Opinion: The Many 'Sins' of Bukola Saraki. By Wale Bakare

Date: 2014-03-27

There’s truth to the saying that old sins cast longer shadows. And as humans, revenge is the ultimate antidote that can be employed to make one feel spite against our transgressors. To stand up shoulder high to the presidency is no mean feat and Bukola Saraki would have been in the best position to lecture us on the challenges that comes with being a whistleblower.

The weapon of revenge is being deployed visibly on a daily basis with an uncommon desperation to clamp down on anyone with the audacity to challenge the present administration and its self-inflicted status quo. For the Jonathanians, Senator Bukola Saraki is a ‘sinner’ who would not go scot-free until he repents to do their biddings. As it stands, the momentum is fast building again and there are indications to believe that Saraki’s ‘old sins’ are somewhat worse, than his ‘new sin’.

Saraki’s travails may have started in 2011 when he voted in support of the botched PDP zoning formula then as the governor of Kwara and chairman board of Governor’s forum and his subsequent declaration to run for the presidency in the 2011general election. A consensus was eventually reached; the gladiators involved sheath their swords to ensure that Goodluck Jonathan emerged victorious. In 2012, Senator Bukola Saraki was in the news again, this time; the subject of discourse was one that will affect the future of the unborn generation.

Saraki had uncovered the biggest fraud in the history of the downstream sector.   Jonathan’s administration had spent a whooping 1.2trillion on subsidy without any traces of development. This in-depth investigation of the oil subsidy scheme went down as one of the biggest oversight function of the legislative arm for that budget year.  Saraki soon became a target of the oil cabal with the emergency interest and resurrection of his activities as governor of Kwara State.

Undoubtedly, Saraki’s overtly opinionated view is responsible for series of events that has left him as one of the frequent visitors to the anti-graft agencies annex. The allegations against him and the quasi drama that follows remind one of a ‘season film’ that may never end as a result of the different intrigues that unfolds from the last episodes.

Having scaled through the rigorous drilling and questioning for the umpteenth time at the police invitation without a clear verdict, one would expect the former governor and now Senator to go quiet and avoid issues that may pitch him against his adversaries, rather; he has continued to remain vocal using his voice as a weapon to correct the ills on national issues.

Just recently, Bukola Saraki spotted some loopholes in the 2014 Budget where he raised alarm on the N700 million daily budgeted for Kerosene subsidy, which he described as unsustainable. Saraki’s interview on ChannelsTv Sunrise programme of February 6, 2014 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGnhnnxU1FU) also gives a clear insight into the genesis of his perceived fissure with the GEJ led administration.

The defection of Bukola Saraki and the current governor of Kwara State Ahmed Abdul-fatahi alongside the national assembly and the entire party structure to the opposition party is another source of growing headache to the Jonathan’s camp and the reaction afterwards was long overdue. The substitution of the PDP Local government’s nomination list conducted by the state’s chapter of the party with relatively unknown aspirants from Abuja would eventually turn to be a disastrous decision that could prove  costly for the ruling PDP with the total takeover of the party by the Saraki led APC.

Again, Saraki was at the front burner to condemn the presidency for sacking the erstwhile CBN governor in an unceremonious manner. His views corroborate those of the majority who encouraged Sanusi to challenge his unconstitutional removal from the court despite his insistence not to return to office regardless of the outcome.

As if that was not enough a denegation, in an old fashioned style the minister of sport despite his glowing achievements was booted out of office as a result of his perceived allegiance to Bukola Saraki. Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi was the sacrificial lamb used to settles scores and even out permutations in Kwara ahead of the Jonathans 2015 ambition. In a swift reaction, the Chairman Senate Committee on the Environment Abubakar Bukola Saraki in a statement to the press said ‘’It is shameful that Bolaji Abdullahi was relieved of his duty as minister mainly because of politics and certainly not for non-performance. It is disappointing that in the interest of politics we have compromised, and invariably denied our nation the progress it deserves’’.

Other issues such as the increasing level of government’s excessive spending, the incessant attacks on the lives of innocent citizen and the lack of regard for the rule of law  are but a few of his sins – for exercising his fundamental human right. From Bukola Saraki’s response to these allegations of outspokenness, it is clear he enjoys every bit of it.

While there are no precursors that the Senator representing Kwara Central will surrender his objective stand for a slice in the largesse, it also goes without saying that the powers that be will continue the hound game perhaps until the 2015 elections are settled.

Wale Bakare is a writer at BailiffAfrica and Founder - MediaFactory

 

Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

Yusuf Abubakar     Bello Abubakar     Okin Malt     John Obuh     Ilorin Curfew     Ilorin Airport     Taofeeq Olateju     Garba Ayodele Wahab     Femi Ogunsola     Ministry Of Women Affairs And Social Development     Kwara TV     Hassan Saliu     Benin Republic     Kwara     Shehu Alimi Foundation For Peace And Development     Oni Adebayo     Code Of Conduct Tribunal     Haleeman Salman     Kwabes     Ayo Salami     GAMA     07039448763     Razak Atunwa     Alumni Association Of The Federal Polytechnic Offa     Oke-Oyi     Muslimah Entrepreneurship Forum     Government High School Adeta     Oko-Olowo     Islamic Development Bank     Gani Saadu     Abdulkadir Akanbi-Oke     Yusuf Arowosaye     Emir Of Ilorin     Okin Biscuits     Saliu Ajia     Oke-opin     Pakata Development Association     Egbejila     David Oyepinola Adedumoye     Kwasu     Kwara North     Shonga     Nigerian Correctional Service     Bayo Ojo     Abdullateef Abdussalam     Democracy Day     TIC     Funmilayo Isiaka Oniwa     Fatima Abolore Jimoh     Okin Group     Shehu Jimoh     Ali Ahmad     Gobir     Saliu Shola Taofeek     Kola Olota     Onilorin Of Ilorin     NYSC     Hassan A. Saliu     Apado     Mohammed Abduraheem     Kwara Liberation Group     General Hospital     Yusuf Lawal     Moses Rahman Popoola     Kwara Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board     Joana Nnazua Kolo     Durosinlohun Atiku     Wahab Abayawo     Ahmad Ali     Adesoye College     Shuaibu Yaman     Abubakar Kawu Baraje     Wahab Isa     Khairat Gwadabe     Rasheed Jimoh     Sulyman Abdulkareem     Musa Alhassan Buge    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

Tunji Ajanaku     Taofeek Sanusi     Oluronke Adeyemi     George Funsho Adebayo     Baba Adini Of Kwara State     Mahmud Babatunde Baker     Abdulrasheed Lafia     Salman Suleiman     Monthly Sanitation     Kwara Hotel     Amos Sayo     Principal Private Secretary     Susan Modupe Oluwole     Abdulrosheed Okiki     Prince Bola Ajibola     Ilorin Muslim Community     Centre For Digital Economy     Iyabo Dupe Adekeye     Akanbi-Oke     Abdulwasiu Bolaji Adeyi     Ilorin Talaka Parapo (ITP)     Ali Ahmad     Wahab Issa     Pakata Patriots     Okanlawon Musa     Kumbi Titiloye     Sulu Babaita Isiaka     Ola Falade     Moshood Mustapha     Illyasu Abdullahi     Aliyu Kora-Sabi     Students Union Government     Yusuf Abdulkadir     Curfew     Standard Organization Of Nigeria     Dunmade     Roseline Oni Aremu     Bello Oyedepo     Tescom.kwarastate.gov.ng     Oba Abdulraheem     Abdullateef Abdussalam     Olaosebikan     CCB     Rashidi Yekini     Aliyu Muhammad Saifudeen     Okin High School     Ibrahim Abduquadri Abikan     Esuwoye     University Road     Mohammed Yahaya Barki     Oba-Solagberu     General Tunde Idiagbon International Airport     Pacify Labs     Student Learning Support Helpline     Jamiu Oyawoye     Ghali Muhammed     Jebba     Bank Of Industry     Timothy Akangbe     Kamaldeen Ajibade     Osi     Yomi Adeboye     Elewu     Mustapha Olanipekun     Olatinwo     Onilorin     Chief Imam Of Ilorin     Mashood Abdulrafiu Agboola     Elerin Of Adanla Irese     Abubakar Suleiman     Modibbo Kawu     Vasolar Consortium     Special Agro-industrial Processing Zone     COVID     Abdulwahab Olarewaju Issa     Idofin     Theophilus Oyebiyi