“Lord make me an instrument of your peace, where there is hatred, let me show love,
where there is injury, pardon, where there is doubt, faith, where there is despair, hope. Where there is darkness, light and Where there is sadness, joy. The words of St Francis of Assis (1181-1226)
For those who are not too familiar with the polity and politics of Kwara State, the governor’s father, Dr Abubakar Olusola Saraki, the Waziri of Ilorin, has remained the dominant figure till date. He has been in active politics for forty years, and has displayed a somewhat intimidating knowledge, an impressive understanding of the nuances of the politics of the state more than any of his contemporaries in any of the states across the federation. The incumbent governor Bukola Saraki though his son would be the third elected governor he would install in office.
His track record therefore marks him out as a genius in Kwara politics. Dr Olusola Saraki, could easily tick off at his fingertips all the wards in the 16 local government councils in the state; off handedly he could recall all the names and villages in the state, and the people that matter in the affairs of their respective communities at a particular time and how best to get at them, whenever he wants them. Saraki knows the secret of Kwara politics, to simply say the least. As expected he had stepped on toes, but many of those who disagreed with him often had cause to want to realign with him when it comes to the issue of struggle for political power again.
The most potent of all his political arsenals is his knack for spending money. He is easily the biggest spender around Kwara because when he spends he doesn’t look back. The people who matter in Nigerian politics can take anything from him, but you can’t take from him his fierce grip on the political power of the state.
So when he decided to field his son for the governorship race late 2002 during the political war between himself and Alh. Mohmmed Lawal, it was like a Daniel himself coming to judgment. Governor Bukola Saraki emerged in the tradition of all the past elected governors. Dr Saraki was the last candidate on the streets.
For close to a year preceding the election when other aspirants like Alh. Lai Mohammed, (AD) Deacon John Dara, Alh, Yakeen Alabi, Alh. Larima Abdullahi, L. A. K. Jimoh, and others in PDP had erected, billboards and pasted campaign posters across the state, spending millions of naira no single poster of Governor Saraki was found until after he won the fierce battle at the primaries through high level political maneuvering.
Long before some past elected governors in the state had often said nasty things about Dr Abukakar Olusola Saraki, described in the political circles as the strongman of Kwara politics that he never gave them free hand to govern, to which he usually dismissed such accusations with “ it was never so. I never took any contract from any state of the federation including Kwara and the federal government since I’ve been in politics”. Chief Saraki, was to repeat this refrain penultimate Saturday at the lawn tennis court of the Kwara state stadium Ilorin, when he played tennis with the Deputy governor, Chief Joel Ogundeji to mark his 71 years birthday.
The permutation of keen watchers of Kwara politics at the inception of this administration was that, it was the king maker that was indeed coming into government. Secondly, the usual political bickering of a god father and his governor that usually characterize governance, like it happened here during the administrations of Alh. Mohammed Lawal and even Alh. Shaaba Lafiagi and like its happening in Oyo state between, Alh Lamidi Adedibu and governor Adewolu Ladoja etc may likely not happen in Kwara this time because such would rather start and end in the bedroom. It has been a case of a relationship between a father and his son in the governance of Kwara state in last one year.
Since his foray into politics, Governor Bukola Saraki is believed to have almost succeeded in detaching himself from the shadow of his father. Now, the shouts of “Sai Bukky” rents the air in Ilorin in public outing from the same people who were used to shouting “Oloye”. The shout of “Oloye” comes up only once in a while when “Baba” is in town. Considering what is happening it is the perspective of some observers that Governor Bukola Saraki has all the chances and privileges to create an enduring legacies that would be unsurpassed in the history of Kwara state.
They say that one year after assuming office he has left nobody in doubt that he really wants to take Kwara to greater heights. Within few weeks in office, it has been credited to him the smoothness in grasping the art of governance to the chagrin of the technocrats who feel he would be dependent on them. To a reasonable extent, it is said he appreciates the presence of grassroot politicians in government, the Oloye Apostles such as the chief of staff, Alh. Ganiyu cook Olododo, Who is in charge of real politics.
This man is said to be as powerful as the governor, because he is believed to understand the politics of Olusola Saraki more than any other person around and so has been taking any decision including those ones Governor Bukola Saraki might not necessarily like, but which would definitely soothe Olusola Saraki. He is said to have been so strategically placed to balance the interest of the governor and maintain the tradition that brought him to office so that they don ‘t get eroded.
Whereas the special Assistant to the governor on Communication and Strategy Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi in his own case was drafted from THISDAY into government, he understands the mind set of the governor. He is equally powerful because it is believed that he helps in formulating honest and highly intelligent government polices and decisions, that have further warmed him into the heart of the governor.
