One would have naturally thought that the tragedy that struck the send off party for Dr. Bukola Saraki, the outgoing Governor on the eve of the inauguration that the shine would be taken off the proceedings to swear in Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed as the new helmsman of the state. But alas it was far from it.

It was alleged that more than a dozen persons mostly aged and middle aged women had died in a stampede at the ‘’Mandate house”, campaign headquarters of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Ilorin at a valedictory party organized for the outgoing governor.

The agonizing deaths came while the victims were reportedly scrambling to collect six yards Ankara materials to be sewn and used for the inauguration ceremony.

As mysterious and quite unpredictable as politics could be said to be, those who were able to collect the clothing materials unscathed put on theirs at the inauguration ceremony and they were not a few. Remarkably too, the entire metropolitan square, venue of the ceremony was filled to capacity.

Interestingly, it was also a day of glory for the outgoing governor, Dr Bukola Saraki CON ,the Turaki of Ilorin who had successfully installed his successor unlike many of his contemporaries.

The second republic senate leader, Dr Abubakar Olusola Saraki who was at the swearing in ceremony of Dr Bukola Saraki, his son, in 2003 with all the immediate and extended members of the family were conspicuously absent at the venue of the inauguration/swearing ceremony.

This was a result of the political differences within the Saraki dynasty over the governorship ambition of Senator Gbemisola Ruqqayat Saraki. The rest is now history.

Only few members of Sarakis extended family among who was Ope Saraki were with Dr Bukola Saraki at the metropolitan square during his last day in office after his eight long years in government.

Right under the VIP lounged Bukola Saraki sat there all alone with his wife Toyin, watching maybe with mixed feelings as power was being transferred.

The masters of ceremony, drummed it as loud as they could that the outgoing governor has done well, chorusing all manners of adjectives to praise him.

Watching, ‘’Sai Bukky ‘’ as fondly called by loyalists, one could possibly insinuate that as he was looking across the spacious venue, he must be thinking of the luxuries of affluence and power he had enjoyed in the last eight years which have suddenly come to an abrupt end.

Dr Bukola Saraki unlike some of his colleagues stayed to watch as his godson Abdulfatah was formally installed as his successor.

The people of Kwara South, particularly the Igbominas where the new governor comes from were also fulfilled that day.

For about twenty eight years now when Chief Cornelius Adebayo was the governor for three months in 1983 under the Unity Party of Nigeria[UPN], that coveted seat of the governor had eluded them in spite of the fact that the area parades people of timbre and caliber.

As the major beneficiary of Dr Bukola Saraki’s rebellion from his family’s political machine, the Igbominas were the cynosure of all eyes as they came out in attires of many beautiful colors to celebrate one of their own.

The police parade and the impressive performances of the members of council for arts and culture also added color to the ceremony.

Dr Bukola Saraki acknowledged cheers as he was repeatedly mentioned as the man of the moment and accolades were poured on him. The new first lady, Omolewa Ahmed and Toyin, wife of Dr Bukola Saraki also warmly embraced themselves publicly to the admiration of all and sundry.

After all the rituals, by the Acting Chief Judge, Alh Suleiman Kawu, Governor Ahmed openly paid homage as he addressed, Dr Bukola Saraki as his leader, and his mentor.

He also diplomatically lauded the humbled elder Saraki saying: “I thank our father, His Eminence, Dr. Olusola Saraki, the Waziri of Ilorin, whose many years of dedication to the service of our people has set the stage for everything that we have achieved. Without the sacrifices that Oloye has made, perhaps, none of us would be here today.”

Immediately after the swearing in and Governor Ahmed ended the homage, the former Governor left the venue for the presidential lodge where he had relocated to receive visitors.

His departure from the venue practically brought the proceedings to an end. From the presidential lodge, Dr. Saraki and his wife departed to the airport where members of the just dissolved state executive council came to bid him farewell.

Virtually all members of the former executive council were in tears as as Dr Bukola Saraki and his wife boarded their plane out of Kwara. Its indeed the end of an era.