How The Otoge Movement Swept SARAKI Out Of Power

•Insiders Reveal Shocking Details

It has been a turbulent time in the history of Nigeria politics where the last election saw the fall of many political giants who either lost out of their various constituencies or overpowered by other opposition parties. One of the biggest fall and shock of the just concluded national assembly election for Kwara Central was how the senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki was beaten hands down and lost to APC candidate, Olori egbe who gave him a run for his supporters.

It was very shocking to many election observers but to the Kwarans, they intentionally and uniformly decided to edge out the Saraki dynasty which has dominated and rule Kwara for many years. This will see the ousted of Senator Bukola’s Saraki as the senate president or even as a senator at the Upper Chamber at 9th assembly.

It has been a happy mood for most Kwarans in the last few days because they have finally been free from the Saraki Dynasty which has ruled them since when Senator Olusola Saraki who was Sen Bukola Saraki’s father was the governor of Kwara State, then passed on to his son, Bukola and also the sons anointed governor, Ahmed. What could have led to this great revolution? Who coin the “O TO GE Movement“? How did the kwarans fought for this freedom and what were their major strategy?

Citypeople Magazine spoke to many Kwarians and they gave many reasons which led to the fall of Senator Bukola Saraki in Kwara which will in adversely affect his political career or ground him politically in the scheme of things.

*O TO GE MOVEMENT “EFFECT

When the “O to ge movement“ slogan surfaced in the heat of political tension in Kwara stae, It was strongly believed that it was impossible for the opposition party to registered their presence with that movement seeing how much the Sarakis dynasty was loved in Kwara. In view of this development, the movement commenced on all fronts, and today the effect is massive across the state.

What is the history of the “O TO GE “Movement? Who coined the words“ enough is enough“?

Saturday Vanguard reliably gathered that   the movement indeed started in 2017 after the local governments election, which few members of the opposition party allegedly won but were reportedly denied. Seething with anger over the outcome of the last Local Governments election, in the state,a rally tagged O to ge was planned and   approved by the police.

It was conducted around Ilorin to express their grievances over the outcome of the election. Consequently,there was a meeting under the aegis of Kwara Liberation Movement of all members not in Saraki’s political group in the residence of Dr Amuda Aluko in ilorin. It was to strategize on how to win elections in the state in the coming elections considering all available options.

Then came the movement   of the Senate President Dr Bukola Saraki and his loyalists out of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), a development that commenced the movement of members between the two major political patties in the state. After several movements in and out the two main political parties have defined their memberships.

The strategists resumed in the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC)in the state. The O to ge political jargon literarily resurfaced again after the party’s candidate,Hon Raheem Olawuyi Ajulo won the house of representatives bye election conducted on November 17,2018 to replace Princess Funke Adedoyin.

It was during the review of the performances of the party in that bye election at a meeting by the stakeholders of the party, that the words,” O to ge”returned and it was adopted as the campaign sloganof all the party’s candidates in the state. The gubernatorial candidate of the APC , Alh Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq had, in his own wisdom, approved O to ge as his own campaign slogan and others followed.

Not only did a popular musician sang a song about it, there was also a dance tagged “O to ge dance“ which was danced on the street of Ilorin.

HIS MESSY FIGHT WITH SISTER, GBEMISOLA SARAKI            

There is no doubt that the aged long feuds between these 2 biological siblings of the Sarakis dynasty must have contributed to the exit of Senator Bukola Saraki in politics. Of course they were supposed to be close as children of same parent but there is no doubt that politics has put asunder in their relationship as Siblings. 

As children of the same parents, Bukola Saraki, the incumbent Senate President, and his sister, Gbemi, a two-term Senator, who shares a striking physical resemblance, live like cats and dogs. They don’t attends each other parties and this was evidence when Senator Bukola Sarakis daughter weds, Senator Gbemisola was avoidably absence at the party.

Bukola is a two-term governor of their native Kwara State and is seeking a third term as a Senator representing Kwara Central Senatorial district. Gbemi, an Economics graduate of the University of Sussex, UK, was first elected a member of the House of Representatives in 1999 on the platform of the All People’s Party, APP, before being elected a Senator in 2003 and 2007 as a PDP member.

Attempts by their late father, Oloye Olusola Saraki, to make Gbemi succeed her brother as Kwara State governor failed as Bukola instead pitched his tent with the incumbent Governor of Kwara State, Governor Ahmed. While Senator Saraki made sure he settled his riff with his father before he breath his last, he however didn’t see his sister as a threat until later days. Senator Gbemi didn`t only campaign for APC and She did a video where she made mockery of PDP raising his APC identity card rolling out her tongue.

WHY THE TOP ILORINS CLERICS WERE AGAINST HIM

Another reason one of our strong source revealed for the exit of Senator Saraki in political relevance of Kwara state is the beef between top Kwara Alfas fondly called “Alihulamohu“ and Senator Bukola Saraki is the fact that he gave much attention to a popular Lagos based Ilorin Alfas. They believed that he pinched tent with him rather than give attention to many of Ilorin Alfas.

Don’t forget that it was the same Islamic clerics who prayed for him when he had a case with CCTV at the tribunal many months ago. This was why it was alleged that some alfas prayed for his lost at the just concluded election.  

WHY MANY KWARIANS LOVE HIS FATHER MORE THAN HIM

One thing many kept saying in the City of Ilorin was that Senator Bukola Sarakis father, Late Olusola Saraki has a strong political hold on many Kwarians. It was said that the old Saraki, late Olusola always come down to any level for the Kwarians.

It was also revealed that Late Olusola Saraki always trat them like one of his own why Saraki bring a western culture to the Saraki dynasty. A taxi driver by name, Mrs Suleiman Kasili revealed that a typical example was when Sarakis daughter weds. He explained that the late Olusola Saraki never take his event out of Ilorin for any reasons.

Speaking in Yoruba dialect, he explained that it w as just a way to give people sense of belonging. He explained that bringing the wedding to Lagos made some Ilorin prominent families who share strong alliance with late Sarakis felt aggrieved. It was said that even some of the ilroin families were locked out of the venue of the wedding and many were aggrieved by this.  They felt he shot-listed them by bringing it the Mega Party to Lagos.

WHY MANY TOP ILORIN ISLAMIC SINGERS REVOLTS AGAINST HIM

Do you know top Ilorin Islamic clerics also form a strong movement against Saraki with the “O TO GE MOVEMENT? Well, permit us to tell you that Ibrahim Labaika, who happens to be number 1 Muslim Islamic cleric made a Video warning Senator Bukola Saraki to stop using his album for his political campaign.

He said that he had produced an album for Sarakis in the past and made all effort to speak with him which prove abortive until when he had issue and he decided to use his album to champion his campain. He wowed to sue any radio station who uses his song to campaign for Senator Bukola Saraki. So also is Kamarudeen Ayelogun who also pinched his tent with APC.  

ALL THE CANDIDATES FILLED BY APC ARE PROMINENT KWARA FAMILY

Another reasons which was given for the fall of Sarakis dynasty in Ilorin is that the candidates at the opposition party APC is from prominent Ilorin family. Saraki lost to Dr. Oloriegbe of the All Progressives Congress with a total of 123,808 votes to defeat the Senate President who scored 68,994 votes in the four local governments of Kwara Central Senatorial District.

In Asa local government, Dr Oloriegbe of the APC polled a total of 15,932 votes to defeat Saraki that scored 11,252 votes.The APC candidate also got 30, 014 votes in Ilorin East local government to 14,654 polled by his PDP rival in the Senatorial race.In Ilorin West, stronghold of Sen. Saraki, Oloriegbe polled 51,531 votes to defeat the senate president with 30,075 votes.

It was revealed that Senator Oloriegbe is from prominent Ilorin family. He is a medical daughter like Bukola Saraki and a grassroot politician to the core.

He was a Member of the Kwara State House of Assembly on the platform of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) between 1999 and 2003; and you may also wish to know that in 2011, he was the senatorial candidate of the ACN and people of Ilorin voted for him massively. He won the election; but he was not declared the winner.

He went to court to challenge but he didnt come out victorious. Many believed that his candidate may have also worked against Senator Saraki. Don’t also forget that the Governoship candate of Apc is also from the popular Kawara family, the Abdulrasak. He is one of the bothers of Senator Airat Gwadabe.

WHY ILORIN INDIGENES ARE ANGRY WITH SARAKI

According to an Ilorin indigene who pleaded for anonymity to City People said, Senator Saraki is a greedy man who will always want to be at the centre of everything, especially in Ilorin.

“Did you know that Senator Saraki is the one running the affair of the State. Governor Fatai is just like is an errand boy. Saraki still holds the main account belonging to Kwara government. No contract is awarded except he gives approval. And no money can be released without his permission.

Did you also know that Senator Saraki gets more than 35 percent from the salary of every local government Councilors and Chairmen. The 50 thousand naira allocation meant for their wives goes to Bukola’s bank account”. He also said, he has sold all the land in the highbrow of Ilorin, the state capital. He has sold most of the properties of the state.” These are some of the things that got the people of Kwara infuriated to form a movement against him.

THE OFFA ROBBERY AND ALLEGE CONNECTION OF SARAKI

Offa robbery may have been far forgotten but many Kwarians cant forget in a hurry the drama that follow suit. Not only was the Senate President linked with one of the suspect, he was also call to explain. Many said that this must have affected his political career one way or the other.