Kwara State governor and chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum, Bukola Saraki, would, today, flag off his presidential campaign in Abuja, but this event is likely to be overshadowed by the political drama over his succession, which has excited politicians in Kwara State.

Last Saturday, his father and acclaimed godfather of Kwara politics, Sola Saraki, told a gathering of some leaders of the PDP that the party’s governorship ticket would go to his daughter, Gbemi Saraki, who is presently a senator.

But the younger Mr. Saraki, who is said to be supporting the minister of sports, Ibrahim Bio, for the job, has opposed his father, saying getting another Saraki to rule Kwara would ruin his campaign in support of zoning of political offices.

The PDP in Kwara State, in support of the state governor, said it is ready to provide “a level playing field” for everyone aspiring for political offices in the state and will not adopt a candidate that did not emerge through democratic process.

The public relations officer for the party, Isiaka Danmairomo, told NEXT yesterday that the party has not endorsed Ms. Saraki as its candidate for the 2011 gubernatorial election in the state.

“Although we cannot separate ourselves from Senator Gbemisola because she is one of us, but we will ensure that due process is followed by everyone and at the end of the day, the popular candidate among the delegates will emerge,” Mr. Danmairomo said.

The number of intending aspirants is also an indication that the state politicians have “zoned” the gubernatorial candidate to either of the two Sarakis. Mr. Danmairomo told NEXT that only Ms. Saraki and Mr. Bio have obtained the party’s nomination form. The third candidate, Yekini Alabi, is said to be unserious.

Ms. Saraki and her half brother, Mr. Saraki, are seen as the inheritors of their father’s formidable political machine in the state. They also have an uneasy political relationship.

“He [Bukola] probably thinks Gbemisola will probe his tenure and he will lose political relevance in the state, especially because his presidential ambition seems to be making no progress,” said a source close to the family.

Clamouring for the rule of law

NEXT learnt that the Bukola’s camp is now clamouring for “free and fair democratic process,” knowing fully what the elderly Saraki, a second republic senator, is capable of, having “installed” Bukola as the state’s governor, displacing Mohammed Lawal, who was in office from 1999 to 2003.

“We are ready to follow party guidelines,” Momodu, the chief press secretary to Mr. Saraki, said on phone.

A family source who pleaded anonymity warned that the political battle not only threatens the peaceful coexistence within the family, but it may also be an indication that the elder Saraki’s political empire is beginning to disintegrate.

It is common knowledge that he does not change his mind concerning a political candidate he adopts and every candidate he has publicly supported for elective position in the state has won. Even when Mr. Lawal, who is now late, hijacked Saraki’s party, the All Nigeria People’s Party, to contest against Bukola in 2003, the wily old politician simply defected to PDP on whose platform he got his son and daughter elected.

Efforts to reach her and her aide, Lati Jida, for comment, were not successful.

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