Mammoth crowd, clerics, supporters honour Saraki at 57th birthday in Ilorin

By Mumini AbdulKareem

It was a massive crowd that turned out last Thursday in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, to honour the immediate past president of the Senate, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki who marked his 57th birthday anniversary.
Although the birthday was the first after he left office, but contrary to assumption that his absence from the state during the ceremony might negatively affect turnout, the opposite was the case as friends, associates, supporters, clerics and top dignitaries trouped out en mass to grace the colourful event in Ilorin.
The last minute change of venue from Mandate ABS office Olorunshogo to the family’s Ile-Arugbo GRA facility in Ilofa the morning of the celebration was also not enough to discourage the massive crowd from attending.
At early as 6am, invitees had started to arrive the venue of the event that was led by the Chief Imam of Ilorin, Sheikh Mohammed Bashir Solihu.
In Abuja, friends of Saraki also gathered at his Maitama home to pray and felicitate with him over the occasion.
Back in Ilorin, the clerics eulogised Saraki’s achievements and contributions to the development of the Kwara State, in particular, and Nigeria in general.
While some of the Sheikhs urged the ex-Senate president to see his present travails as a test of his faith and assured him that he would bounce back, others acknowledged his passion for the state and how he had helped numerous individuals and families within and outside Kwara.
They noted that the turn out for his birthday showed that his love is permanently etched in the minds of his people.
According to a prominent Ilorin cleric, Ustaz Abdulrazaq Aduagba, the presence of high ranking Muslim scholars, including the Chief Imam of Ilorin, the Imam of Agbaji, Sheikh Aminullahi Tantolohun, and all members of the Ilorin Emirate Council at the prayer was enough testimony that the people was still solidly behind Saraki.
Aduagba however, warned Saraki’s traducers and political opponents that “wherever you like, drag him there. It will not change the love of his people for him. The love of Kwara people for Bukola Saraki is etched in their minds and cannot be erased”.
Meanwhile, renowned Islamic scholars, Sheikh Sulaiman Dan Borno, the grand Mukadam of Ilorin and Ustaz Aduagba, predicted that the immediate past Senate president, Dr Saraki will bounce back despite his present political travails.
The scholars advanced Saraki’s passion for the progress of Kwara State and its people as reason for their positions.
Dan Borno and Aduagba spoke at the special prayer organised by loyalists, aides and admirers to mark Saraki’s 57th year birthday in Ilorin, Kwara State capital.
Dan Borno admonished Saraki and his supporters to see his present travails, especially the defeat he suffered in the last general elections as trial from God.
He pointed out that it’s those that God loves that He tries with such unpleasant occurrence so that they can live long to enjoy more of His abundant favours.
The famous cleric counseled the former Senate President not to despair, but rejoice” as God always reward good deed with good deed “, adding that the Sarakis have brought many Kwarans from obscurity to the limelight”.
For his part, Ustaz Aduagba noted with dissatisfaction that it was those that Saraki actually helped to become something in life that actually worked against him in the last general elections.
While praising those who still stand with the former Senate President, Aduagba counseled Ilorin people to desist from “bring him down syndrome “attitude which he noted is retarding the growth and development of the community.
Chief Imam Salihu later offered special prayers for Saraki, urging God to grant him long life and higher opportunity so that he can continue to impact on the lives of not only the people of Kwara state, but Nigeria in general.
Others  at the event were the Kwara PDP Party Chairman, Engr Kola Shittu, former Kwara PDP Chairman, Abubakar Zubair, DG, Abubakar Bukola Saraki Mandate Office, Alh Musa Abdullahi, former DG ABS Mandate Constituency Office, Hon. Wahab Issa, Kwara Central Senatorial Chairman, Alh Adeshina Asa, Ex-Kwara South Senatorial Chairman, Alh Jimoh Balogun, All local government part PDP party chairman led by Alh Aminuahi Akota, Alh Kayode Yusuf Maja, State PDP Woman Leader, Alhaja Rahmat Oganija, winner of recent Ilorin South state House seat at the Appeal Court, Hon. Agboola Jimoh, Hon. Ebun Owolabi, Alhaji Atolagbe Alege, Hon Sikira Anako, Hon Ayinke Saka, , Hajia Sarat Adebayo, Alhaji Hassan Gegele, Alhaji Abdullahi Oganija, Alhaji AbdulRaheem Olesin, Alhaji Ahmed  Dembo, Chief Christopher Ayeni, Magaji Nda of Ilorin, Alhaji Saliu Woru Mohammed, Hon Nimota Ibrahim, Hon Segilola Abdulkadir, among other members of the Saraki political structure across the state.

Notable tweets

I celebrate my dear brother & friend, Distinguished Senator Bukola Saraki on his 57th birthday. You have consistently demonstrated unwavering patriotism & abiding faith in the unity, peace & progress of Nigeria both in words & action. I wish you God’s blessings & protection in years ahead.
Former Speaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara

I felicitate you, Senator Bukola Saraki, as you turn 57. Happy birthday and many happy returns. I wish you many more years in good health and happiness.
Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde

I celebrate you, Bukola Saraki on your 57th birthday. This is wishing you more strength and God’s blessings even as you continue to make amazing strides through life.
Former Governor of Anambra State and PDP Vice Presidential Aspirant – Peter Obi

Sound bit from Ilorin celebration

“People don’t believe in messiahs until after messiahs conquer the difficult times. Saraki will conquer but he should be mindful of friends that suddenly became enemy and enemies that suddenly became friends”

“We all pray for our sons to be stronger than us and we all pray that our children become our better version.
Bukola Saraki has grown stronger than his late father which is a sign that the late Oloye’s prayer was answered through his son, the Waziri of Ilorin” – Chief Imam of Ilorin

“It is not always easy for a generation to be successful but in late Baba Saraki’s case, his father, Muktar Saraki, was successful, himself was and Baba and his son, Bukola Saraki, is also a definition of success story.” – Sheikh Dan Borno

When they went to Bukola Saraki that KWASU’s name should be change to immortalize the late Oloye, Bukola Saraki told them to stop and allow another Governor to do that to avoid uproar from some quarters but today, look at what is happening to the family that gave it all to Kwara.” what is the hope that any successful son of Ilorin at that magnitude will also be appreciated come tomorrow – Aduagba