A group, Maja Movement Association (MMA) Ilorin has taken former governor of Osun State, Chief Bisi Akande to task for allegedly referring to the senators that brought to power the Senate President Bukola Saraki as "oil barons."

Co-ordinator of the group, Alhaji Suleiman Yusuf said at a press briefing in Ilorin, the Kwara state capital, that the statement, if uttered by Akande was derogatory and unexpected of a person of his calibre.

He also said that while politics is an intriguing endeavour the ripples generated by the emergence of Saraki as the Senate President should not be over dramatised to the level of referring to Nigerian senators "or even anyone at all as oil barons in the name of politics."

Suleiman also threatened withdrawal of the elder statesman status accorded Akande in Kwara state if he failed to withdraw the said statement or apologise to those concerned

"We are more surprised that the said statement was credited to Chief Akande.

If it is true, then, what could have led him into making such a statement? I don’t think politics under whatever guise should be played to this level. He should withdraw the state or lose his credibility with us here in Ilorin and the entire Kwara state."