponsoring unrest in some parts of the State hiding under the recent increase in fuel price by the NNPC.
In the wake of the protest in some parts of the State over fuel hike, this medium learnt that those thugs and tricyclists who blocked roads and harassed fellow citizens were mostly members of the PDP and were sponsored by Saraki and the PDP in their efforts to score cheap political points.
In the areas where the protests were staged, the residents confirmed that most of the thugs and tricyclists wore the face caps the PDP shared among its members in the last general elections, giving credence to the assertion that the protest was sponsored by Saraki and his party to cause unrest across the State.
Expressing disappointment over the activities of the protesters which include harassment of commuters, the residents of these communities urge the state government to ensure that the political protesters are stopped from hiding under the current situation of the country to cause unrest in the state.
“What we witnessed in our community today wasn’t a protest about the fuel hike. It was pure harassment intended to cause unrest in the state. People were forcefully dragged down from the bikes and tricycles and were asked to trek instead. Most of these acclaimed protesters are known members of the PDP and even wore its,” Mariam Babatunde, disclosed.
Another resident, Folorunso Adams, said he overheard one of the acclaimed protesters say they would not stop the protest until the whole state was in chaos. “We won’t stop blocking roads and harassing commuters until the whole state is plunged in crisis. I want to see how the local government elections will be held when the is in chaos,” he said.
