Date: 2016-11-25

A prominent member of the Senator Gbemisola Ruqayat Saraki (GRS) group, Alhaji Toyin Olosasa has dumped the group and switched allegiance to the Senate President and Chairman of the National Assembly, Dr Bukola Saraki, National Pilot can report.

Olosasa alongside 15 other coordinators of GRS scattered across the state and the woman leader, Hajia Aminat Babareke (popularly known as Iyareke) left the group last month. The group leader disclosed that other interested members of the group will soon cross over to the Senate President's camp.

The six coordinators from Ilorin West who defected with Olosasa are; that of Warah Osin/Egbejila, Hon Rasaq Ajape, one Maryam (Badari), Oladimeji Ahmed Alapata (Baaboko), Bashir Elepoaran (Oloje), Alhaji Muideen Olojoku and Alhaji AbdulRaheem Onikaun who are both coordinators of Ubandawaki ward.

Nine coordinators from Ilorin South including Alhaji Saka Olanrewaju and Sule Hamza, one of the GRS elders from Ilorin East also reportedly made the switch. Olosasa said he tendered his resignation last month and informed Gbemi about his decision through a text message.

Recall that the grassroots politician has been with the former gubernatorial candidate since 2002 and served as her campaign and constituency manager in 2003 and 2004 respectively.

Saraki hosted Olosasa and other coordinators of GRS when he visited the state few weeks back, where he reportedly promised them of full acceptance and incorporation to move the state forward, it was gathered. Olosasa who stormed the corporate headquarters of National Pilot on Tuesday in company of the former woman leader of GRS, said his decision to dump GRS for ABS was not based on his quest for position, adding that he had always been a Sarakite.

Recall that Gbemisola dumped the People's Democratic Party, PDP at the twilight of the 2015 elections and directed all her supporters to vote for the All Progressives Congress, APC following alleged frustration by some leaders of the party.

There were reports that the national leadership of the APC planned to visit the state to officially accept her membership into the APC but nothing has been heard since them. She was recently appointed as the Chairman, Governing Council of Federal Universty, Otuoke, Bayelsa State.

Speaking further on his decision, Olosasa said his interest in politics has always been for late Baba Saraki, adding that Bukola Saraki has replicated his father with his uncommon programmes for the masses. "The main issue is the high level of performance by the Senate President, Dr Abubakar Saraki which impressed me a lot and amassed most of us in GRS. He is a leader toeing the same line with his late father in whom we all believed in.

"We all believe we are still in the dynasty and we can't go to any other place. We believe in Saraki's leadership", he added. He refuted the allegation that he had been dumped, adding that his activities in GRS cannot be quantified.

"We had no problem or quarrel and I have informed her of my decision to leave her structure. She was not against my leaving since she knows that I am leaving for Saraki. The Senate President is a nice leader and true son of his father. He had to cancel lots of appointments just to attend to us when he came to the state.

"We are in an economic recession now and political appointment is somehow limited. My coming to ABS is not meant to fight for position but to support him in order to uplift the standards of the emirate and Kwarans at large. I believe in all his political activities and I am ready to add value to them. My constituency welcomed my decision and even organised a prayer to mark it in the mosque", he added.