A support group loyal to the Minister of State, Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, Senator Gbemisola Ruqayyah Saraki, the GRS Movement, has stated that the minister’s presence in Ilorin since yesterday was to work for the success of the Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in tomorrow’s election, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The Group in a statement signed on its behalf by Mr. Adisa Ridwan Ajadi, the Press Secretary, earlier this evening noted that the minister was also determined to ensure that the elections in her home state take place in a peaceful atmosphere as she considers all Kwarans her brothers and sisters who must exercise their franchise without any harassment.
The statement by the group, therefore, contradicted the claim by a blog site believed to be sponsored by the State Government to the effect that Senator Gbemi Saraki has declared support for Alh. Abubakar Atiku, the PDP presidential candidate.
“Sen. Gbemi Saraki is a member of the APC and she supports as well as believes in the candidacy of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The mischievous elements who are trying to make wrong insinuations are only paranoid. Their cheap blackmail and mischief won’t work with the minister. She remains unfazed by the fake news being sponsored by people of little minds.
“Senator Gbemisola Ruqayyah Saraki is a leader of the APC and will not only vote for Tinubu but she has equally also been involved in discussions with candidates of other smaller parties to secure more votes for the APC presidential candidate. Her interest also lies in ensuring that tomorrow’s election takes place in Kwara State without any hitch, with no tension and no crisis of any type. That is why she has been talking to candidates of different parties in Kwara State to emphasise the need for peace, unity, and credibility in the political process and to forge inter-party support for Asiwaju Tinubu.
“On arriving home for the elections, the Honourable Minister visited leaders and candidates from other parties, most of whom were members of the APC and worked assiduously for the victory of the Kwara State Governor in 2019. Most of these leaders appreciate the candidacy of Asiwaju.
“The insecure political elements engaged in the game of blackmail chose to circulate the picture of Senator Saraki’s visit to a candidate contesting on the platform of a particular political party. They conveniently forgot to publish the pictures of her visit to the Director General of the APC governorship campaign, Mr. Yahaya Seriki, and the party’s candidate in the Central Senatorial District, Mallam Salihu Mustapha. This cheap blackmail will not work. The sponsors must be more creative another time”, the GRS Movement stated.