OPINION - Senate Presidency: This is our chance in Kwara. By Kayode Oyin-Zubair

Date: 2015-04-19

In 1979, Providence presented to our dear state - Kwara the opportunity of leading the Senate of the second republic and the cap was hovering over the late Dr. Olusola Saraki of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN). Saraki eventually wore the cap and became the senate leader.

Senator Cornelius Olatunji Adebayo, another son of the soil was a member of the senate at that time but rode on the platform of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) to the upper chamber of the legislative house. As the scramble for the exalted seat in the house started, C.O. Adebayo pitched his tent with his brother, Olusola Saraki even with their clear differential political leanings. Adebayo was proud of doing that and thanked God his brother made it.

You will recall that the former senate leader paid Adebayo back in the 1983 governorship election when he threw his weight behind him to become the governor of Kwara State.

Providence again beckons on Dr. Bukola Saraki to lead the 8th Senate, now as the senate president. Would any son or daughter of Kwara despise this cause?

The chief campaigner of Saraki senate presidency today is Lai Mohammed who holds that this is our chance in the state of harmony, he also believes this window will afford us the opportunity of contributing to nation building while our own is in the saddle.

Mohammed unlike Adebayo belongs to the same political party with Saraki. Mohammed unknown to many has a long standing relationship with the Saraki family. In 2003, before Senator Saraki joined the governorship race, political pundits held that the patriarch of the Saraki family was going to support Alhaji Lai Mohammed who was running on the platform of the Alliance for Democracy (AD). I was a coordinator of the Lai Mohammed Campaign Organization (LAMCO) in Ifelodun local government area.

Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu was the governor of Lagos State in 2002 and Lai Mohammed was his chief of staff (de facto deputy governor); when the late Oloye approached Asiwaju for an intervention on a Kwara matter. Lai Mohammed took it upon himself and honored the late pillar of Kwara politics. Little wonder through out his campaign in 2003 and later as the spokesman for MRD/MDD, ACD, AC, ACN and now, he never hurled attack on the Saraki family which many of the unreliable characters within us found unacceptable.

Lai Mohammed is urbane, humble and sincere. At the launch of his book - Witness to History, in Lagos in 2013, Asiwaju exclaimed that he would have protested should Lai Mohammed failed to allow him to present the book. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, Nigeria's president-elect wrote the foreword to that book. Asiwaju didn't fail to expose the character of Lai Mohammed in his brief speech.

"Lai, you are intelligent, Lai you are smart, Lai you are an honest man. You are only being modest by saying you are a witness to history. You are the history. Lai is ACN, and ACN is Lai." It was about the time ACN was winding up and we had returned our certificate to INEC.

This is the man who believes in the socio-economic well being of his people and had pursued same with vigor over time. He is one man that believes in the Will of the Almighty God on every issue of life. He is a devout Muslim; some of his followers dare to address him as Alfa because he had on many occasions declined to behave like the average Nigeria politician.

As some may not know, Senator Saraki and Alhaji Lai Mohammed are on the same page on every issue as it affect our party since the merger was consummated. The senate presidency can't be an exemption. The cynics will be shocked to the marrow in the nearest future when Kwara finally carry the ace. To be concluded.

Kayode Oyin-Zubair, is the Head of Programs (Mandate 2015) and Secretary Kwara Unity Forum (KUF), political group of Lai Mohammed.

 

Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

Kwara     Muhammad Mustapha Suleiman     Nigeria Computer Society     Sa\'adu Salau     Haleeman Salman     Tosho Yaqub     Kassim Babamale     Abdulkadri Ahmad Alaiye     Islamiya Abdulraheem     Kola Adesina     Idofin     Raliat AbdulRazaq     Emmanuel Bello     Muhammed Taofeeq Abdulrazaq     Senior Ibrahim Suleiman     Siddiq Adebayo Idowu Salawu     Oyedun Juliana Funke     Hassan A. Saliu     Kwara State Television     Young Progressives Party     CLAY POT     Nigerian Supreme Council For Islamic Affairs     Emmanuel Olatunji Adesoye     Erin-ile     Lola Ashiru     Magaji Erubu     Students Union Government     Ilorin Metro Park     Abdulganiyu AbdulAzeez     Bayo Mohammed Onimode     Abubakar Baba     Federal Polytechnic Offa     Ganmo Power Sub-Station     Alabe     Sunday Otokiti     Isiaq Khadeejah     Aremu Bose Deborah     Sarafadeen Kayode Akorede     Yusuf Abdulkadir     RTEAN     Valsolar Consortium     Ayobami Akanbi     Abdulhakeem Adelaja Amao     Razaq Atunwa     Elerinjare-Ibobo     TESCOM     Saka Asiat Ayinke     Sunset Workers     Aliyu Sabi     Isau     Alimi     Yusuf Lanre Badmus     AbdulRauf Keji     Javed Khan     Amoyo     Junior Secondary School Certificate Examinations     Bola Shagaya     Garment Factory     Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital     Harrison Osauwagboe     Maryam Ado Bayero     Forgo Battery Company Limited     Dagbalodo     Aminu Ado Bayero     Saidu Isa     Ishola Balogun Fulani     Funmilayo Isiaka Oniwa     Ijagbo     Aliyu Olatunji Ajanaku     Stephen Fasakin     Centre For Peace And Strategic Studies     Kwara Poly     Dar-Al-Handasah Consultants     Woro     Alliance For Democracy     Code Of Conduct     Abubakar Imam    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

Unicontinental Construction Company     Bukola Saraki     Balogun-Ojomu     Lanre Issa Onilu     Ibrahim Abdulkadir Abikan     Photo News     Funmilayo Isiaka Oniwa     TIC     Kola Adesina     Adolescent Girls Initiative For Learning And Empowerment     Olam Food Ingredients     Usman Rifun     Yoonus Lawal     Tafida Of Kaiama     David Oyedepo     Doyin Agbamu     Abdulrosheed Okiki     RTEAN     Issa Manzuma     National Association Of Nigerian Students     Offa Metropolitan Club     Rebecca Olanrewaju     Daud Adeshola     Orire     Bolaji Abdullahi     Just Law Forum     Abdul-Rahoof Bello     Park     Muhammed Taofeeq Abdulrazaq     Wahab Egbewole     Abdulmutalib Shittu     Dar-Al-Handasah Consultants     Ajidagba     Kwara State University Of Education     Odo-Owa     Olosi Of Osi     Abdulraufu Mustapha     Ilesha-Baruba     Pategi     Alimi Abdulrazaq     Hamidat Sulyman-Yusuf     Femi Ogunsola     Ilorin General Hospital     Yomi Ogunsola     Salman Jawondo     Sa\'ad Alanamu     Habeeb Abdullahi Al-Ilory     Afusat Nike Ibrahim     Roseline Oni Aremu     Ilorin Emirate     Balikis Jawondo     Sarakite     Kola Bukoye     Kulende     Ibraheem Abdullateef     Seun Bolaji     Iyeru Grammar School     Maimunat Oloriegbe     Ilorin Innovation Hub     Shehu Alimi Foundation For Peace And Development     Kanu Agabi     Idowu Laro     International Public Sector Accounting Standards     YAKOOYO     Omotosho     Lafiagi     Niyi Ogundiran     Kisira     Olaiya Lawal     Olusola Saraki     Kazeem Gbolagade     Michael Nzwekwe     Suleiman Rotimi Iliasu     Lawan     HAMFAT Clinic And Maternity     Nigeria Governors\' Forum     Hussein Oloyede