On the recent election tribunal and Court of Appeal victories of Kwara's immediate past governor, Dr Bukola Saraki, and his emerging status as the new kingmaker in the state's politics.Biola Azeez writes.SENATOR Bukola Saraki, whorepresents Kwara CentralSenatorial District in the National Assembly, is one of the happiest Nigerians today. The medical doctor turned politician, is filled excitement at the moment. His sources of joy are limitless.A few days ago, he won the appeal cases brought against his election as a senator by his opponents, confirming his political superiority and control in the state. Also, on Monday, December 19, Senator Saraki, who has since assumed the position of godfather in the state, the position he took after his father decided to move to the background due to old age, celebrated his 49th birthday, with many of his political sons and daughters falling over one another to mark the day with him.Some days ago, the immediate past chairman of the Nigeria Governors' Forum (NGF) and his beautiful wife, Toyin, celebrated 20 years of marriage in London. Reports gathered that close friends and family were in attendance to rejoice with Bukola and Toyin Saraki. Also, their first daughter turned 20 years old on that day, while the day was celebrated with a low-key dinner in London. Felicitations have been pouring in for the Sarakis.Just last Monday, the Court of Appeal, Ilorin Division, upheld the election of Saraki as the senator representing Kwara Central in the National Assembly. The Appeal Court, in a unanimous decision, dismissed the appeal brought before it by the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) candidate, Hajia Bilikisu Gambari, for lack of merit.While delivering the judgment in the appeal, Justice Tijani Abdullahi said that the court found that the appellant failed to prove her case beyond reasonable doubt, and could not provide any evidence to substantiate her claims, adding that those provided by her counsel were not satisfactory.The court also held that the National Assembly Election petition Tribunal was right in its judgement that Senator Saraki was duly elected, affirming the judgement of the lower tribunal.Commenting on the decision of the Appeal Court after the judgment, Senator Saraki thanked the people of the state for their support and prayer and promised to continue to bring the dividends of democracy to the people of Kwara Central, in particular. Also reacting to the Appeal Court judgment, the Peoples Democratic party (PDP) in Kwara State described the Monday, December 12 judgement of the Appeal court sitting in Ilorin, which upheld the elections of Saraki in Kwara Central Senatorial District of the National Assembly, as a victory for democracy.A statement signed by the publicity secretary of the party, Mas'ud Adebimpe, said the judgement which, for the second time, threw out the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) candidate, Princes Bilikisu Gambari's petition and upheld the tribunal Judgement of Senator Bukola Saraki, had confirmed the wish of the people.'This landmark judgement of the upper court is, indeed, a victory for democracy and triumph of truth over falsehood and propaganda of the so-called opposition designed to mislead the electorate,' the statement said. It also commended the judiciary for living up to expectations as the last hope of the common man.The party also assured the people of Kwara State that the ruling PDP gover-nment under Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed would continue to live up to expectations, and that all representatives, both at the National Assembly and the State House of Assembly, would be good ambassadors.Again, two days after, the Court of Appeal sitting in Ilorin Kwara State upheld his election, Senator Saraki defeated the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) candidate, Dr. Ibrahim Oloriegbe, at the National Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal, which sat in Ilorin.Justice Tijani Abdullahi, in his judgment on Wednesday, dismissed the appeal of Dr. Oloriegbe.In retrospect, he elder Saraki, Oloye Olusola Saraki, the father of Senator Saraki, had reigned for long as the godfather of Kwara politics before the political fortune in the state smiled on his son, taking effective control of the PDP and assuming the role unceremoniously left by his father. Oloye Saraki, who was also a one-time senator in the state, had wanted to make his daughter, Senator Gbemisola Saraki, the governor of the state after the expiration of the second term in office by his brother under the PDP. The move was countered by the powers that be in the PDP led by the then Governor Saraki.The brouhaha led to the exit of elder Saraki from the PDP to form the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN), with Gbemi in toe.It was gathered that so many factors contributed to the soaring popularity and acceptance of Senator Saraki. One very crucial factor is the issue of the white farmers from Zimbabwe who were brought to Kwara by him, and have turned around the agricultural sector in the state. According to a political watcher in the state, 'Bukola Saraki now sees himself as a global player. Don't forget he brought the white farmers to Kwara, which turned around that sector. The farmers want their interest protected by anyone succeeding their man, so Bukola has an anointed candidate', the source said.The source added that, ' He has little respect for Gbemi, who has a less impressive track record and pedigree, and also sees the issue as that of morals. He also sees his father's clamour for Gbemi, as ego tripping.'The rest is history. A member of Bukola Saraki's kitchen cabinet, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, who was a Finance commissioner, became the PDP standard-bearer and went ahead to win the gubernatorial race and assumed office on May 29, 2011.Saraki, who was governor of Kwara State, was in office between May 29, 2003 and May 29, 2011, was preceded by Governor Mohammed Lawal of the All Nigeria People's Party (ANPP), a man that was brought in by his father. Now as the senator for Kwara CentralSenatorial zone, he assumed office on May 29, 2011. He was preceded by Gbemisola Saraki-Fowora, his half-sister. Abubakar Bukola Saraki was born on December 19, 1962 and was elected governor of Kwara State, Nigeria on May 29, 2003, holding office for two terms. In the April 2011 elections, he was elected senator, succeeding his sister, Gbemisola Saraki.He attended King's College, Lagos from 1973-1978, and Cheltenham College, Cheltenham, London from 1979-1981 for his High School Certificate. He then studied at the London Hospital Medical College of the University of London from 1982 to 1987, when he obtained his M.B.B.S (London). He worked as a Medical Officer at Rush Green Hospital, Essex from 1988-1989. He was a Director of Societe Generale Bank (Nig) Ltd from 1990-2000. He was appointed special assistant to the President on Budget in 2000.In the January PDP primaries for candidate for the Kwara Central Senate seat, the winner was Alhaji Isiaka Gold, now the SSG. However, a rerun primary was held after Gold withdrew, and Saraki was elected with 1,044 votes, ahead of Mallam Yonus Abdulrahman, who won 13 votes.In the April elections, he won with 78,799 votes, followed by Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) candidate Oloriegbe Ibrahim Yahaya, who polled 53,058 votes, and Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN) candidate Hajia Rukayat Issa with 32,499 votes and the CPC candidate, Hajia Bilqis Gambari.Of his political style, he said, 'my style is simple and transparent. I am a people's person and I operate an open door policy. I welcome constructive criticism and feedback that will help position me to be the best representative and advocate of the grass roots that I can be.
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