[size=14pt]Kwara: Mr Saraki Out, Ms Saraki In?[/size]
Posted: December 9, 2010 - 16:31


By SOC Okenwa


When few years ago the former Governor of Kwara State, Mohammed Lawal, died in a foreign hospital after a 'protracted illness', tongues started wagging as whether his death was of normal natural cause or caused by other factors chiefly human. From some quarters accusing fingers were pointed at the Saraki dominating political dynasty in Ilorin as possibly being behind his demise.

The late Lawal was helped to power in Kwara State by the godfatherism of Olusola Saraki as others before him. Soon after, like what we have been witnessing lately (Nwobodo vs Nnamani, Nnamani vs Chime in Enugu; Orji Kalu vs Ohakim in Imo; Orji Kalu vs Theodore Orji in Abia etc) Lawal fell out with his powerful godfather who made sure his biological son Bukola governed Kwara like the lucky son of Igbinedion did gracelessly in Edo State.


Gbemi Ole-Saraki



In the city of Ilorin in particular and Kwara State in general, it is about the Sarakis; almost everything has to do with the Saraki political dynasty. Gov. Bukola Saraki, Senator Gbemi Saraki and now we are facing the prospects of a Gov. Gbemi Saraki in the next dispensation! Are we to believe, then, that only a Saraki is worthy enough to continue 'the good work' of another Saraki? One cannot but envy this oligarchy that assumes that only the family has the solution to every problem Kwaran, that is, only the members of the family has the intellect to rule Kwara. What happened to zoning in Kwara State? Is there not another senatorial district apart from the one where the Sarakis hail that deserves a shot at ruling Kwara?

The head of this Ilorin oligarchy, ex-Senator Olusola Saraki is an organized ruthless but generous politician who took his time to construct one of the well-organized intimidating political dynasties in Nigeria. He has got the money, the influence, the fame and the contacts to push things around no matter the odds. His 'godfathership' is one exercised with awe and fascination. He commands and controls his 'troops' effortlessly and like the late Lamidi Adedibu, the demon of Molete, he dispenses favours with ease bearing in mind that the downtrodden are hungry and poverty-stricken. So a carefully-woven image of a 'friend of the poor' is projected daily towards winning the minds and souls of the poor masses in and around Ilorin with the aim of conquering the conquerable and maintaining a dominance that seems unchallengable.

Dr Olusola Saraki has since 'anointed' his Senator-daughter Gbemisola for the 2011 gubernatorial race in the state. The strong-man of Kwara politics finally endorsed her after 'much pressure' from the people of the state. When we know how power-greedy 'Oloye' and his family are then it is not surprising that the old man was purportedly 'dancing' to the tune of the people's wishes for a female governor. If she eventually wins she will become the first elected female Governor in Nigeria (not minding Dame Virgy Etiaba who replaced Gov. Peter Obi temporarily in Anambra State after the latter was illegally impeached out of office by scoundrels led by Mike Balonwu).

The present Governor of the State whose tenure runs till May 2011 was one of the four northern presidential aspirants 'screened' by the Adamu Ciroma-led 'wise men' who sought to choose a 'consensus candidate' from the north who will challenge the incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan in the PDP primaries in the spirit of 'zoning' which they are defending and upholding against the popular will of majority of Nigerians -- even in the north. Gov. Saraki took 'third' position behind the eventual winner, ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar and ex-military dictator Ibrahim Babangida. They have all decided to abide by the decision of the Ciroma-led group collapsing their various campaign structures to form one solid one behind Atiku.

http://www.saharareporters.com/article/kwara-mr-saraki-out-ms-saraki

The leadership of Kwara state has been permanently zoned to the Sarakis.

Aloy+Emeka:

The leadership of Kwara state has been permanently zoned to the Sarakis.

As long as Oloye continues to dole out the usual #50 and a plate of amala, who cares where governorship seat is zoned to.

desgiezd:

As long as Oloye continues to dole out the usual #50 and a plate of amala, who cares where governorship seat is zoned to.

are there no other millionaires from Kwara who can put him in his place?. I think Kese Lawal is from kwara, abi?