Tribute to Oloye Saraki – Man of the people

The message was very brisk: “Duro, how would you feel working with Oloye?” I was transfixed on the phone for a while. Then I replied that working with Oloye (late Dr Olusola Saraki) was a lifetime experience “No sane being would like to miss” He then went on to say that if I was serious […]

The message was very brisk: “Duro, how would you feel working with Oloye?” I was transfixed on the phone for a while. Then I replied that working with Oloye (late Dr Olusola Saraki) was a lifetime experience “No sane being would like to miss”

He then went on to say that if I was serious about the proposition I should make a dash to the headquarters of SGBN in Lagos Island to see Dr Bukola Saraki. I did.

The younger Saraki told me they were actually not just looking for a chief press secretary but a political strategist who would draw a blueprint for the campaign headquarters of Baba Oloye, as the late Saraki was fondly called. He went on to give me an assignment on the blueprint which I was to submit in three days. I left with a warning that I was not the only journalist involved and that I must be the best to be able to get the job. Off I went and I was back the following morning.

“Why are you here? I gave you three days?” Bukola called me that day that the job was mine.

The following day I was introduced to Oloye as his new chief press secretary and he immediately took me as a biological son. He told me that I would learn and benefit a great deal from him if I was hardworking and honest. He asked if my salary had been fixed and I said yes. He laughed and said he would double it for me but with a caveat that “you must not allow Bukola to know”. So it became a secret between me and Baba.

However, the bubble burst when Bukola discovered Baba was giving me twice the amount he approved as my salary. I was summoned to his office and given a scolding of my life. Promptly, my salary was slashed. Baba got to know about it and invited me to his office where he admonished me not take the salary cut issue seriously. He said as a “secret between us, Bukola will pay you your normal salary and I will pay my own. Do not let him (Bukola) know oh”he conspiratorially warned me. And that was how this great and benevolent man treated me with kid gloves all through my stay with him.

Baba Oloye was indeed an enigma whose political shoes would be difficult to fit.

He was benevolent to a fault. Above all, a core family man who wanted the best for his children. Baba loved his children and did everything to prove it. I recall how he showed me the cheque Bukola gave him in support of his presidential ambition. “Duro come and see oo. May God keep these children for me oo. Bukola just contributed N100millon naira to my campaign efforts. Can you imagine?”He said very proudly. The bond between Baba and his children was very strong indeed.

One thing that really endeared me to Baba was his style of politics. Baba believed so much in party supremacy. He also believed that any member of a political party must be fiercely loyal to the party. That was why Baba invested Billions of naira in politics.

All through my sojourn with Baba,I could not recall a single day without Baba dolling out Ghana must Go bags filled with naira notes to party faithfuls. It was an incredible experience.

It was after my appointment as Chief Press Secretary and I was opportuned to get close to the late business and political mogul that I realized he was an intellectual of the highest order. Baba’s (private library) boasted of some of the highest collections of books on planet earth. And of course, Baba was an avid reader who most times engaged himself in philosophical works. Baba was not all about money, as erroneously claimed by many; he was indeed an intellectual giant.

Much as he loved and appreciated people around him, Baba had no room for betrayal in any form. You could only betray Baba at your peril because he would ensure you were ostracized politically. A case in point was the crisis between Baba and former Kwara Governor, Mohammed Lawal. As soon as the crises began, Baba called me one day to said this: “Duro you can see what Lawal (Late former Kwara Governor) has done to me. But I can assure you that his days in office are numbered. I will do whatever it takes to prevent him from getting a second term”. That was essential Baba.Lawal learned the hard way. He was booted out of office.

Baba believed so much in the Nigerian project and worked tirelessly for it. He had his blueprint on how to make Nigeria work. His dream was to work hard to win the Presidency of this great nation but it was not to be. Not quite a few believed that the nation missed the services of a great administrator that would have created a modern Nigeria.

Baba will fondly be remembered for his avid interest in sports especially lawn tennis. I am not sure there is any other Nigerian as interested in this game as Baba. He will never miss Wimbledon or any other major championship for anything. Of course, Baba was not just a lover of the game; he was also a great player.

Nigerians and indeed the entire world will miss you Baba. Will miss your philanthropy, your benevolence, your political sagacity; your discipline and above all, your never- say- die spirit! Adieu.

Duro Meseko, a Senior Special Assistant to Governor Idris Wada, was former Chief Press Secretary to the late Waziri of Ilorin, Dr Olusola Saraki