A remarkable feature of the 2011 governorship election in Kwara State was the contest between the outgoing governor, now Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki and his illustrious father, Dr. Olusola Saraki, the strongman of Kwara politics over the preference of his daughter, Senator Gbemisola Saraki as the governor by the Old Man.

Many look back at that contest as the dress rehearsal for the ascendancy of the younger man to the political throne his father had built over the years. With the passage of the elder Saraki, Bukola has assumed the mantle of leadership. Now, not only is he in charge, he is also coming of age on the national scene.

Though, Bukola Saraki, who turns 50 today, is described as a man born “with a silver spoon in his mouth.” Not even his worst enemies would deny that he might have been favoured by pedigree; he has earned respect and honours by rising above his favoured background and applying himself to the task and challenges before him by a dint of hard work.

He was the first incumbent governor to be honoured with the award of the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON). On the way to this honour, Saraki was chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF), a position he held from 2007, after he won a second term as governor. Undfer him, the Forum became more coordinated and united in articulating positions, which many attributed to Saraki's leadership abilities.

As the fifth governor of Kwara, his leadership placed the state in the list of the most developed states even when it is the 34th in revenue collection from the federation purse.

After his second term ended in 2011, he went to the Senate to represent Kwara Central and he has become one of the stars of the current Senate. In a nation where an enduring quest is for flickers of hope, having been so battered by its elite and ill served by its public servants, Bukola Saraki is fast becoming a man to watch. Of course, his rising profile has also necessarily compelled a serious interrogation of his politics and of his person.

He has to his credit bills, as well as motion that have redefined issues in Nigerian politics today. His concern for the future of the economy of the country amongst others had prompted him to raise that famous motion, which led to the probe of oil subsidy regime in the petroleum industry in the country. And the nation is still grappling with the fallouts from that singular act of courage.

Saraki himself subsequently became a target of harassment. But he remained resolute in the belief that if Nigeria would have a future, the leaders must lead with honesty and must be prepared to render account to the people.

His motion in the Senate in March 2012 led to revelations of monumental rot at the heart of the nation's oil and gas industry. The

motion had been so well researched that even his fellow senators marveled at his commitment. His findings revealed that N240 billion (or N20 billion monthly) was allocated for the implementation of the fuel subsidy policy in the 2011 Appropriation Act.

Out of the N20 billion monthly allocation, N11.2 billion was voted for Domestic Fuel Subsidy (NNPC) and N8.8 billion for Domestic Fuel Subsidy (Market). Although N20 billion was set aside for subsidy on a monthly basis in the 2011 Appropriation Act, the total sum of N165 billion was expended in August 2011 of which the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) got N88 billion and independent marketers N77.7 billion.

The former governor revealed to the Senate that although N240 billion was budgeted for the entire year, N931 billion had been spent as at August ending, translating to a variance of N771 billion or 700 per cent above the budget.

In the first three months of the year, both NNPC and the independent marketers did not exceed N62 billion monthly. Out that within the last three months, the figures had ranged between N150 billion and N186 billion. Afterwards, the lid was blown open and the ripples are yet to abate.

As Chairman, Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology, Saraki has also sponsored a bill that will ensure an oil spill management scheme that rewards good behaviour and punishes environmentally reckless behaviour whether by the leaseholder or by a third party.

Opening the public hearing on the bill to amend the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) Act 2006, he said: “I believe no one (in this room) wants more oil spills. And no one is seeking to have more spills. We seek your invaluable input to make this bill operationally effective and intelligent enough to stand the test of time.”

He mentioned the issue of funding for the primary health care system to address infrastructure challenges as a crucial element lacking in the country's health sector.

As a medical doctor, his commitment to the medical sector was focused on global standard health service delivery. Saraki as governor realised that prompt and efficient diagnosis saves lives, and he was particularly concerned about ensuring the strengthening of a functional referral system for appropriate treatment.

His eight years as governor was generally adjudged a success in education, health care delivery and especially in agriculture, which he revolutionised in the state.

He never fails to note that he was concerned with the sort of transformational leadership that would take Nigeria to the next level.

According to him: “Leaders are in the business of building bridge to the future; this requires the breaking down walls of dissent and intolerance, sectarian chauvinism, bigotry, nepotistic leadership and dereliction of merit. Change will always require the destruction of walls and the building of bridges.”

Bukola was born on December 19, 1962. He attended King's College, Lagos (1973-1978) before proceeding to Cheltenham College, Cheltenham in London (1979-1981) after which he moved to the London Hospital Medical College, University of London in 1982 and was there till 1987 when he obtained his M.B.B.S (London).

He worked as a Medical Officer at Rush Green Hospital Essex, London from 1988-1989, Senior Casualty officer of Royal Free Hospital, London from 1988-1989 and Director, Societe Generale Bank (Nig) Ltd from 1990-2000.

He was appointed as a Special Assistant on Budget to former president, Olusegun Obasanjo in 2000. He was actively involved in all negotiations with the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on behalf of the country.

As special assistant on Budget, Saraki served on the Economic Policy Coordination committee and the chairman presidential committee on non-oil Revenue Generation from year 2000-2001.

On his 50th birthday, he is in mourning over the death of his father and will join the rest of the nation in the sober contemplation of last Saturday's chopper crash that claimed the life of one of his old colleague, Patrick Yakowa. Notwithstanding the sobriety of the moment, Saraki's mind glows with ideas and, not a few people, would say, his heart burns with ambition for Nigeria. Time is ticking and history watching.