Date: 2012-04-01

Since foraying into politics about a decade ago, the immediate past governor of Kwara State and senator, representing Kwara Central at the National Assembly, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki does not hide his love for politics of consensus. ABDULLAHI OLESIN reports on this political strategy, seen as an important tool in maintaining the Sarakis' dynastic political dominance of the state

Just like his father, Dr. Olusola Saraki, the senate leader in the Second Republic, the young Saraki throughout his tenure as two-term governor the State Of Harmony encouraged the use of consensus in selecting candidates for elective offices within the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.

Saraki's passion for consensus arrangement in selecting candidates for elective offices became more pronounced in the build up to the 2011 governorship election in Kwara state.

As the leader of the party in the state and sitting governor at that time, he used his good offices to prevail on 12 gubernatorial aspirants under the banner of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to step down for the incumbent governor AbdulFatah Ahmed who was also an aspirant then.

The PDP leader's ability to prevail on the 12 aspirants to step down for Ahmed was one of major factor that made it possible for his party to win the governorship election at the expense of the hard fighting Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

The just concluded state congress of PDP was the first major intra-party election that was held in the state since the emergence of Saraki as the new political leader of the state. And in his characteristic manner, the senator still adopted the consensus arrangement in picking the new leadership of the ruling party in the state.

Speaking after the successful conduct of the PDP congress at the Adewole Base Ball Park in Ilorin, Saraki said party politics under the presidential system we operate in Nigeria is really a family affair. "What we've been able to show here today in Ilorin, Kwara State is how party politics should be played.

Party politics under the presidential system we operate is really a family affair. You use the party politics and process to prepare for party's general election. It is in the spirit where there's equity, fairness, honesty and sincerity that there will be consensus. It is in that spirit that we all believe that what's due to one will come to one. It is in that spirit of give and take that we've been able to achieve what we've achieved this afternoon", he said.

He reasoned that it is through the consensus candidacy which he said had been enshrined in the body politics in the state that the state has remained peaceful, adding that almost all PDP candidates in the state, including the governor emerged through consensus.

While congratulating all party members from every ward and local governments, who he said had made sacrifice through the process of consensus, the former governor disclosed that many of them had forsaken their positions in the interest of the unity of the party.

He said before the leadership of PDP in the state arrived at each consensus candidate for the congress election they started with about 10 people, pruned down to 5, 3, 2, and the final candidate. "I alone could not have done that without the support of all of you. And I thank you for this great support because today's victory is for all of us in Kwara State.

"I also want to use this opportunity to tell those that did not get a position today, because there is no politician that will never aspire to one post or the other, we all believe in the Almighty Allah that powers come from Him. Our time will come insha Allah. So, until that time comes, we should continue to be committed and loyal to this party and in the spirit, continue to support each other."

He admonished members of the opposition in the state to join the PDP, just as he congratulated Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed on the outcome of the Supreme Court that he said had put final affirmation on the wish of the people of Kwara state.

"For those who did not want to accept the wish of the people and thinking some miracle will come from the judiciary, it is time for you to also accept the wish of the people and see that Kwara is PDP and PDP is Kwara.

It is time for you to come in and walk through the doors of the PDP because here in Kwara State, there is only one party that has been transforming and will continue to transform the state and people of Kwara State and that's PDP. Those who have been deceiving people are no longer seen here again.

The only people you'll be seeing is the governor and government that will look after you. Whether you are in PDP or not, you are all our brothers and sisters and we don't want hunger, heat or rain hit you. So, come under the umbrella and come to PDP", he said.

Saraki also assured the people of the state that he has the commitment of Governor Ahmed that no community would be left behind in the scheme of things. Saraki, who said Governor Ahmed was committed to spreading development to all parts of the state, added that everybody who had laboured for the success of the party would enjoy government's patronage.

The leader of the PDP in Kwara State, who challenged the new party executives to win all local governments in next year council election, added that they should start work towards returning the only local government that is not in PDP to the fold.

"In politics, performance of party leadership is based on election result. The leadership of PDP in Kwara has performed. You won all the seats for the National Assembly, you won almost all seats at the state House of Assembly and you delivered the governor of the state.

Your performance has earned majority of you unanimous return as party executives. As we move ahead, we have the local government election ahead and I want the executive and the party to start the work to bring back the remaining one finger back to the fold. So, the mandate of the new executive is to actualise that and make it 100 per cent", he said.

Saraki, who advised people, especially the youth in the state not to be deceived by propaganda of the opposition, added that they should remain focused and continue to support the governor who he said is performing to admiration of all. "Don't let anyone deceive you to say they are coming to make any change or they are change agents in Kwara State.

Tell them to make the change in those states they already have first. Until they change those states, they should stay there and concentrate their efforts on changing those states", he said.

He enjoined members of the opposition to use the opportunity of Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed's victory at the Supreme Court to join the PDP and accept the victory as wish of the people.

The party congress that saw 781delegates out 786 of the PDP from all the 16 LGAs in the state re-electing the leadership of the party in the state by affirmative election, was achieved in a free and peaceful atmosphere.

The candidates for the election were all consensus candidates as only one name appeared for each post in the contest and were thus affirmed by the 781delegates in attendance. In his remarks, the leader of the five-man congress team from the party's national headquarters in Abuja, Mr. J.J. Mabo, said the team had no other option than to affirm the candidates considering the understanding and unity among members of the party before the election.

He commended the leadership of the party in the state for encouraging a culture of unity and transparency, adding that the culture was the beauty of democracy. Also speaking at the event, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed said Kwara State is one of the most peaceful states in the country, promising to sustain the peace in the party in the state.

The governor said the principle of consensus laid down by leaders of the party had made PDP stronger and united in the state. He also said that he would use the success of the Supreme Court judgment to transform the state.