Former Senate President Bukola Saraki has decried the repeated killings and kidnappings across several communities in Kwara State, accusing the Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq-led government of utter failure to protect lives and property.

Mr Saraki, the governor of Kwara from 2003 to 2011, said the state was safer under his administration than it is under the current All Progressives Congress-led government.

“You ask people in Kwara that all the promises made under the so-called ‘O To Gẹ’ were more of propaganda based on what has been achieved,” Mr Saraki said in an interview aired on Channels TV on Thursday. “O To Gẹ government has failed. Even in their own party, they will tell you that you can’t compare our administration with this one.”

‘O To Gẹ’, which translates to “enough is enough,” was a political slogan for the political revolution that dislodged the Peoples Democratic Party from power in Kwara in 2019. Observers described it as a potent campaign slogan deployed to end decades of political hegemony of Mr Saraki’s dynasty in the state.

“You can’t compare where the state was when we were in office and what it is today. I don’t even need to go far. Let’s take security. Somebody was telling me the other day that before, we didn’t do this and that, but we’re safe. People were not dying,” the former governor said.

“I’ll quote an international institution that said Kwara State was one of the safest states in the years. All of a sudden, it has become an emerging area for terrorism and attacks.”

“The responsibility of lives and properties is on the government. I was the governor for eight years. My successor was governor for eight years. If you go and look at data of how many people that were killed in that period, it was in less than number of 10 to 15,” he added.

The politician stated he would not have continued to gather more supporters and presence in the state if the Abdulrazaq-led government had performed well and fulfilled its promises to Kwarans.

The former governor explained, “O To Gẹ has failed. It’s about 40 years, and it’s normal in any environment that people would want change. Now [the APC] have got this. And a lot of people are now saying this is not what we bargained for; these are not better times. These are worse times, and that is where we are in Kwara State today.

“It’s been sixteen years since I have been out of the office. If they’re doing so well, I would not have been able to draw so much presence in the state in terms of followership. In and out of the government, I have always been there for the people.”

Chief press secretary to Mr Abdulrazaq, Rafiu Ajakaye, did not respond to a request for comment on Mr Saraki’s latest allegations.

The former governor’s statement came amid growing terrorist attacks in several Kwara communities, especially in Edu, Patigi, Ifelodun, Kaiama, and other rural communities, where terrorists had disrupted livelihoods and forced people to flee their homes.  

In November last year, terrorists invaded the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) Oke Isegun, in Eruku, Ekiti LGA of the state, killing at least two people while kidnapping several others. The incident drew widespread condemnation from the international community.

Last month, Boko Haram terrorists also stormed Woro and Nuku communities in Kaiama LGA and operated for several hours, killing over 200 people while kidnapping 176 others.

Last Sunday, suspected terrorists also attacked an ECWA Church and abducted eight worshippers during a church service. The terrorists, on Wednesday, demanded N1 billion ransom.

Although the Abdulrazaq-led government promised to restore normalcy to the affected communities and secure citizens, more than 170 kidnapped victims still languish in terrorists’ dens.