Senate presidency: Why odds favour Saraki, by Tayo Oyelowo

However, if the leadership of the All Progressives Congress zones the post of the Senate president to the North Central, it will be a straight fight between Senators Abubakar Saraki from Kwara Central and the Senate Minority Leader, George Akume, who is from Benue North-West. Both were two term governors.

Due to his political pedigree, experience and performance as governor and senator, Saraki is seen as a favourite for the position of Senate president. Analysts believe that some factors, especially competence, may work in favour of the son of the late strong man of Kwara politics, Dr. Abubakar Olusola Saraki.

Saraki as a stabilizer

The first consideration is to understand that a Saraki presidency will not only be a stabilizer owing to his experience as the Chairman of Nigeria’s Governors Forum, but ensure a robust senate. While at the helm of affairs as the Chairman of the NGF, Saraki used his position to promote unity and chart a common front for governors, including those in the opposition.

It would be recalled that at a time, the country faced constitutional crisis occasioned by the ill health of former President Umaru Musa Ya’adua. It was the NGF under Saraki that stepped in to save the nation from constitutional crisis. Therefore, Saraki’s emergence as the Senate president will go along way is stabilizing the National Assembly, which is necessary for the success of the incoming administration.

Two term governor

Experience, they say, is the best teacher. In the over 40 years history of the state of harmony, Saraki was the first executive governor to rule the state for eight years. As Governor of Kwara State, he established the Price Intelligent Unit to checkmate over invoicing. Through this, he saved millions of naira for the state, for which he got an international award. Here was a governor who physically checked prices before approval.

Political leadership

The outcome of the just-concluded election has confirmed the senator as the undisputed political leader of Kwara State. This will be his second solo outing and even more than the outcome in 2011, the 2015 result has put paid to any argument about his great ability to lead men and women to achieve good results. Such men deserve to lead at the highest level.

Contribution at the Senate

Senator Saraki serves as the Chair of the Senate Committee on the Environment and Ecology where he is championing bills that will sanitize the environment. Senator Bukola Saraki as a first term Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is credited with raising the motion on oil subsidy, which was considered the most important motion of the 7th Assembly. The motion sponsored by Saraki has been referred to as the singular legislative act that exposed the monumental fraud in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.

Bridge builder

Senator Saraki is considered a bridge builder who maintains very outstanding and cordial relationship with the elites, his contemporaries, elders and youths alike across the federation. His ability to mingle seamlessly in the political terrain has been attributed to his high sense of purpose, political sagacity, towering charisma and courage among others.

. Oyelowo writes from Garki, Abuja.