Saraki: From Defalcator To Beloved Bride

My beloved dad has always told me how funny politics and politicians can be. One moment they are singing reggae and all of a sudden the tone has changed to blues. ”they change in a twinkle of an eye” he always says.

As I look into the whole saga that has beclouded the Sen. Bukola Saraki Senate Presidency, I am forced to in some respectable degree, agree with the position of my father. Senator Bukola Saraki had despite the antagonism against his ambition to become the President of the 8^th Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria moved ahead with his ambition which was achieved with the opposition PDP working in tandem with some members of the APC to declare him the Senate President.

The emergence of Sen. Saraki was not accepted by the APC hierarchy neither did President Muhammadu Buhari find it funny. Instead of settling the matter as a family matter, the Presidency encouraged by hawks within the power base, set in motion modalities to rubbish the Senate President. The Code of Conduct Tribunal was mobilized just as the media especially Premium Times which came up with a well-planned propaganda plot to rope the Senate president of operating an illegal offshore account. The way and manner which the Senate president was treated left so much to be desired considering the fact that despite his offence against the APC, he still remained the number three man in the eyes of Nigerians.

Trust Nigerians. The more they tried to ridicule, criminalise, assault, insult and disparage him, the more Nigerians discovered the baselessness of their witch-hunting. The plot to rubbish Saraki was made more laughable considering that the APC led government had become clueless, corrupt and clownish in running the affairs of the country and while they wallowed in the wilderness of cluelessness, the Saraki led Senate was well knit and at alert to ensure that they kept the Buhari administration on their toes. Never has the Nigerian Senate been bolder, proactive and patriotic as they became under the Saraki led Presidency. The exposure of the fraud in the administration of the Treasury Single Account TSA, the continuous payment of subsidy, the non-remittance of NNPC to the federation account, excessiveness of the Ibrahim Idris led Nigeria Police as well as the issue of the Customs boss Ahmed Ali to refuse wearing uniform as is expected of the Comptroller general of the Customs were issues that continually brought the Senate at loggerheads with the Executive.

Never in the heart of Sen. Saraki to give up under pressure no matter the vicissitudes. He continued to carry on believing that he will be exonerated of the conspiracy to destroy his political future. He was never arrogant neither did he betray any emotion of someone under such severe attack from an institution as powerful as the Presidency. I believe his confidence was bolstered by the fact that he believed his hands were clean.

This fact was recently confirmed by no institution other than the Supreme Court of the Federal republic of Nigeria. On July 6^th 2018, he was exonerated of the allegations that were brought against him. The jubilation was all over the country considering that the Kwara state born Senator has become a rallying point for Nigerians who have become disillusioned by the despair that surrounds the APC administration under President Muhammadu Buhari. The jubilation soon turned out to be that of serious concern to many of us that have fall in love with the mien, charisma and patriotism of the Senate president – characteristics which has made him a national leader and source of inspiration. The concern of Nigerians is that with the exoneration of Senator Saraki, The All Progressives Congress and the President who had rejected, demonized and blackmailed him are gradually eating their regurgitation. The President who has become popular for not respecting Court judgments has suddenly hailed the judgment. The APC that has boasted of not being moved by the rumoured planned defection of the pro Saraki reformed APC have recanted and are now singing the praise of the Senate President. Success they say has many friends and brothers.

I wonder what would have happened if Saraki had been confirmed a serial defalcator or as someone whose venality could motivate him to the extent of sponsoring armed robbery in the state? Definitely it would have been the worst moment for him and the nation’s democracy. But God Almighty has saved him from the hyenas and they are trying to invite him for dinner with promises that look too tempting to be rejected.

My candid advice like that of majority of Nigerians is that he understands what the APC and President Buhari have come to represent. They are political frauds that cannot be trusted. They betrayed Nigerians, betrayed their supporters many who have declared their regrets in allowing them to come to power. He has told Nigerians that he will make known his intentions on where to pitch his tenth in the coming days and it is important that he looks before he leaps and avoids leaping into a cesspool filled with failed promises.

Saraki has the prospects of becoming a respected national leader. Despite the way and manner he has been tainted, he has kept the Senate together even bringing sworn enemies of his emergence together under one roof. The Senate today represents a body of patriotic Nigerians who are not consumed by the scourge of religion, ethnicism or tribalism which is the hallmark of the executive. If what we are seeing in the N8th National Assembly can be replicated at the executive level, Nigeria will be better for it but if the present administration cannot replicate it, then it is time we support somebody who can do the job and that person must definitely have the boldness to reject Greek gifts when offered.

God bless Nigeria.

Comrade Nwokoma Messiah contributed this piece from Port Harcourt