Date: 2015-12-11

Almost every experience shared by those who have come in contact with late political icon in Kwara state and a philanthropist per excellence, Dr. Abubakar Olusola Saraki, praised his humane, kindness and love for his people, the state of his origin and Nigeria at large.

Dr. Saraki, who died on November 14, 2012 at the age of 79 years, has always been remembered in the annals of Nigerian politics for providing the philosophy of people's welfare as the crux of politics.

The participation of Dr Saraki in 1964 federal election expanded his understanding of the poverty level in Nigeria, particularly in the rural areas. He then resolved to find a possible way to assist those actually in need.

As a renowned politician, on July 7, 1979, he contested the Senate in the Second Republic and won. In the Senate, he was elected the leader. In 1983, he contested the Senate for the second time and won overwhelmingly with the result that had made him the first and only Senator to have scored such votes (i.e. 98.02 per cent) in the general election. Thus becoming the first Ilorin indigene to attain that parliamentary height.

It was not a surprise that within four years of service at the Senate, Saraki had established himself as a towering figure of consequential influence. A very simple, humble and unassuming politician, Saraki struck the heart of the people with his hospitality and kindness.

All his life, he represented the interests and yearning of the poor. He was fair and just, simple but great, incredible but true, gentle but powerful. Saraki's life was that of unfaulted honesty, enviable courage and sincerity. Thus, the Kwara State University (KWASU), Malete, regarded as university for community development, has taken it upon itself to organize a yearly community summit to immortalize the life and times of the late political godfather, "for the benefit of researchers and the future generation".

The annual summit, which is not for the well-to-do people alone, is also for the masses because Dr Saraki was described as a politician for the masses who also spent his money to improve their welfare. Speaking at the third in the series of the event in Ilorin, the vice chancellor of the institution, Professor Abdulrasheed Na'Allah, said that the authorities of the institution wanted ordinary people to have a say in the three-day summit as well as the youth and every other participant.

"We believe we cannot exhaust his history, and that's why this programme is an annual event. I learnt a lot of lessons from the previous summit. For instance, it was last year I understood that it wasnt late Saraki that voluntarily came home to join politics. It was true that he contested election and lost initially, but he returned to Lagos to continue his medical practice.

"It was the people who went to invite him back home for humanitarian service after so much agitation for a tarred road from Isale Oja to Pakata area of Ilorin. To demonstrate his willingness to serve his people, he hearkened to their call and helped tar the road. This was unprecedented in the history of Ilorin. He single-handedly guided the political, social and economic development of Kwara State. The state has escaped the political crisis through the principle of consensus", he said.

The vice chancellor also used the occasion to appeal to the nation's political class to forgive the scion of the Saraki political dynasty, who is also the Senate president, Dr Bukola Saraki, of his purported political "sins" for the sake of his late father, Dr Olusola Saraki.

Professor Na'Allah said that Nigerians should remember late Saraki's contributions to national growth and selfless life lived by the late philanthropist.

Many people, who spoke at the summit, paid glowing tribute to the late philanthropist, describing him as a godfather of Kwara and Kogi politics. A former legislator in the Kwara State House of Assembly, Honourable Kayode Omotose, described late Saraki as one of the greatest Nigerians of all times, saying that the history of Nigerian politics could not be completed without chapters dedicated to Saraki, the kingmaker.

Also speaking, the Head of Service of Kwara State, Mrs Zahra Omar, described how late Saraki helped a widow and two infants, children of a journalist, Tunde Oladepo, who was murdered in 1998 during the turbulent days of General Sani Abacha.

Mrs Omar recounted how the late philanthropist just read of the agony of the widow and her two children in newspaper and sent a token sum of N250, 000 cash (a lot of money then) to her without setting his eyes on them.

"Dr. Saraki did what he did out of his love for God and humanity and it was done quietly without any fanfare. I have little doubt that 'Oloye' did the same and perhaps much more for many others whilst he lived and I wonder how many of our leaders have the same kind of charitable and compassionate spirit as he did".