Date: 2015-07-26

A caucus of the All Progressives Congress in Kwara State has described the statement credited to the Chairman of the party in Kwara State, Mr. Ishola Balogun-Fulani on the invitation of Mrs. Toyin Saraki, wife of a former governor of the state by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) as presumptuous, reckless and self-serving.

The statement reads: it is rather too hasty for the state chairman of the party to have rushed into addressing the press on a matter that is at the level of invitation, when she was not arrested in the first place. It is still dignifying to be invited for questioning than been forcefully taken away.

"Mrs. Saraki on her own has committed herself in a release that she was going to honor the invitation as a law abiding citizen. The position of Mr. Balogun-Fulani on this remains and should be considered his personal opinion. Was the mater discussed at the APC State, Central Working Committee or Executive meeting before he addressed the press?

"The public will recall that a former lawmaker in the state was recently invited by the same anti-graft agency for explanations on a water project running into about N100m that was executed some years ago. The party did not rise to defend him then as an indigene of the state. That Mrs. Saraki left government house about 5 years ago does not mean that she cannot be called to give accounts of her sojourn in that house at any time because was an 'influence' in the corridor of power when her spouse held sway in the state.

"It baffles logic of reasoning why the chairman rushed to the press on a matter that has just been opened to investigations. Has Mr. Fulani considered the legal implication of his utterances? We advise him and others sold to unbridled loyalty not to view all matters with their political antennae.

"Another woman who happened to be a daughter of a former president and wife of a former state governor was equally invited to appear before the EFFC interrogators on the same day with Mrs. Saraki. Where is witch-haunting coming from? We assume that the chairman will read the rhythm in the country well and never consider calling out the unsuspecting old women at this time when the nation security is facing challenges."

The statement further advised the chairman of the party in the state to settle to business of progressive thinking and assist the state government that is currently over-burdened with debts and back log of salary arrears.

"Mr. Fulani should at least take clue from the confessions of the chief executive of the state, Governor Abdulfattah Ahmed on the radio few days ago that, the state has been looking inward to improve her internally generated revenue so as to ward off financial pressure that is mounting on the state now.

"Local Goverment staff are owed between 4 -5 months salary, parastatals could not meet their financial obligations and other challenges as you are aware of; would it not amount to gains should Mrs. Saraki refund some monies into the coffers of the state like some high profile Nigerians have opted to do instead of public prosecution?

"It unheard that the wife of a former governor was refers to as 'mother' of the state; should we go by that how many 'mothers', as wives of former governors do you have, Mr. Chairman? How then would you describe Mrs. Owolewa Ahmed, who is the wife of the sitting governor? Loyalty taken too far sir.

"We wish to state without equivocation that never again shall we allow issues that border essentially on our corporate entity as APC in the state to go unchecked because such may impugn on our integrity as a people. We are in support of the anti-corruption war of the President Muhammadu Buhari's administration which we are sure is the only way that can guarantee the survival of the common man in this country." The statement concluded.

Caucus for Progressive Change are the undersigned:

Kayode Oyin-Zubair

Raheem Jimoh

Kayode Ogunlowo

Olu Ajisafe

Oluwole Adeyeye