Harnessing Saraki’s Experience, Influence and Leadership for Kwara’s Development
By Lawal Akanbi Sharafadeen
Before delving into the subject matter of my piece, I would like to use this medium to congratulate Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, CON, and the entire Saraki family on the success of the funeral service of their beloved matriarch, Chief Mrs. Florence Morenikeji Saraki, which took place in Lagos few weeks ago. Mama’s enduring legacy, marked by her extraordinary compassion, philanthropic spirit, and selfless dedication to community service, continues to inspire the countless lives she touched during her remarkable journey on this divide. May God give the Sarakis the fortitude to bear the irreplaceable loss, and may He continue to watch over and protect all those she left behind.
Without doubt, the events that followed the transition of Mama Saraki, including her funeral service were indeed a testament to the influence and respect that Dr. Bukola Saraki commands in Nigeria’s political and business spheres. The outpouring of condolences from people from all walks of life reflects Saraki’s capacity to build bridges and connect with individuals across different divides. Across tribal, religious, political, and socio-economic divides, Nigerians came together in a remarkable show of support and solidarity with Dr. Saraki and his family during this period.
This clearly underscores the breadth of his influence, which extends far beyond regional and partisan lines, demonstrating a deep connection with the Nigerian people, built on trust, respect, and a shared commitment to the nation’s progress. Dr. Saraki, unarguably, stands as a towering figure in Nigeria’s political scene. As a two-time governor of Kwara State and President of the 8th National Assembly, his impact on the country’s governance and development is undeniable. His leadership, vision and human relations have earned him a reputation as a statesman and a unifying force in the country’s politics.
Whether anyone likes to admit it or not, Saraki remains the biggest political asset and personality Kwara can boast of at the moment. No one comes close. Or can anyone name any Kwaran who is as big, well-connected and influential as Dr. Bukola Saraki at the moment? He remains the highest political office holder the state has ever produced. This isn’t about bragging; it is stating the obvious reality, and there’s nothing anyone can do about it. His contributions are unprecedented and have been instrumental to the development of Kwara State, making him a pivotal personality in the state’s history.
In this light, it is crucial for the good people to continue rally behind and seek to harness his wealth of leadership experience, influence, reach and connections for the betterment of our state. We must discard the sponsored opposition and unfounded hatred fueled by evil and selfish politicians in the state, who were only interested in being in the corridors of power and use that opportunity to amass wealth for themselves.
Despite not holding any public office in the last five years, Dr. Saraki’s dedication to Kwara’s peace, development, and advancement remains unwavering. I firmly believe that he still possesses the capacity to bring about positive changes to the state, not necessarily as a political office holder, but as an elder statesman and lover of his state. He still definitely has a bigger role to play in the development of our dear State.
Sadly, in the last five years, our dear State has been plagued by mediocre leadership and maladministration, all thanks to the clueless man at the helm of affairs. It is abundantly clear that Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq came into office with little or no experience and largely unprepared for the task of leadership and governance. He is simply an accidental governor. This is evident by the lacklustre performance of his administration since 2019. After five solid years, Abdulrazaq cannot point at any valuable and impactful project he has initiated and completed. All he parades as achievements are pedestrian and low-quality projects.
As Kwara looks towards a future of sustainable development, prosperity and growth, we must begin to identify and push forward our best brains and hands for political leadership. This is why as we look ahead to the 2027 general elections, as a loyal party man and someone who’s interested in the development of our state, I am imploring the leader of our party, Dr Bukola Saraki to leverage his influence and ensure that individuals in active politics or private service who have gained broad acceptance due to their natural likability, gestures, intelligence, and genuine impact of their community development drive, or a distinguished professional, an accomplished administrator and visionary leader emerges as the Peoples Democratic Party’s, PDP governorship candidate for the 2027 general elections in Kwara. The candidate can either be a seasoned politician or not, as history has shown that effective governance is not mandatorily driven by governors who emerged from outside or within the political establishment. We have seen this experience in states like Lagos (Fashola), Oyo (Seyi Makinde), Borno (Zulum), Anambra(Soludo), Abia(Otti), Edo (Obaseki) and notably, Kwara under Dr. Saraki’s leadership. Let’s prioritize excellence, capacity and vision beyond any border or unconventional rules in our selection process so Kwara doesn’t end up with another Abdulrazaq in 2027.
Dr. Saraki, it is my hope that you would give a thought to this request of mine and see that the PDP party selects a candidate that shares in his vision for a better Kwara. Your ability to identify and nurture talent is well-known. I, therefore, trust in your judgment to guide our party to select a candidate who embodies the qualities of integrity, innovation, and a commitment to the public good, and I do hope that the party leadership and members will wholeheartedly support this idea and choose a candidate with a fresh perspective and new ideas that can drive growth and development for the overall good of the state.
Furthermore, I wish to encourage Dr. Saraki to continue building bridges across political divides. Forgiveness and reconciliation are essential acts in leadership and politics. The strength of a leader lies not only in their ability to lead but also in their capacity to forgive and unite. It is in this light that I urge you to extend a hand of forgiveness to those who may have wronged you, be it current or former political associates. A large number of Kwarans look forward to your continued leadership and influence in shaping a brighter future for our State and Nigeria as a whole.
Lawal Akanbi Sharafadeen writes from Kwara State Capital.
