OPINION: Saraki: My man of the year 2019. By Ilemona Onoja

Date: 2021-12-19

Several events and actors have shaped the political landscape of the nation in ways that have made 2021 a pivotal year in the preparation for the 2023 general elections.

The nation has grappled with the fall out of the global coronavirus pandemic, massive insecurity ravaging several parts of the country, separatist agendas in the South West and South East and a badly battered economy with poor fundamentals.

However, in the midst of these occurrences Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki – popularly called Oloye by his supporters – has stood out as a positive influence in shaping the immediate and future reactions Nigerians are likely to have to these events. What is truly remarkable is how he has exerted this influence unobtrusively, quietly helping to shape the political landscape ahead of what may be the most important elections in Nigeria’s history.

His role as the Chairman of the National Reconciliation and Strategy Committee of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) – a body which had other bigwigs like former Senate President Sen. Anyim Pius Anyim; former Governors Ibrahim Dankwambo, Ibrahim Shema and Liyel Imoke as well as former Majority Leader of the House of Representatives – Hon. Mulikat Akande-Adeola – as members has been pivotal in retooling the PDP.

Prior to the inauguration of this Committee, the party was beset with internal wranglings, broken into factions in many State and Zonal chapters, and unable to function as a cohesive opposition party. In the course of its activities, the Saraki led Committee was able to achieve remarkable success by ending age old crises in the Borno and Ogun States chapters of the party. The Committee also recorded successes in Lagos, Plateau, Ondo and Osun while making considerable progress in states like Nasarawa, Ekiti and Oyo.

These successes resulted in the party successfully completing its congresses at the ward, local government and state levels including in many areas where it was previously considered impossible and gave rise to the successful conduct of the National Convention of the party.

Saraki was also very influential in the high-level politicking that preceded the National Convention of the party and resulted in the emergence of the Sen. Iyorchia Ayu led National Working Committee (NWC). His calming influence was instrumental in helping senior party figures navigate through different political interests and arrive at almost unanimous decisions regarding the national officers of the party.

Having concluded his involvement at the party level, Saraki has moved on to a more personal issue – his bid to emerge as flagbearer of the party for the 2023 presidential election and, subsequently, to take up the nation’s top job.

In late November, he was in Benue State to consult with Governor Samuel Ortom over his ambition. After the private consultations which many sources reveal was well received, his host let the cat out of the bag by announcing Saraki’s intentions to the media.

In the time since that consultative visit, stakeholders within and outside the PDP in many states of the North Central region have become more convinced of the possibility of producing a president from the region and have gone on to adopt Saraki as their consensus candidate, making him a top contender for the party’s ticket in next year’s primaries.

As 2021 winds down to an end, Saraki has quietly and effectively influenced the political landscape of the country as a result of which he is definitely one to watch in the coming year. Whether he will achieve his objectives remains to be seen. What can immediately be confirmed, though, is that like he has successfully done, Saraki will be a major political actor in the year 2022, God willing. Happy birthday, Oloye as you turn 59 on Sunday.

Onoja writes from Abuja

 


Cloud Tag: What's trending

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

Nupe     Abdulmajeed Wahab     Sunday Fagbemi     Towobola Abdulrahman Toyin     Shehu Jimoh     AbdulRauf Keji     Christian Association Of Nigeria     Lawal Arinola Kudirat     Lola Olabayo     Rebecca Olanrewaju     Muslim Stakeholders Of Kwara State     Seni Saraki     College Of Education     Sheriff Olanrewaju     Razak Atunwa     Halimah Perogi     Kishira     Abdulkarim Adisa     Iliasu     Kamaldeen Kehinde     Maigida     TIIDELab     Elewu     Bello Bature     Ilorin Emirate Stakeholders Forum     Asiwaju Bola Tinubu     Medview Airlines     Ghali Alaaya     Nigeria Foundation For Artificial Intelligence     Musa Yeketi     Abdullahi Dasilva Yussuf     Alimi Abdulrazaq     Mujtabah Bature     Galadiman Ngeri     Abdul-Rasheed Na\'Allah     Ilorin Curfew     ASKOMP     Bello Oyedepo     Ilorin Durbar     Baruten     Apata Ajele Secondary School     Tsado Manman     Abdulrahman Abdullahi Kayode     Bola Shagaya     Umar Ayinla Saro     Bilikis Oladimeji     Muhammad Yahya     ARMTI     ER-KANG Mining     Gamji Members Association     AbdulHakeem Ajibola Akanbi     Bola Magaji     Bello Taoheed Abubakar     Abubakar Olusola Saraki     Agbarigidoma     Mike Omotosho     Shuaib Abdulkadir     Jimoh Olusola Imam     Ahmed Saidu Rufai     Kubra Kazum     Lotus Bank     Muhammad-Mustapha Suleiman     Opolo Global Innovation Limited     Michael Nzekwe     Awili Pedro     Abioye Bello     Abdulrazak Shehu Akorede     2017 Budget     Yakub Lai Gobir     Ajikobi     Salake     Mohammed Tunde-Jimoh     Dankaka     Alanamu     Tunji Ajanaku     Shaykh Luqman Jimoh     Ahmed Alhasssan    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

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

Mike Omotosho     Kwara Basketball Association     Budo-Egba     Ahmad Lawan     Hamza Usman     Sola Saraki Educational Foundation     CCT     Wahab Agbaje     REO CAKES     Isiaka Rafiu Mope     ER-KANG Mining Nigeria Company Limited     Odogun Olushola Gabriel     CELF     Obasanjo     Kwara South     Rachael Obisesan     Kubra Kazum     Adaramaja     Patigi Regatta     Olomu     Kwara State Fire Service     IFK     Wahab Kunle Shittu     Alfa Belgore     Mazars Consulting     COVID-19 Palliatives     Akeem Olatunji     Oke-opin     Kwara United     Oro Grammar School Old Students Association     Abdulmumini AbdulRazaq     Okin Malt     Oju Ekun Sarumi     IESA     Olusegun Adeniyi     Sa\'adatu Modibbo-Kawu     Olatunde Michaels     Towoju     Yomi Adeboye     Taofeek Sanusi     Shehu Adaramaja     Shagari     Olatomiwa Williams     KWASEIC     Anilelerin     Ahmed Bayero     Offa Descendants Union     Ballah     Logun     Harmony Holdings     Ashiru     Binta Abubakar-Mora     Kwabes     Niyi Osundare     Azeez Bello     Arinola Fatimoh Lawal     Ella Supreme Tissue Paper     Saeedat Aliyu     Aminu Ado Bayero     Ita-Ore     Ilorin Durbar     Iyabo Adewuyi     Alimi     Abdul-Rasheed Na\'Allah     Bio Ibrahim     Abdulazeez Arowona     Florence Saraki     Tafida     Ilorin Amusement Park     Wahab Issa     State Bureau Of Internal Revenue     Isiaka AbdulRazaq     Abdulrahman Abdullahi Kayode     Abubakar Kawu Baraje     Abubakar Abdulraheem     Bamidele Adegoke Oladimeji     Ekweremadu