Students in Kwara State under the aegis of Joint Campus Committee (JCC), an arm of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), during International Students' Day on November 17, honoured the late godfather of Kwara politics Dr Olusola Saraki.  WALE BAKARE (400-Level Zoology, University of Ilorin) reports.

He bestrode the politics of Kwara State like a colossus for more than four decades. The history of the state will not be complete without the mention of the late Waziri of Ilorin, Chief Olusola Abubakar Saraki, who was popularly known as Baba Oloye.

The famous politician's death, last year, threw people of Kwara into mourning, but the youths who he mentored vowed to keep his memory alive.

Trues to this pledge, the Kwara State chapter of the Joint Campus Committee (JCC), an arm of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), during the International Students' Day on November 17, remembered the late politician.

The event, held at the Kwara State College of Education, Ilorin, was attended by loyalists of the late politician, including his son and former governor, Senator Bukola Saraki. He was represented by his former Special Adviser on Students Matter, Comrade Nasir Saburi.

Also in attendance were Oba Umar Chatta, Estu of Patigi, Mr. Agboola Oshodi, Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Hon. Felicia Ebun, a member of Kwara House of Assembly, Comrade Ibrahim Akaje, Kwara State Peace Ambassador, Shakirudeen Korede, former JCC chairman in the zone, Friday Adio, NANS Zone C co-ordinator and presidents of tertiary institutions in the state.

Appreciating the students for honouring his father, Senator Saraki promised to continue with the late politician's benevolence. He said the Senate was making efforts to ensure that the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) called of its six-month old strike, adding: "Some senators and I have been working hard to ensure students return to school and we want Nigerians to believe that the current action would be the last lecturers' strike."

On his programmes for Kwara students, the lawmaker said: "We are making efforts to make our education system get better through scholarship to deserved students, building infrastructure and also organising educative programmes for students. We believe youth are the leaders of today and the architect of tomorrow; this is why we have involved youth in our programmes."

Ibrahim Jeje, JCC chairman, said: "Many will wonder the coherence between students' movement and the ideals of the late Olusola Saraki. It is worthy to note that NANS is a body that promotes social justice and equity. Baba Oloye, in his life time, was counted as a promoter of these values to enrich our democracy."

Adio praised Senator Saraki for supporting students' cause, pleading with the lawmaker and the Kwara State government to provide buses for the students' body.

Ibrahim Sheriff, a student of Kwara State University (KWASU) in Malete, said: "The late Saraki was truly a man of the people and a grassroots politician admired by all and sundry. He was a source of inspiration to politicians across party lines. Baba Oloye remained the only leader, who promoted the unity of the country without violence. He achieved it because the people believed and never failed him."

President, Students' Union Government (SUG) in the Federal Polytechnic, Offa (OFFA POLY), Festus Adedeji said: "Baba Oloye was a political titan, who gave everyone opportunities to contribute their quota to the development of Kwara State and Nigeria. In leading by example, he deployed personal resources at various times in repairing roads, build hospital, provide water and healthcare facilities. All of these would make him to remain alive in people's hearts."