austinsmat:
pls why long epistle both godfathers in there area both formal governors tinubu a formal Senate but now saraki edge him by becoming senate presdo which tinubu will never smell for rest of his life

barcanista:
I read an article on Nairaland that drew comparism between Senate President Bukola Saraki and Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Being a pro-pdp commentator and a campaigner for Saraki's Senate Presidency, some may expect me to naturally be on the side of the Saraki. But this will not be so because I can't live in self deception.

Yes, Bola Tinubu was a Senator, two term Governor of Lagos state and political godfather of the state. Saraki on the other hand is the incumbent SP, a two term Governor of Kwara state and the political godfather of the state. However, there are more to this.

[size=13pt]Senator Bola Tinubu[/size]
For those that aren't aware, Bola Tinubu rise to power as Lagos state governor in 1999 was associated with his 1993 democratic struggle against IBB first and later Sani Abacha. The AD 1999 contest was direct struggle between the favored late engineer Funso Williams and the political activist Bola Tinubu. Tinubu as at then had little political structure but somehow beat the late engineer to the AD ticket. In 2003 he somehow outsmarted some Afenifere leaders of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) and got re-elected, all other five AD incumbent governors bowed to the power of PDP. He consolidated his hold on power by dismantling the existing Afenifere structure in the party by forming the Action Congress in 2006 with the absorption of two mushroom parties-Justice party(JP) and Advance Congress of Democrats (ACD). His leaving AD crumbled the party forever.

In 2006 Bola Tinubu led AC gave embattled Vice President Atiku Abubakar a political lifeline after the Turaki Alhaji was whipped to size by then President Olusegun Obasanjo. Atiku had to defect to AC along with his loyalist Governor of Adamawa state Mr Boni Haruna. Also to defect were Chief Audu Ogbeh former National Chairman of PDP from Benue state. During the 2007 election run-up, Tinubu media tried to polish Atiku's image to counter the negative image from the FG as Atiku was the AC Presidential candidate for 2007. Though Atiku won Lagos state in a landslide thanks to Tinubu structure, he lost Adamawa state (his home state) to Muhammadu Buhari. Atiku's AC candidate for the Adamawa guber election also lost woefully to PDP's Admiral Nyako.

In the run-up to 2007 general election, there was a major shakes in the Lagos state chapter of AC. Tinubu had "imposed" his unknown Chief of Staff Raji Fashola as his party's governorship candidate over heavyweights like Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi, Mr Jimi Agbaje, Hon Ganiyu Solomon, Dep Gov Femi Pedro etc. Jimi left to fly the flag of DPA, Pedro was given the flag of LP, Afikuyomi was given the ANPP flag(he later returned to AC on election eve) while Solomon was compensated with a Senatoral ticket of AC. Tinubu's AC still managed to win the Guber and all Senate seats. The unknown Raji Fashola became Governor courtesy Tinubu. Not just that, Bola Tinubu deployed his loyalists Rauf Aregbesola to Osun state to unseat incumbent Olagunsoye Oyinlola of PDP. Fayemi was also deployed to Ekiti state where he defeated Segun Oni (credit to Ayo Fayose support). It was Tinubu legal machinery led by Yemi Osinbajo that fought to help LP's Rahman Mimiko to unseat PDP's Segun Agagu. Adams Oshiomole had to seek refuge in AC in 2007 when he saw that the LP can't help him dislodge PDP from Edo Government house.

The 2010 Atiku's exit of AC gave Tinibu a major setback. Nevertheless, his AC/ACN managed to sweep all SW states but Ondo state and also got a Senatorial seat from PDP's stronghold-Benue state in the 2011 election. As at today, Bola Tinubu controls the APC structure in the entire South except Rivers and Imo states.

In his political sojourn, Bola Tinubu has churned out prominent names like Sen Musliu Obanikoro (a former ally and Commissioner under Tinubu), Raji Fashola (a former governor that rode to power via Tinubu's benevolence), Rauf Aregbesola (Incumbent Governor of Osun state), Kayode Fayemi (defeated exGovernor of Ekiti state), and even VP Yemi Osinbajo is in power thanks to Tinubu.

Zeezy99:
Barcanista i disagree completely. First of all, these guys are both politicians not some skilled footballer that solely depends on their flair, these guys depend on the ppl and are at the mercy of popular opinion, ones the ppl stop liking you no matter how smart and influential you once were you're done. Secondly, Saraki and Tinubu these guys both want to be president one day so the senate presidency and Tinubus fancy political résumé is just a means to an end, my point is from were we stand today saraki seems to be winning the war. Judging from recent events it will be safe to assume that the south east and south south will favour a saraki presidency over a tinubu one. Saraki also has a considerable amount of influence in the north that i believe he will stand a good chance even against tinubu, in the southwest tinubu has enough enemies that will undermine him and give saraki a whole lot respectable result even from that zone. In all tinubu was great once, but now he has passed his heydays and saraki is the new rising sun

barcanista:
Errrm I can be partisan when necessary but that doesn't mean I throw away my sense of objectivity.

barcanista:
Bros, Tinubu still controls his party structure in the entire south (save rivers and imo states). Saraki "mouth" is within the Senate Chamber and Kwara state. Outside these places he's "mouthless". Even in the Senate Chamber, we(PDP) are the real people in control. We can decide to get Saraki kicked out anytime (Same with Dogara).

oladele97:
God bless you......saraki rose with the help of obasnjo and his father
Tinubu in the other way round has no political God father

omokab:
If you have read the long epistle very well,you will understand what op is trying to say. He's talking about political strength. That is who have control of power and influence more between the two. What you don't know is that, if Tinubu. Have intention to contest as a senator today he will certainly win and by virtue of chance he may also become senate leader just like saraki became SP by chance,not that he has a political strength. Like that. Let me be frank with you,Jagaban has really tried in this country especially when he was fighting for democracy. I can only see people always attack him because of jealous. Majority of them want that power or influence but they don't get it. For bringing GMB and Osinbajo is another great achievement for him. Becoming SP does not mean having a great political influence beyond your region or state. Where are the most of our past SP? How many state or regions David mark who just left the position of SP can proud of controlling? Tinubu is a great political warrior,let hail and respect him for that!

SUBWAY101:


Are you kidding? You mean Saraki has more say than a man that nominated the VP, chairman of his party, have like 4 state governor loyalist, have core loyalist in house of reps and senate and he is part leader of the ruling party. Pathetic.

Zeezy99:
Barcanista i disagree completely. First of all, these guys are both politicians not some skilled footballer that solely depends on their flair, these guys depend on the ppl and are at the mercy of popular opinion, ones the ppl stop liking you no matter how smart and influential you once were you're done. Secondly, Saraki and Tinubu these guys both want to be president one day so the senate presidency and Tinubus fancy political résumé is just a means to an end, my point is from were we stand today saraki seems to be winning the war. Judging from recent events it will be safe to assume that the south east and south south will favour a saraki presidency over a tinubu one. Saraki also has a considerable amount of influence in the north that i believe he will stand a good chance even against tinubu, in the southwest tinubu has enough enemies that will undermine him and give saraki a whole lot respectable result even from that zone. In all tinubu was great once, but now he has passed his heydays and saraki is the new rising sun

ajebuter:

Hey Barca, as usual, your analysis is apt and insightful
There's no doubt both players have come a long way and have good political pedigree
But, I believe one is a lesser devil and I will pitch my tent with a saraki than a tinubu anyday.
Anyway, time will tell whose d..k is bigger since it is apparent there is a d..k measuring contest going on.
I'm of the opinion that nigerians get wiser at the end of every tenure and time will tell who takes over in 2019.
We siddon dey watch

Comparing Bola Ahmed Tinubu political influence with that of Bukola Saraki is like comparing an Eagle with a tse-tse fly simply because both have wings.

mployer:


This is the most sensible post here.

The masses determine the success of a politician. On scale of popularity, Saraki is winning presently.

Tinubu presently has no popularity in SS, SE and the north. If he drops a ballot box today, he won't get a reasonable vote anywhere outside southwest

horllyma:
Though tinubu is influencial,but the fact still remain that he only acting on his past glory.

barcanista:
[size=13pt]Senator Bukola Saraki[/size]:
Saraki was a "mere" appointee of Obasanjo prior to the 2003 Governorship election. He won the PDP primaries courtesy Oloye Olusola Saraki, his father and political godfather of Kwara state. He was to be elected as Kwara state governor not on his own but solely on his father. His father had installed then Governor Lawal in 1999 and replaced him him Bukola in 2003. In 2010 Saraki declared for President. He along with IBB and Atiku Abubakar were the Northern PDP aspirants that sought to unseat President Jonathan in 2011. In same 2010 a Northern caucus within the PDP called for a consensus Northern candidate among the three northern aspirants. Atiku defeated Saraki and IBB to be the northern candidate for the PdP. Saraki pledged his allegiance to Atiku during the PDP Presidential primaries for 2011 election but Atiku lost WOEFULLY to incumbent Goodluck Jonathan. Saraki couldn't even influence other North Central PDP caucus apart from his Kwara to vote Atiku.

In 2011 Saraki's father wanted Bukola to go to Senate but Gbemi his daughter to become Governor. Saraki however had Abdulfattah Ahmed in mind. The truth is Saraki and his father played a fast one on Kwara people. The ACN candidate Muhammed Balgore was gaining momentum, Saraki's father had to play the Gbemi card by forming ACPN to confuse the electorates and split the ACN's vote. In fact, on June 5, 2011 just 8 days after Gov Ahmed was inaugurated , Olusola Saraki and Bukola Saraki "re-united" after Bukola "begged", the PDP and Pa Saraki ACPN merged as one BIG Family. Pa Olusola Saraki was again affirmed to be the leader of PDP in Kwara. Saraki and his sister Gbemi were to play the same trick in 2015. How? Gbemi remained in PDP after Saraki moved to APC in 2013. She caused lots of troubles and had her faction and then dumped PDP to APC on the eve of 2015 Presidential election after deliberately destroyed the party from within.

Saraki's ascension to Senate Presidency is not due to the political commando of Saraki but because he had to bend to PDP's compromise and also because PDP needed to neutralise APC's proposed structure. It would have infact been the reverse if Saraki was APC candidate and Lawan was the rebel. Also note that the power and influence of the Senate President starts and ends inside the Senate Chamber and the occupant's Senatorial district. In fact, Senators may elect to kick him out if he bites more than he can chew. Also looking at Saraki, with exception of Governor Ahmed I don't think Saraki can boast of any influential loyalist. Even Ahmed is not a force of influence among Governors like we have Rochas of Imo, Wike of Rivers, Amosun of Ogun, Ajimobi of Oyo, Fayose of Ekiti, Oshiomole of Edo, Shetimma of Borno, Obiano of Anambra etc.

Comparing Bola Ahmed Tinubu political influence with that of Bukola Saraki is like comparing an Eagle with a tse-tse fly simply because both have wings. Saraki's sycophant should not make him believe that he rose to SP seat on his own.


CAVEAT: This article is purely on the political influence of both men. It is not an endorsement of either party nor a statement of sainthood.

barcanista:
. Saraki can be summarised as one that betrays his friend to his friend's enemy to gain and then turn around to betray his friend's enemy not for the gain of his former friend but for sympathy. People like Saraki don't last long politically.

Coming to you, Tinubu is very direct. He's either for you or against you. He's ready to be for you if you play by his game. He's ready to be against you if otherwise. Pure politics!
What happened in March 28, the SS and SE were angry because Tinubu used his media against Jonathan, but again they will always welcome someone like Tinubu if he(BAT) is willing to work for their interest and ofcourse they must concede to his own request.

But Saraki? Oh he is cunning. The people of SS/SE cannot trust such a person. Saraki was a champion of Northern candidate within the PDP in 2011 and also was among the nPDP rascals that were opposed to GEJ's re-election. The SS/SE aren't so foolish my brother.

Personally, I believe that the PDP, SS and SE need smart and articulate politician in the mould of Tinubu to emerge from amongst us (but less corrupt one too). However, we don't wish for someone like Saraki. People like Saraki are best used and dumped (which I want PDP, SS and SE to do)

duality:
Most threads by barcanista is usually filled with insults and personal attacks. those who support tinubu never see anything objective about it.
Now he writes this and he is seen to be objective with to insults... I I don't get it. Is it because he is praising tinubu? Tinubu does not deserve this kind of praise at this point. It has nothing to do with objectivity or balance. Every politician have his or her cross and they should carry it.
This writeup by barcanista is absolutely unnecessary if he, in no way supports Tinubu.(he has a right to support anyone). This piece gives credence to the speculation that the war in APC today is all about tinubu's power and influence being challenged. If not, why will a smart barcanista go to give tinubu's battered political face a media first aid at this point. Is it to appease those who do not spare words when attacking him? How many people supporting tinubu is objective.not even his political first son fashola. Is it nairaland trolls that will be objective.
Saraki for now is the Senate president. Tinubu and his supporters should live with it. Saraki is now part of the leadership of APC. Tinubu have no direct business with the Senate. If he wants anything he should go through saraki who now double as both party and legislative head. This thread is an unsolicited first aid to tinubu's bloodied nose. It's absolutely unnecessary.