Opinion: Between Saraki's serenade tact and Tambuwal's talk-and-do fad By Osedebamen Isibor

Date: 2016-01-27

About seven ago, former Kwara state governor and scion of the Alhaji Abubakar Saraki political dynasty, Bukola Saraki became the President of the Red section of the Nigerian National Assembly. And by that development, he became the chairman of the federal legislature.

But that did not come save by the politician surmounting all real and imaginable odds from his Party men and women as well as other stakeholders in the affairs of the National Assembly. Good enough, inspite of the shaky start that characterised his post inauguration as Senate President including the sudden unearthing of alleged assets declaration issues, Saraki who took it all with equanimity and calmness is speedily becoming the beautiful bride of the current players in the nation's political arena.

As many have observed too, his archetypical serenade that easily calms frayed nerves within his party, the All Progressives Congress, APC and the presidency as well as the opposition appear to be working for him. And this is not forgetting the fact of his towering stature in his native Kwara state where politics according to the doctrines of Oloye, his late father and patriarch of the Saraki dynasty remains the reference point in grass root mobilisation for the needed positioning. Above all, the Senate president must remain the role model he is to many outside the green and white Assembly of lawmakers at all times. Obviously, not a few political historians here forget the fact that Saraki's late father too was a one-time Senate President from 1979 through 1983. Like his father also, he is a medical doctor by training. Besides, he was the first Nigerian governor to be awarded the national honour, a Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON).

Perhaps his strides in office which saw many of his colleague-governors trying to copy his government's community health insurance scheme, environmental 'Clean and Green' scheme and agricultural transformation scheme, which accounted as one of the reasons Kwara under him was seen as a profitable and clean state aided in that regard. And that is not forgetting the fact that before becoming a senator, he was the former chairman of the vibrant and highly influential Nigerian Governor's Forum.

Thus, for Saraki coming with such a load of A+ credentials to weather the raging political storm to ascend the seat of the Senate presidency alongside the intricate power balance that has Ike Ekwermadu of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP as his deputy stand him out as one politician with uncommon sagacity, courage and deft strategy that looked beyond his Party's position on the zoning of key offices of the federal legislature to head a team that he believes should be pan-Nigerian in all ways.

Today, the Senate President commands the respect of his colleague-lawmakers; and together they are managing the affairs of that arm of government for the progress and general good of Nigeria. And like observers are quick to note Saraki has struck very strong relationship with his fellow senators so reassuringly that party affiliations no longer matter in the outlook and disposition of the lawmakers. Like him, they now see their assignment in the hallowed chamber of the Senate as call to national duty which behoves on all to rise above partisan interest. Who knows, Saraki's Senate may at the end of the day, shock Nigerians as one that would have the most excellent relationship with the Executive branch of government and other stakeholders in the history of the country's democratic experience. Then, that will be a well-deserved and healthy shock.

Tambuwal's Talk-and-Do regime

The immediate past Speaker of the House of Representatives and current governor of Sokoto state, Aminu Tambuwal in my estimation, must have influenced the way lawmakers of the National Assembly must be seeing their duties out there. The story of his ascension to the headship of the House and all the horse-trading as well as shenanigans that were thrown up from his former political party, PDP through the then presidency to outright mudslinging by his supposed friends are similar to what Saraki passed through, though in the Senate four years after. But then, Tambuwal arrived the scene, saw the Promised Land and delivered to the best of his ability and patriotic interest of the country. And today as state governor, he is shining like a million stars all over Sokoto indicating that what he was able to achieve as a federal lawmaker would be nothing compared to what his native Sokoto people would experience under his governorship. Yes, he supported the emergence of current Speaker of the House of Representatives, but it does not remove from the fact that the Sokoto state governor is not only rebuilding the Caliphate state, he is carrying his people along.

Indeed Tambuwal promised that much upon his declaration as governor-elect of his state. Here him: "Myself and the Deputy Governor-Elect are truly humbled by your sustained show of support, trust and confidence in the face of orchestrated provocations and attempts to subvert the Will of the PEOPLE, we remain grateful for honouring us with your MANDATE."

He continued: "This is a responsibility that we do not take lightly, and we will endeavour to continue to provide good governance in Sokoto State with utmost transparency and fairness." Tambuwal said "We make a solemn pledge to you today that this government shall be fair to one and all, and shall at all times work hard to meet the yearnings of our people for responsive and responsible governance."

And then, a little spicing: "as the outgoing Speaker of the House of Representatives, I understand the expectations of my immediate Constituency and the wider national political family in my new Public Service engagement." Little wonder that, inside Tambuwal's Sokoto state today, things are looking up. From infrastructural developments through his recent initiatives in the education of the Sokoto child of school-going age, the deft politician, lawyer, administrator and social engineer is living my preferred sobriquet for him: Governor Talk-and-Do.

Thus between Saraki's serenade and Tambuwal's talking and doing lie the true qualities of political leadership this country requires as of now; being cool, calm, calculating, collected but yet overly patriotically disposed to all good works that have the potentials of taking Nigeria to the next level. But can they do it alone? Of certainty, they cannot. The Nigeria of the dream of the Sarakis and Tambuwals of our time must rise and confront the challenges of nationhood peculiar to this clime.

Source

 

Cloud Tag: What's trending

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

Yusuf Olaolu Ali     Sidikat Akaje     Elections     Nigeria Foundation For Artificial Intelligence     Muyideen Ajani Bello     Abdulkadri Ahmad Alaiye     Oju Ekun Sarumi     Halimah Perogi     Adamu Jemilat-Baki     Adekunle David Dunmade     Adam Abdullahi Al-Ilory     Bello Taoheed Abubakar     David Adesina     Yusuf Lanre Badmus     Esuwoye     Sulaiman Gado     JAAC     Alaro     Sango-UITH Road     PAACO-PCL Consortium     COVID     Alagbado     CCB     Olatunde Olukoya     Ahmed Mohammed Rifun     Modupe Oluwole     Ibrahim Abiodun     Toyin Falola     Ahmad Belgore     N-Power     Government Girls’ Day Secondary School Pakata     Association Of Kwara State Online Media Practitioners     Salihu Yahaya     Amada Jidda     REO CAKES     Oloje     Alaiye     Amos Bajeh     Sardauna     Ilorin Talaka Parapo     Kwara State Geographic Information Service     Col. Taiwo     Wahab Isa     Jimoh Akani     Micheal Imoudu     Vasolar-Kwara Company Ltd     Flights To Ilorin     Olabode Towoju     Solomon Edoja     Unilorin FM     Toyin Sanusi     Toyosi Thomas     Ishaq Abdulkarim     Universal Basic Education Commission     Ezekiel Yissa Benjamin     Sulyman Buhari     Kwara State Pension Board     Adolescent Girls Initiative For Learning And Empowerment     Abdulrasheed Na\'Allah     Mohammed Khadijat Kubura     Saka Saadu     Elerinjare     Chief Imam Of Ilorin     Federal College Of Education (Special), Afon     Farouk Salim     A.G.F Abdulrasaq     Lotus Bank     Nurudeen Muhammed     Seni Saraki     Abiodun Musa Aibinu     Abdulraheem Yusuf     School Of Nursing     Mubarak Oladosu     Suraj Tunji Oyewale     Ilorin Curfew     Mohammed Ghali Alaaya     Saadatu Modibbo-Kawu    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

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

Saka Keji     Emir Of Ilorin     Abdulrazaq Solihudeen     Mubarak Oladosu     Patigi Regatta     Ibrahim Sulu Gambari     Mohammed Yisa     Majlis For Sadakah, Zakat And Waqf     Sai Kayi     JSSCE     Kwara Volleyball Association     Baba-Isale     Suleman Abubakar     Sheu Ndanusa Usman     Jumoke Monsura Gafar     Abdulganiy Abimbola Abdussalam     Gbugbu International Market     Alabi Lawal     Atiku Abubakar     Amada Jidda     Shuaib Jawondo     Osuwa     Taofik Abdulkareem     Bureau Of Lands     Nigerian Correctional Service     Mope Dasuki Belgore     Ayegbeni     Bukola Saraki     Shehu Jimoh     Sulyman Tejidini     Ijagbo     Afetu Of Alabe     Valsolar-Kwara Company Limited     Yakubu Shaaba     Women Radio     Oyawoye     Flights To Ilorin     Hassan Abdulazeez Elewu     Aliyu Kora Sabi     Tunji Oyawoye     James Kolo     Abdulrauf Yusuf     John Kehinde Salako     Kwara State Coalition Of Business And Professional Associations     David Oyedepo     Esinrogunjo     Senate President     Saeedat Aliyu     Kwara Pdp     Aminat Ahmed     Kwara Primary Health Care Development Agency     Mahfouz Adedimeji     Shuaib Boni Aliyu     Freshvine Nigeria Limited     Garba Idris Ajia     Asiwaju Bola Tinubu     David Oyepinola Adedumoye     KSIRS     Oro Grammar School Old Students Association     CACOVID     FERMA     Tsaragi-Share     Kwara Liberation Group     Kulende     Ajakaye     Oyin-Zubair     Alikinla     Kwara     Oro Grammar School     Solomon Edojah     Bisi Kristien     Mopelola Abdulmaliq-Bashir     MAI Akande     Opobiyi     Olumide Daniel Ibitoye     Saraki     Dorcas Afeniforo