He would have been 80 years old today, 17th May, 2013, but Dr. Abubakar Olusola Saraki (aka Oloye) did not live to celebrate this milestone. He had, indeed, during his 75th birthday anniversary in 2008, declared a strong desire to mark today's birthday.

But sadly, the political icon died in his sleep in his house in Ikoyi, Lagos last November- six months to the magic day. His death shook the whole country, but it was pleasing to his biological and political family that Oloye exited in a hale of glory.

In an environment brimming with so many unofficial biographers of this theorist and practitioner of grassroots politics, following the Saraki personae had been a passion.

From a man who started out as a loser in the Federal House of Representatives polls in 1964, Saraki was the archetype long-distance runner in Nigerian’s ruling political marathon. His rising visibility did not suffer from this temporary setback as he was to become a member of Constituent Assembly, which produced the 1979 Constitution.

One of the most colourful politicians of the Second Republic, his emergence as Senate Leader was a vote for unity in the midst of poignant diversity. When the Senate was inaugurated, there were five party leaders with Dr. Olusola Saraki representing the NPN, Senator J.A.Oduring his 75th birthday anniversary. Odebiyi (UPN), Senator Jaja Nwachukwu (NPP), Senator Idris Kadi (GNPP) and Senator Ibrahim Barau (PRP). But so dramatic was the motion moved by Senator A.D. Rufai and seconded by Senator J.O.A. Odebiyi of the UPN calling on the Senate to make Saraki the Senate Leader that it continues to draw comparison to today’s appalling antagonistic politics.

One enduring attribute of his political odyssey is a never-say-die spirit, which had seen him weathering the tempests of Nigerian politics. Even in the Second Republic, with the ruling party without an absolute majority, Saraki, the consummate arbiter, was the bulwark in the National Assembly rallying relative stability for the Shehu Shagari presidency

Saraki, as far back as 1979, had become the colossus who would not only influence the course of national politics, but would also determine who would be elected or removed as governors in Kwara State.

With six governors in his kitty – Alhaji Adamu Attah (1979), Chief C.O. Adebayo (1983). Allhaji Sha’aba Lafiagi (1992) Alhaji Mohammed Lawal (1999) Dr. Bukola Saraki (2003) and Alhaji Abdulfatai Ahmed (2011), it was clear who determined the occupant of Kwara Government House.

His success in building an octopoidal political empire was traceable to the building blocks of generosity and loyalty.

The various testimonials during his funerals proved that the late Waziri’s generosity is legendary. Those who ceaselessly trooped to his “Ile Loke” residence for family support bore tribute to a philanthropist par excellence. 

For the Waziri of Ilorin, God certainly loves a cheerful giver. In a way, that divine instruction that givers never lack appeared to be the working secret of this exponent of grassroots politics.

With loyalty as a strong point, the Sarakite political machine bore cultic visage and Sarakites would die for their leader. This is because the leader had never abandoned his people in their hours of tribulations. He was an unusual Godfather – who installed with no commitment other than the general good of his people. He was the only patron saint that continued to spend on an elected officer long after victory at the polls! Such was the Waziri and his politics.

I have very fond memory of Oloye; I relish the grueling but exciting electioneering campaigns with him since 2002. I remember his numerous acts of generosity both in Nigeria and abroad; I remember his defining meeting in London in June 2011 with Leader Senator Bukola Saraki(CON),Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed and two other key officials of kwara state government on the way forward in kwara after the 2011 general elections; I remember, as a member of his entourage, the state reception he was accorded in Ghana in September 2011 during the wedding ceremony of his close friend and former Secretary-General of the United Nation, Mr. Koffi Annan.

I remember, most importantly, his gracious, intimate and confidential sessions with me as his adopted son, and also notably, his often-expressed wish that Kwara remains politically stable and economically prosperous- a wish that has courageously and admirably engaged the time and resources of his successor-son, Senator Bukola Saraki.

True to his spirit of generosity and undiluted love for Kwara, Oloye was until his death a great pillar of the Ahmed administration and political mentor of the governor who has been the Chief mourner. Till date, the governor continues to give the credit for his success in life to Oloye's financial empire and political structure.

Although Oloye is already immortalized in the minds of the people, it is assuring that official immortalisation is underway with the planned renaming of the Kwara State University as Olusola Saraki University - with due (process being followed). But for a man who served the nation so selflessly, it is desirable that a monument be named after him too by the federal government, even if it will be the Ilorin International Airport as recommended by the Federal House of Representatives.

Raheem Adedoyin is the Senior Special Adviser to Kwara Governor on Communication and Strategy