I like Saraki

He is the medical doctor son of a medical doctor

Kwara political leader son of a Kwara political leader

Senator son of a senator

Senator brother of a senator sister

Senate president son of a senate leader

Former Governor for 8yrs

Former chairman Nigerian Governors Forum

Former Bank Managing Director

Former Special Adviser to President Obasanjo

Senate President and now a life member of the Nigerian Council of State.

Before joining the APC, Bukola Saraki was the political leader of PDP in Kwara state, who was allowed the perogative to produce his successor, of course it wasn't an easy battle, he had to confront his own father.
His father, the great "Oloye" wanted his sister Gbemisola as the next governor, but Bukola felt that would be unfair to the rank of their followers and would breed hopelessness amongst them, besides he had to seriously consider the Ilorin Emirate clear body language of not being prepared for a female governor, especially a "single" one.
He prevailed over his dad and installed his own successor.

In the then PDP government, he was given a ministerial slot(Minister of Sports, Bolaji Abdullahi) and a first class board position(Chairman, Nigerian Railways Corporation, Kawu Baraje) to fill with his supporters. Both men resigned their positions from the GEJ led PDP government,when their leader Bukola Saraki decamped to APC.

As the APC leadership structure began taking shape, each of the legacy parties of ANPP, CPC, ACN, APGA (partly) was picking up the prime positions except the nPDP.

1. ANPP -National Chairman
2. CPC -President
3. ACN- Vice President
4. ?- Senate President
5. ? - Speaker, House of Reps
6. ?- Chairman BOT
7. ?- Chairman, APC Governors Forum.

TINUBU/APC proposal for 4th to 7th positions.
4. ANPP ( Ahmed Lawan)
5. ACN (Femi Gbajabiamila)
6. ACN (Bola Tinubu)
7. APGA (Rochas Okorocha)

From the aforementioned arrangement, nPDP members were not to be entrusted with any of the above influencial party or government positions.
Atiku and Saraki clearly got the message.

Harold D Lasswell defined "Politics as who gets what, when and how".

Atiku wanted to be BOT chairman just like Tinubu, till today due to too many intrigues, that position remains unoccupied in APC. Atiku for lack of an official position of influence within the APC eventually left the party.

Politicians play politics.

Saraki was not going to give up all his political gains in PDP for nothing, for him it was time for deft political manoeuver. He knew with Tinubu controlling the largest block of the APC senators, especially from the South West and North East, he would never emerge as Senate president, he remembered vividly that it was Tinubu who ensured his father-in-law, Otunba Adekunle Ojora did not become the Oba of Lagos, even though he was highly favoured to be. The late Oba Oyekan had even written a letter endorsing Otunba Ojora as his successor, but that was jettisoned and Tinubu's choice was crowned.

Bola Tinubu is more than a smart politician, he has a knack for "seeing the future" politically and he knew on time that Bukola Saraki was groomed only for the top and he had to be watched, hence he could not afford to have a Saraki exerting influence in Lagos politics if his father-in-law becomes the Oba of Lagos, which could likely be his decision to support the emergence of the current Oba of Lagos.
It is worthy of note that Bukola Saraki's wife, Toyin, is the daughter of billionaire Prince Adekunle Ojora, who was Chairman AGIP, Nigeria Limited for 31years, who was highly favoured to be the Oba of Lagos, the matter is still subject to litigation till this very day.

With this facts in mind, the only route to a possible emergence of Bukola Saraki as Senate President was to enter into a pact with the PDP, the respected two time Senate President David Mark was on hand to ensure that all PDP senators supported and voted for Saraki, as long as Ike Ekweremadu, David Mark's former Deputy was voted for as Deputy Senate President.
The "coup" succeeded and Saraki emerged, he has just completed a very turbulent tenure as Senate President but the charismatic Saraki had the support of most of his colleagues and has emerged unscathed.

As the 8th senate comes to a close today. Ipso facto,it can be said that Senate President Bukola Saraki has led the most result oriented Senate since 1999.

Bills passed by the 5th to 8th Senate.

8TH SENATE..........318
7TH SENATE...........128
6TH SENATE...........72
5TH SENATE...........129.

Surely, ABUBAKAR BUKOLA SARAKI(ABS) came, saw & magnificently conquered against all odds.


Hon Ehi' Egharevba (JP)
Bsc, Msc, MIHD.