The Saraki’s dynasty is
a political dynasty which had it origin in Ilorin, kwara state and Dr. Abubakar
Olushola Saraki is the founder. A dynasty which started over 40 years ago.
Saraki is a doctor turned
politician, who was a senator of the Nigeria Second Republic (1979 – 1983). He
was born in the 17th of May, 1933 at Ilorin, Kwara State. Though,
his claim of Ilorin as a birth place is always questioned by some people, but
this force which had been polling and dictation the pace of the state since the
late 70’s has maintained his stance till date.
PAST
Olushola Saraki first
ventured into politics in 1964, at that time, he contested for the
parliamentary election for Ilorin as an independent candidate, but his dream of
becoming a parliamentarian was dashed when he lost his election. His lost at
that time forced him to return to Lagos to continue his medical practice.
THE BIRTH OF THE DYNASTY
14 years after he lost
his first election, Saraki returned back to politics in 1977 when he was
elected as a member of constituent Assembly that produced the 1979 constitution
of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, his emergence at that time marked the
beginning of the Saraki’s dynasty. Later in 1979, he was elected a Senator of
the second republic and become a Senate Leader. Saraki was later elected in
1983 into the Senator on the platform of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN).
In establishing what is
today known as the Saraki’s dynasty, Olushola Saraki after himself, supported
Alhaji Adamu Atta who came from the minority ethnic group in his bid to become
the first civilian governor in Kwara State in 1979, the support he provided
paid off Atta emerges Governor.
After few years, Saraki
had crisis with Governor Adamu Atta, his new – development means a political
contest would have to take place between himself and the incumbent governor if
the Governor stands as a candidate for re – election. Having fell off with the
incumbent Governor whom he helped win the election in 1979, Saraki anointed a
candidate to contest against the Governor. Lately in the contest, Saraki
instead declared his support at the die minute to the election for Cornelius
Olatunji Adebayo, this was necessary having seen that his own candidate was not
popular enough to win the election.
As a result of Saraki’s
support C.O.Adebayo who was not very sure of victory won the election and
become Governor in 1983, but he later lost his position in December 1983 when
the military lead by Major General Muhammed Buhari overthrew the government.
Saraki nominated Saba Lafiagi in 1992 and he won the governorship under General
Ibrahim Babangida’s regime, before the taken over by General Sani Abacha in 1993.
Also, Upon returning to
civilian rule in 1999 after the demise of General Sani Abacha, Saraki anointed
Late. Admiral Mohammed Alabi Lawal who become the governor under the platform
of APP where Saraki was a member of the Board of Trustee. Having went on
loggerhead with Lawal, Saraki decamped from ANPP to PDP and nominated his
biological son Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki to become the Governor in 2003,
Saraki’s son emerges against the incumbent Governor which proved the unstop
ability of Saraki in the midst of tight situation.
THE PRESENT
The returning of Bukola
Saraki as governor in 2007 after a serious contest and defeat of Comrade Gbenga
Olawepo in a controversial way signifies his last eligibility according to the
Nigeria constitution, which means that the kwara godfather who is obviously
growing old and tired needed to prepare his children ahead of 2011. In his
desperation to uphold the status quo and transfer the godfatherism power to his
son, Saraki decided to use his last strength to create a godfatherism
transition avenue, which shall see his son and the entire family take over the
decision making of Kwara State. He then decided to create a public manipulative
game, just as he did in 2003 against the then incumbent Governor Late. Admiral
Muhammed Alabi Lawal, where he manipulated the people to dethrone the then Governor.
At that time; the only
weapon that did the magic for Saraki was turning the Islamic Scholars against
the Governor, an effort he achieved by claiming that the Late Governor was
going to dethrone the Emir if he wins the second term tenure and also that the
Governor was disrespectful to the Royal House of Ilorin (ILE ALIMI). A house
regarded and respectful by all scholars and people of Ilorin. This singular
issue pitched the scholars against the Governor while Saraki reap the benefits
politically, it’s was a situation which later lead to the eventual defeat of
Mohammad Alabi Lawal in his bid to seek re – election in 2003, though after the
removal and demise of the Late Governor, a popular Islamic Scholar with the
name Sheikh Buhari ibn musa lamented the ignorance of the scholars at that time
about the Saraki’s game which pitched them against the helper of the people,
this was said at the 4th years remembrance prayer session organized
for the late Admiral.
Ahead of 2011,Saraki
decided to introduce another game to achieve his political dream of
godfatherism transition between himself and his son to continue the line of the
Saraki’s dynasty, he then created a two
version like contest between his family, where both version shall pursue its
political interest separately on two different fronts, one front lead by
himself and the other by his son Bukola Saraki who is the immediate past
Governor of the state and presently a senator representing Kwara Central
Senatorial District.
Saraki lead his
daughter, Gbemi Saraki to depart the PDP to a new platform (ACPN) with no
structure to contest for the governorship position, while his anointed his own
candidate and remain at the PDP. At the conclusion of the election which
produces Alh Abdulfatah Ahmed as executive Governor, Saraki reunite with his
son in PDP, this was after successfully placing him as the only determinant
factor in the kwara polity.
To prove the atmosphere
of the version like created during the electioneering period was nothing but a
game, the majority of the appointments given in the present administration went to the members of
the ACPN who returned to PDP immediately after the election was concluded,
notably among them is the Chief of Staffs, Alhaji Toyin Sanusi who is popularly
known to be P.A and the right man of Dr. Olusola Saraki, the father during the
election period.
PRESENT STATUS OF THE DYNASTY
At present, The saraki’s
dynasty is comfortably sitting on the political control of the state, which may
likely continue for some time. The main godfather Olusola Saraki is quietly
sitting indoor, his son who just become the new godfather is dictating the
pace, who get what, where and how in the state at present. He was responsible
for the installation of the Governor, Senators, Federal House of Representative
members, members of State House of Assembly, Chairmen, Commissioners and
including S.A’s, all these people holding this respective position are
accountable to this young man, but as unbelievable as it seems, this is the
reality on ground as far as Kwara State is concerned.
FUTURE
The future of the
Saraki’s dynasty presently seems bright as they control virtually every
situation in the state without any opposition, political opposition that may
wish to make any statement would have a very huge mountain to climb. Besides
this fact, Saraki has strategically positioned most of his family members in
strategic leadership role one after the other, a situation which may help them
retain power for very long time to come.
For example, before 2003
when Bukola Saraki came to contest for the Governorship election, he was a
presidential adviser under the first term tenure of President Olushola
Obasanjo, Saraki’s daughter; Gbemi Saraki at that time was a member of the
Federal House of Representative. In 2003, Bukola Saraki became the Governor of
the state, Gbemi Saraki became the Senator representing Kwara Central, Laolu
Saraki was made an S.A to the Governor on Student Affairs.
In 2007, Bukola Saraki
was re-elected as the Governor, Gbemi Saraki as Senator, Laolu Saraki became a
Presidential Adviser under the Late. President Umaru Musa Yaradua and another
member of the Saraki extended family, Ope Saraki was made the S.A to the
Governor on Student Affairs. In 2011, Bukola Saraki became a senator
representing Kwara Central Senatorial District after taking over the
godfatherism position from his father, he installed the present Governor
Alh.Abdulfatah Ahmed and virtually every political appointment holder in and
outside the State. Ope Saraki was made the S.A on MDG to the present Governor
why Gbemi and Laolu Saraki are living large.
What all those closely
watching the Kwara situation are usually
surprised at this that, none of the Saraki’s family members have any real
business except politics, this made it seems that they have already resolved to
keep the state as their personal business. To continue holding unto power and
maintain the godfatherism transition without going broke, Bukola Saraki decided
to adopt his father’s style where all those who made it to their respective
positions under him were made to pay a certain percentage of their earning in
their respective positions to Saraki. This pay shall serve as the fuel fee
needed to keep the game rolling for the family. A situation was recently
rumored to have occurred between Senator Saba Lafiaji and Senator Bukola after
receiving the first constituency allowance as a Senator, an allowance which
amount to around N500,000,000.00.
Bukola Saraki was
rumored to have approached Saba Lafiaji just as he approached every other Kwara
Representative at the National Assembly to pay out of their received
allowances. He was rumored to have demanded for sum of N400,000,000.00 out of
the N500,000,000.00 received by the Senator’s as constituency allowance, but
according to the rumor, Saba Lafiaji requested to know why he had to give out
such amount, Saraki explained that
N300,000,000out of the N400,000,000 requested would go to the father, why the
remaining N100,000,000 go into the party pocket for it up keeping. Saba was
said to have refused to oblige with his request and said the money is meant for
constituency projects not for party’s upkeep. The situation was rumored to have
created a conflict between the two, though no one confirm the story, but the story
spread far and wide across the State in public discussion.
In my opinion, if the
present political situation and the strategic positioning of the Saraki family
are to be considered, one would have no doubt about the continuation of the
Saraki’s dynasty for a long time to come. Through, the general believe of the
people of the state is that, the situation is destined and likely to change
immediately after the demise of the Saraki who is feared by many prominent and
wealthy personalities in the state.
OPPOSITION TO THE DYNASTY
For over 40 years of
Saraki’s leadership of Kwara State, he had always made it through every
political battle that came his way, though he never went unchallenged at any
time.
In saraki’s bid to
install Adamu Atah as Governor in 1979, he was challenged by Obatemi Usman. In
1983, Adamu Atah whom he supported to become Governor in 1979 turned against
hoim, but Saraki later supported another of his opposition in the person of
Chief C.O Adebayo, this was the case when it was obvious that his anointed
candidate cannot make it. C.O Adebayo was supported to ensure that the
incumbent Governors who defy him did not return to power. In 1999, Saraki was
challenged by Yekini Alabi, young Gbenga Olawepo and others in his bid to make
Alabi Lawal the Executive Governor of the state; he was later challenged in
2003 by Lai muhammed and Alabi Lawal whom he help to make Governor in 1999, in
2007, Saraki was once again challenged by Gbenga Olawepo as the leading
challenger, alongside others like Bamgboye and Senator Sulaiman Ajadi. In 2011,
Saraki was challenged by Gbenga Olawepo, Dele Belgore, Abdul Razaq Rahman etc.
Other challenger to the
Saraki’s dominance are Bilikisu Gambari, Lola Ashiru etc. Gbenga Olawepo was
the first man to ever challenge Saraki in the court of law on the basis of
election rigging in 2007, the challenge which went from the tribunal to the
appeal court was later given in favor of Saraki’s son, Bukola Saraki.
In conclusion, Despite
all opposition against Saraki, he has always come out victorious, but none of
his previous political victory could equate the fact he achieved at the just
concluded election where he successfully transfer his godfatherism status to his
son. Although, many believed that the son lack the charisma and leadership
qualities to achieve the kind of success and victorious enjoyed by his father,
people still believe that despite all strategic positioning of the Saraki’s
family in the key political positions, their strength shall fade away in the
absence of their father in a very short while.
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