With the uncommon loyalty shown to Bukola Saraki by prominent politicians in his camp, many are asking if the politics of loyalty that reigned during the heydays of Abubakar Olusola Saraki are not being reenacted in Kwara.

For many who had doubted that Bukola Saraki would be able to fill the shoes of his father, Olusola Saraki, in terms of exerting complete loyalty from political associates, recent happenings in the state seem to be changing that mind set.

The senior Saraki had played the godfather in the politics of Kwara, deciding who takes what in the state until his demise that he was able to build a cult of loyalists around him that was only paralleled by few past leaders in the country.

With Bukola actively involved in politics, not many gave him a chance but recent events in the state are proving that a reenactment of the politics of loyalty in Kwara is back.

Unlike other states where the governors have fallen out with the godfathers that brought them to office, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed has remained with Bukola and had repeatedly said the senator remains his political leader in the state.

Governor Ahmed’s loyalty to Bukola is to the extent that he submits to whatever the former does politically as he joined him, not only to walk out of the PDP convention last year, but to be part of the then New PDP.

He also moved with Bukola to the APC when it was obvious that Ahmad himself had no grouse with the PDP but was only trying to catch up with the aspiration of Bukola whom he has conceded the position of leader of party to in Kwara State.

Former acting national chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje’s loyalty to Bukola has also served to intrigue many in the opposing camps.

Baraje who had all to benefit as a former chairman of the PDP, however chose to lead the New PDP when it was formed in what many believe was in support of the aspirations of Bukola who was not having it easy with the leaders of the PDP in government.

 He later resigned his chairmanship of the Nigeria Railway Corporation, throwing away the opportunities that come with such federal board appointments to entrench his support and loyalty to Saraki.

But the most surprising has been the immediate past minister of sports, Bolaji Abdullahi, who also lost his position as minister due to his loyalty to Bukola and has so far not shown any sign of regret for choosing the path of loyalty.

When President Goodluck Jonathan on September 11, 2013 sacked nine ministers in one fell swoop, many watchers of the unfolding events were astonished that the then Sports Minister, Abdullahi, a known supporter of the former Governor of Kwara State was spared despite his boss being one of the arrowheads of what was believed to be a coup against the ruling PDP.

To many, the retention of Abdullahi in the cabinet was not unconnected with his sterling performance in the ministry as many analysts and sports enthusiasts described him as one of the best and most successful sports ministers ever produced in Nigeria. It is on record that it was during Abdullahi’s stint in the ministry that Nigeria did not only win the Junior World Cup, but also lifted the prestigious African Cup of Nations trophy aside from qualifying for the all-important World Cup to be played in Brazil in three months time.

Irrespective of the indifference of some Nigerians to Abdullahi’s much vaunted performance especially with the criticism that he concentrated only on football, it is an incontrovertible fact that his records could not be surpassed or waved aside easily.

It was gathered that despite the raging politics of 2015 and the re-election bid of Jonathan coupled with the fact that Kwara is considered to be on the watch list of the Presidency because of the defection of Saraki and Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed with their followers, the President shoved aside pressures to remove Abdullahi in order, “not to stall the successes recorded in the sports sector especially as the World Cup fast approaches”.

Reports have it that in order to strengthen the PDP in the state, the President was considering the option of appointing another minister from the state to represent the North-Central in the cabinet so that he would not toy with the Sports Minister who is said to be doing the nation proud.

However, the constitution of a caretaker committee for Kwara state by the national leadership of PDP appeared the beginning of Abdullahi’s journey away from the federal cabinet. The committee led by former Reps Member, Hon. Solomon Edoja from Delta State did not hide on its agenda, the need to remove Abdullahi if he could not be whipped into line.

Edoja, it would be recalled, had challenged Abdullahi to come out of the closet and state where he belongs, noting that Abdullahi as a minister under a PDP-led Federal Government should identify with their cause to fight Saraki, Ahmed and those who presently make up the APC in the state. The committee is particularly exasperated that Abdullahi neither identified with their cause nor deemed it fit to fund the activities of the party. Despite the persistent overtures to Abdullahi, sources privy to the issues told Daily Trust that all the committee could get from Abdullahi was that he was not a politician but a technocrat.

However, the March 3 rally of the PDP in Kwara State which was attended by President Goodluck Jonathan and members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) led by Alhaji Adamu Muazu was seen as the last stroke that broke the camel’s back. Though Abdullahi was at the rally, neither the Master of Ceremony nor any speaker at the gathering mentioned his name. This, many believe reflects the deep politics and conspiracy surrounding Abdullahi’s stay in the cabinet.

Going by what transpired at the rally, it was therefore not surprising to many that Abdullahi was two days after fired by President Jonathan. No reason was given for the sack and his ouster sparked hysteria in the polity especially among sports loving Nigerians who queried the rationale for relieving the Minister of his appointment despite being one of the performing Ministers in the cabinet. The President immediately named Dr. Tamuno Danagogo as his replacement.

Apparently Jonathan bowed to pressure to sack the Minister who was accused of double loyalty- one to his employer and also to Saraki who nominated him for the position in 2011. Considering that Saraki has dumped the PDP, the expectation was for Abdullahi to severe his relationship with Saraki and declare support for the PDP in the state but thinking this would happen would amount to wishful thinking.

For many analysts, Abdullahi’s decision to remain steadfast with Saraki despite the mountainous pressure represents what he believes in- not biting the finger that fed him. Abdullahi was a journalist with This Day Newspapers in Lagos before his invitation by Saraki to serve in his government first as Special Adviser on Communications and Strategy and then Commissioner during Saraki’s second term as Governor of Kwara State.

After serving in Saraki’s government for almost eight years, he was again nominated in 2011 as minister where he was first appointed minister of youth development, supervising minister of sports and later the substantive minister. Abdullahi owes his ascendancy to prominence to Saraki and this according to him, explained why he needed to remain loyal to the former governor whom he called, his leader.