Date: 2011-01-15

In Kwara state, the fear of the Sarakis is an assurance of success in politics. This fact is attributable, without doubt, to the achievements of Dr. Olusola Saaraki, a former Senate leader and the Wazirin Ilorin. The acclaimed godfather of Kwara politics has been able to install four governors, over 30 legislators and chairmen since 1979, when he started dictating who takes what in the state politics. 

Oloye, as he is fondly called by his teeming supporters, has never failed to deal with any political office holder who moves against him. In the 1979-1983 political dispensation, he single-handedly enthroned Alhaji Adamu Attah, C.O. Adebayo, and the late Mohammed Lawal in 1999, on the platform of the All Peoples Party (APP), now ANPP, who he later dethroned when he disobeyed him. The Wazirin Ilorin removed the Late Admiral Lawal in 2003 and enthroned his first son, Dr. Bukola Saraki, as the governor of the state. The position he held for consequent two terms before the Oloye came again with his political agenda.

This time, the former Senate leader is scheming to enthrone his first daughter, Senator Gbemisola Saraki, as Bukola's successor. This development is said to have created ripples within the family. It is learnt that the governor, who is still the leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, has kicked against the decision of his father to support his sister in her quest to be the next governor.

This, it is also learnt, has compelled the formal Senate leader and his retinue of supporters to defect to Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN) on January 2, 2011, in a ceremony that was attended by a mammoth crowd, including former commissioners, senators, House of Representatives members, former local government chairmen, eminent politicians and some members of the present administration, among others.

This development, according to many political pundits, may lead to the end of Saraki dynasty in the state. In addition, they held that the defection could affect the fortunes of the PDP in the state during the forthcoming elections. Saraki corroborated the pundits' position when he declared that his defection to the ACPN signalled the end of the party in the state.

Addressing the crowd, he said: "The mission of today is, no doubt, a mission of redemption, collective success and forward match for all Kwarans. My son has done his best to reposition the state as everybody can see. Since the inception of his administration, seven and half years ago, he has performed creditably well in the areas of economy, infrastructure and political development of the state. His achievements in the area of educational reform policy, agriculture, poverty alleviation, jobs creation, roads construction and security, just to mention a few, are commendable."

He explained that his grievances against PDP are that "some forces in the PDP in the state have begun to cause confusion and disunity among the teeming members of the party for selfish reasons. There are proven cases of political intimidation, assault of party members and illegal suspension of Ward Executive members of the party, thereby killing the party at the grassroots.''

Continuing, he said: "It is common knowledge that I am not a card-carrying member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), but we have, since 2003, remained the major pillars behind the party in Kwara state. I believe you could still recall how we brought the party out of obscurity to its present pedestal of being the only political party to beat in the state. All of us would also remember how we have entrenched internal democracy within the party; and how we have been resolving political matters amicably and without bruises."

He added: "It is, however, unfortunate that the door of the PDP has been locked by these people against its decorum and against genuine party members. And we do not want to force the door open and be counted among those tormenting the society. Those who are not involved in the building of the party now capitalise on the inexperience of the leadership to perpetuate themselves and turn themselves into thin god to decide the fate of the real people on the political turf. We now have a PDP that lacks cohesion, focus, directionless and beret of ideals on how to carry supporters along and win elections."

The Wazirin Ilorin, therefore, directed his supporters to discard the identity cards of PDP and other documents in their position, saying that "PDP is dead in Kwara and we have buried it."'

With the presence of eminent people like formal Presidential aspirant, Alhaji Ibrahim Dan-Musa, Chief Lanre Ogundeji, a retired customs officer and brother to the incumbent Deputy Governor of the state, Chief Joel Afolabi Ogundeji, Dr. Femi Ogunsola, former Commissioner for Water Resources, Alhaji Abdul Mumin Katibi, former Chairman of Moro local government area, Alhaji Abdulrahim  Adisa, and the Commissioner for Social Welfare, Chief James Ayeni, among others, signified that the Olooye is still a force to reckon with in the political affairs of the state.

Those in his camp included former Civilian Governor of the state, Alhaji Sha'aba Lafiagi, former PDP state Chairman who has just been removed as the Chairman of Kwara state Road Maintenance Agency (KWARMA), elderly statesman, Prof. Albert Ogunsola, former Ilorin South local government Chairman, Alhaji Bibire Ajape.

Speaking, in an exclusive interview with Peoples Daily Weekend in Ilorin, Hajia Limotallahi Alabi, the former chairperson of Ifelodun local government area, noted that the dynasty is waxing stronger just few weeks they publicly declared for Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN).

"Olooye is very-very fair in political position sharing. I was nothing when he picked me up. I was a teacher and he asked me to resign in agreement with my father which I did. I joined them in politics with his directive and my father. Today, I am not regretting my decision because I was brought up from nothing to the high level  that I am today," she said.

Corroborating Alabi's views in a separate interview, the Director- General of Gbemisola Saraki's campaign organisation, Dr. Femi Ogunsola, said many aggrieved members of PDP, who were allegedly  cheated during the last state congress, have defected to the Wazirin Ilorin's camp en-masse.

Ogunsola, while speaking on the strength of the Saraki dynasty and the possibility of its collapse, noted that Dr. Olusola Saraki's influences in Kwara politics would continue to wax stronger until his death. He explained that since he came back to the state to stop victimisation of his followers from the PDP leaders, the masses have continued to rally round him, saying that "baba, this is the right time we are going to say thank you for all what you have done for us."

But the leader of the opposition party in the state under the The Kwara Patriots (TKP), Chief Wole Oke, in an interview with Peoples Daily Weekend, expressed divergent views on the political development in the state. He noted that as Dr. Olusola Saraki fights his son publicly because of politics, he should realise that the world is against him. He argued that Saraki's political strength could not be ascribed to be a dynasty, but a mere chance that would end soon.

Oke noted that even if people call it a dynasty "where is the Malian Dynasty, it's come and gone; where are the Oyo,  Songhai, Benor and Sokoto empires? All of these empires have gone and become history." He said all eyes are now on Kwara and that people are waiting to see how Saraki will end his political career.

In what could be described as a "game of chess," Dr. Saraki seems to be enjoying the new  political  game because his son is still the governor and the leader of  the PDP in the state.