The Saraki Dynasty: A true reflection

It is on this path, the path of modest objectivity, I intend to correct one or two misrepresentations contained in the article entitled: Saraki: The father, the son and the only daughter? The article was authored by one Kwara State indigene, Yushau A. Shuaib based in Abuja and published in the Vanguard of Wednesday, September […]

It is on this path, the path of modest objectivity, I intend to correct one or two misrepresentations contained in the article entitled: Saraki: The father, the son and the only daughter? The article was authored by one Kwara State indigene, Yushau A. Shuaib based in Abuja and published in the Vanguard of Wednesday, September 2, 2009.

Maybe I should first ask Shuaib, the writer of that article, how he would feel if when his sun is about to set there would be no worthy successor to carry on his legacy? Or what would he feel if at the point of departure from mother earth none of his children is there standing by, fully ready, to take over from where he would stop? Such legacy could be a blossoming career, a business empire or a political career. In the case of Shuaib, what would be at the back of his mind during his last moment if there is none of his children or well wisher to continue with his kind of public affairs commentary/criticism?

I am sure, like any other fellow being, if one is leaving mother earth, most people would wish to leave behind not just  worthy children, in fact, they would wish they have one or two of their children take after them. People long gone who achieved this aim go well celebrated, same cannot be said of those whose case is the reverse. Dr. Abubakar Olusola Saraki has come of age, and no matter what anybody may harbor in his mind, has paid his dues to his kinsmen and the nation, as such deserves not just praises but bountiful prayers.

Nobody knows what Shuaib means when he said Bukola ‘nevertheless seems to be a man of his own and independent in his resolve to make the state great by creating enough job opportunities, unlike his father whose generosity is in doling out money free to old people and youths who do nothing but praise’. If Shuaib wants to curry favour from Bukola now as a governor, must that be done by vilifying the Waziri of Ilorin? I think there is an element of wild foolishness here.

Knowing who the Waziri is, he cannot be the person the writer thinks he is and the governor be another. In this particular case, the father is the builder and maker of people, so also is the son. One thing is however certain, that is, the Senior Saraki’s generousity dates back to the old days of the old men Shuaib is referring to, even before Bukola was born. These same old men are still bearing testimony to the Waziri’s unparalleled philanthropy right from his early days.

Saraki provided his people portable drinking water, educated poor people’s children and empowered as well as set up those who wanted to engage in small scale businesses – all free. Now these same came back to say ‘thank you’ to Saraki, but to Shuaib they are but praise singers. By the way, can Shuaib pinpoint how many philanthropic Sarakis we have north of the Niger?  

The commentator talks about Bukola being independent minded and his resolve to make the state great by creating enough job opportunities. There is no way the father can be different from the son. If the Waziri produced a stunning personality in Dr. Bukola, he too must be a colossus. If the Senior Saraki began the emancipation of his people, here is his son to build on that. That indeed is how it should be.

Shuaib seems also to be oblivious of certain political antecedents in different democracies around the world, when he accused the Waziri, rather ignorantly, of a plan to substitute the Governor with Senator Gbemiosola in 2011. The plan is alleged to include a scheming to make Bukola Senate President because the post has been zoned to North Central and to as well make Muktar Olaolu Saraki, who is a presidential aide, a House of Reps member, also in 2011.

Without necessarily zooming too far, the Bush family provides a classic case of political dynasty. The Bushes had produced two presidents and currently have a governor. Even at that they are not done yet as one of them is said to be eyeing the White House. Talking of influence, maybe Shuaib should be reminded of the election that returned George W. Bush for a second term. The unseen influence of Senior Bush was a bold handwriting on the wall when the election results of Florida suffered a record time delay in the history of US elections.Saraki did not do this much for Bukola and co to win elections. The so-called Saraki influence Shuaib was talking about has been after all justified by Bukola’s  resolve to make the state great by creating enough job opportunities which is also in the interest of Shuaib and his fellow Kwarans. Another example of a great family with political dynasty which should make that of the Sarakis a normal thing rather than the exception is the Kennedy family. So interesting is that of the Kennedy dynasty that even their wives have and are still enjoying the family’s political influence. At the initial stage, only Kennedy family members inherit one another in the political firmament in the US before they paved way for their wives. Back home here, Saraki was very pragmatic in sponsoring, fielding and influencing the election of governors who did not share his blood. They include Adamu Attah, Shaaba Lafiagi, Cornelius Adebayo and late Lawal Mohammed. If he wanted, at the onset of his enviable political career, he could have brought on his direct relations and fixed them in political positions. He rather chose non-family members because he believed in the whole of Kwara, and the nation being his own.

Muhammad is the National  Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Salvation Party