ABS'S 365 DAYS AFTER GOLDEN AGE

By Abdulqadri Abdulganiyu

Senator (Dr.) Abubakaar Bukola Saraki, CON, the Turaki of Ilorin Emirate and The Turaki Raya Kasar of Nupe Kingdom is indeed a national statesman who has distinguished himself among his peers as a selfless leader. He is a serious minded personality and a man of outstanding principles who was born to rule for the sake of Nigeria masses. It is a known fact that Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki has an unalloyed love for his people and the general masses of his country, Nigeria.

Within this calendar year after his golden age, a lot has happened in his socio-political life. All his steps are connected with his love to bring total liberation to the people of Kwara and Nigeria. In politics, they say, there is no permanent friend or foe but permanent interest. His recent move or defection from the sinking ship of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to All Progressive Congress (APC) is a welcome development as the people of Kwara State are assured of meaningful life where there will be open and sincere internal democracy.  ABS is a visionary leader who believes in youths as instruments for the growth and development of any nation. This he exhibited in actions and deeds while in office as the Executive Governor of the State of Harmony, Kwara State, for good eight years (2003-2011) before becoming a law maker in the Upper House of National Assembly.

His tenure as the Governor witnessed the highest number of youth participation in government which produced young Kwaran youths as Secretary to the State Government, Chief of Staff, Commissioners, special Assistants/Advisers, Local Government Liaison Officers, Youth Empowerment Coordinators and other political office holders. The involvement of these youths gave his administration tremendous achievements in all sectors of governance. Notably were his achievements in the education sector under the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology under Alhaji Bolaji Abdullahi. The Ministry of Agriculture, Sport, Transport, Works, Finance and Economic planning etc. also recorded tremendous and monumental achievements.

The recognition of all his achievements at the State level, paved way for him to become the Chairman Nigeria’s Governors Forum (NGF). The position he maintained for two tenures without internal or external crises. His service as the Chairman of the NGF contributed to the crises-free period and transition in the history of Nigerian Democracy. He is a true and realistic leader who was open-minded and transparent in his dealings with other thirty-five Governors of the Federation.

This was why he was highly respected by all the governors and his opinions and policies were always followed without any problem.

Having done a lot at the state level, with a great numbers of legacies needed to be maintained, sustained and continued, he needed the service of a dynamic young man to take over the mantle of leadership as the Executive Governor of the State. Among thousands of options, Sen. ABS gave us the best in Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmad, the Maigidan Kwara. However, he proceeded to the National Assembly to become a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria representing Kwara Central Senatorial District. This was possible because of his excellent performance at the State level. Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki who is currently the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology has proved himself as a National leader because his contributions at the floor of the National Assembly are always in the interest of the people. As a Peoples’ Senator, Saraki has procured over seventeen thousand (17000) UTME forms for students in Kwara State and offered more 5000 successful students scholarship into higher institutions of learning home and abroad. His community development projects touched various areas of human life: construction of drainages, road networking, rural electrification, provision of portable water, among other projects.

His courage and strides in the cause of being factual on issues that touch the lives of the masses of course would aggravate tension or hatred from some colleagues who never liked things to work out well for the common masses. Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki, as the true son of his father, was never afraid to question any controversial or conventional matters that may be waved aside for the purpose of exposure especially if such issues will benefit Nigerians. A good example was the issue of oil subsidy, he is a serious minded personality and a man of outstanding principle who is born to rule for the sake of the Nigerian masses.

Moreover, as the Chairman Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki has been doing everything humanly possible to reduce the effects of environmental hazards. As the Chairman Senate Committee on environment and Ecology, he has taken up the fight to save our environment through proactive legislative interventions and advocacy, which prompted his appointment by the United Nation as a member of the Leadership Council of Global Alliance for Clean Cook Stoves by the Climate Change Initiative of the United Nations Foundation.

In his very short period of time as the Chairman Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology at the National Assembly, he has not stopped at legislative actions alone which include bills to tackle oil spills, desertification and erosion, he has gone to the field to ensure that those who have spilled oil on our environment clean up, he has ensured that the FG assisted Zamfara State to clean up Bagega, a lead poison impacted area in Zamfara State.

He is working with the Federal Ministry of Environment to introduce and promote the use of clean cook stoves as a viable alternative to felling trees for fuel to reduce the level of deforestation we already experience at an alarming rate all across the country. He is seriously working pro-actively with the Federal Ministry of Environment also to ensure proactive planning and interventions to forestall and mitigate the impact of flooding on our people this year and tackling desertification problems with experts on the field.

The resolve to tackle these environmental problems head on is born out of his conviction that much of our arable lands have been destroyed by their impacts and unless we reclaim these lands or at least stop them from further exacerbating, we stand little chance in our fight against poverty, malnutrition and insecurity.

It is obvious beyond every reasonable doubt that Sen. (Dr.) Abubakar Bukola Saraki (CON) is a great national leader whose opinions and polices is masses’ centered. His service earned him meritorious awards both at the State, National and international level. It is our hope, aspiration, prayer and belief to see him in greater height, doing what he knows how to do best, giving back to the general populace. Sen. Abubakar Bukola Saraki's ideology and principle of life has shown to us that his 51 years of existence is a great blessing to the world. A very big CONGRATULATIONS to Senator (Dr.) Abubakar Bukola Saraki @51, we wish him long, meaningful and prosperous life. HAPPY BIRTHDAY SIR OLOYE OMO BABA OLOYE

Abdulqadri Abdulganiyu is of Legacy Frontiers from Ilorin West.