OPINION: What's up with Bukola Saraki? By Benjamin Akunna
If you listen to all the recent noise in the media about the Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, all you will ever hear is the commotion of a sensationalized marketplace.
However, if you choose to distill through the racket of the crowd, and pay careful attention, you will see for yourself, understand by yourself, and testify to both yourself and anyone that will listen that the man, Bukola Saraki, is one of Nigeria’s most competent public office holders.
Like a juggler in the circus, Saraki has singlehandedly outperformed his predecessors in the Senate, by steering the upper legislative chamber to record several historic achievements, while battling with powerful sections of an unfriendly sponsored press; and going through a politically-motivated case at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).
I have heard this many times in both closed rooms and open forums, “A lesser man would have caved under all the pressure.”
Yet, despite the constant barrage from all sides, Saraki has remained determined to his primary duty of legislating for the good of the common man. Senate President Bukola Saraki In September 2016, on the heels of the announcement of Nigeria’s first economic recession, Saraki, as a first amongst equals, led the Senate’s charge to come up with 20-points that would help to get Nigeria out of the recession. In addition to this, the Senate came up with 11 priority bills that would help create over 7 million jobs across the country, and reduce poverty by double digits. Immediately these Bills were announced and the recommendations were forwarded to President Muhammadu Buhari, the Senate went to work — debating and negotiating – their way towards the passage of the PIB and the other economic priority Bills.
After the laying of the Joint Committee Report of the PIB on the Senate Floor on Thursday, April 6th, 2017, the Bill which seeks to enhance Nigeria’s petroleum industry is at its farthest stage in 17 years, while the other economic priority bills, are all either at Conference Committee stage or Final Reading stage.
Yet, some elements in the media will tell you that the Senate is not working, or that Bukola Saraki is not doing anything for the country… Is it just me, or do I smell a coordinated conspiracy?
Benjamin Akunna writes from Lagos.
Cloud Tag: What's trending
Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.
Simeon Ajibola Orisa Bridge Lawal Olohungbebe Special Agro-Industrial Hub Razaq Ayobami Akanbi Chief Imam Of Lafiagi Maryam Ado Bayero Abubakar Suleiman Bamidele Aluko Abubakar Ndakene Lucky Omoluwa Abdul Jimoh Mohammed Royal FM Omu-aran Folajimi Aleshinloye Balikis Jawondo Hameed Oladipupo Ali Bayer Nigeria Limited Yemi Osinbajo Lawan Bukola Ajikobi Markaz Arabic And Islamic Training Institute, Agege Ahmad Olanrewaju Belgore Lateef Ademola Olatunji Abdulfatah Ahmed Kulende Folorunsho Erubu International Public Sector Accounting Standards Olokoba Abdullahi Ayinla PharmAccess Foundation Omupo Alabere Akande Idowu Ayoola Muhammed Elelu Unilorin Moro TIC Gwanara CELF S.O. Opowoye Bursary Ayotunde Emmanuel Alao Ibrahim Taiwo Oluranti Idowu Muhammed Abdullahi Idowu Laro Vasolar Consultoria Akume Kayode Ishola Taofeek Sanusi Academic Staff Union Of Universities Ademola Kiyesola Ilesha-Baruba-Gwanara Ahmed Shuaib Buranga Park Ilorin Likeminds Foundation Neuropsychiatric Hospital Special Adviser On Digital Innovation Yakubu Shaaba Abdullahi Saadudeen Alikinla Khairat Gwadabe Iyeru Grammar School Shonga Farm Project Code Of Conduct Bureau Balogun Fulani Ahmed Idris Mohammed Salihu Yahaya Garment Factory Olabode Towoju Awoye Yusuf Amuda Abubakar Ethical College Countryside Emerging Leaders Fellowship Ilorin Airport Hassan A. Saliu Moshood Bakare Shehu Salau

