There will be celebrations tomorrow in a number of places across Kwara State and in several other locations across the globe as friends, family members , associates and followers of DR BUKOLA SARAKI, the urbane medical-doctor-turned- banker-turned- politician marks another milestone in the history of his biological existence. The unassailable fact is that BUKOLA SARAKI has become a celebration and issue in and of Nigeria. It is not possible again to write the history of Nigeria without making provision for the inputs and efforts of this pride of Kwara, the scion of the political dynasty established by the late OLUSOLA SARAKI, who in the second republic made waves as a Leader of the Senate and astute political bridge builder.

Glaringly, from his contributions as Special Assistant on Budget to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, to his two-term tenure as chief executive of Kwara State and now to his seat in the RED Chamber of the National Assembly, BUKOLA SARAKI has impacted on the lives of Nigerians in very many special ways. His achievements in Kwara State are unquestionable, both in the enhancement of the economic status of the North-Central state and in the stability of the political structure of the state which has given Kwara a unique status in the comity of states across the nation.

And if there was any doubt that with the departure of the founder of the SARAKI dynasty there would be rumblings and an eventual collapse of the political empire, the way the successor-leader has carried the affairs of the empire thus far has only shamed those with such wrong expectations: the structure left behind by Oloye at Ile-Loke is waxing stronger and well positioned to continue the winning streak that Baba built into the system all through the years of his labour for the political and socio-economic upliftment of the people.

Three things are worth celebrating about SARAKI at a time like this. First is his unusual transformation into a legislative activist, through which he has deftly used the platform of his leadership of the Senate Committee on Ecology and Environment to make significant inroads into very many touchy areas of environmental degradation and abuse in several parts of the country that in years gone by would have been confined to just a few officials. The second is his management of the political empire he inherited and which today has become a veritable tool for the political decision-making of Kwara State. The third, of course, will be his recent political moves which, along with others of like minds, have created history in Nigeria with the emergence of a potent opposition force and voice in determining the political future of Nigeria.

SARAKI the environmentalist is a legislator with passion for the well-being of people even far removed from his political constituency. His champion of the anti-lead poisoning campaign in Zamfara State, involvement with the review of oil spillage issues in the Niger Delta area, concern and public comments over erosion in several parts of the South-East and northern axis of the country as well as latest involvement in the campaign for Clean Cooking Initiative are all revelations of a SARAKI many did not know. And why not, for as a governor of the north-central state, BUKOLA SARAKI surprised not a few with his many phenomenal programmes such as the innovative commercial farming initiative that has become a landmark for foreign investment in the sector in Nigeria.

Little wonder he was appointed by Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves as a member of its leadership council in March 2013. The council is a public-private partnership formed during the Clinton Global Initiative in September 2010 by the former United States Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton. SARAKI'S legislative office describes his involvement in this sector as follows: "The distinguished Senator is of the opinion that Nigeria is ripe to have a climate change law. The development of Climate Change mitigation and adaptation policies and legislation as well as an emission reduction strategy may be sustainable vehicle needed to help Nigeria develop a low carbon economy."

It added that the senator's legislative pursuit in the area through budgetary appropriation "is expected to continue until the lives of several rural -energy poor Nigerians are impacted positively." Who would have thought that a man bred in the home of a SARAKI will concern himself so much with the issue of cooking stoves? But that is BUKOLA for you; the humane politician.

What of his involvement in the campaign to enforce discipline in the oil sector? No, I am not talking of his robust, ground breaking motion on the investigation of dubious fuel subsidy regimes whose ripples are yet to settle in the corridors of economic and political powers in the land. I am rather speaking about his campaign to minimise oil spillage by enforcing international best practices in the sector, including appropriate punishment for offenders. I humbly reproduce for Nigerians, what the Turaki of Ilorin told his colleagues in the senate while debating this issue:

"I am not an oil man neither am I an environmental professional but the researches have clearly shown the way with an unassailable logic which is very real to us. It is based on the findings of our research on best practices that we made our recommendation . Those who have interests that converge with the interest of the oil companies will certainly not like our recommendation. But one thing is clear, we cannot continue based on the status quo. This is because we have too many spills and its getting worse. Things are getting worse, but we can only get better on oil spill management with the recommendation we have made here." As to how far he has managed the political leadership of the state and in particular the structure bequeathed to him by fate via his father, there is little to say he has not succeeded in the last one year. Take, as evidence, the fact that all his father's political associates; men and women who influence the voting powers in the state, have come to his side. And this is attested to by the clear political victory his structure gained for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during the last council election in the state. And now that he has decided to move into the All Progressive Congress (APC), who are those left behind in the PDP in Kwara? Political jobbers?

This takes us right to the third issue: SARAKI'S involvement in the emergence of a liberation force in Nigeria. Truth is when the issue is national interest, SARAKI has always taken sometimes strange but bold decisions that eventually prove his wisdom and political sagacity. That was why despite his strong desire to contest the 2011 presidential ticket of the PDP, once the decision was taken to filed Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, SARAKI fell in line with the national interest. At that time Nigerians wanted Jonathan and SARAKI knew it. He followed the voice of the people.

And now that Nigerians are yearning for a change to replace the divisive experimentations going on in the national polity as governance, SARAKI has since hear the sound from the deep and joined with the voice of change. It is appropriate to celebrate this man. Not too long ago, a critic said this of him: "At the risk of stating the obvious, SARAKI didn't have to come into political office to make money. He was already made. As a credentialed young medical doctor, he was Executive Director of a leading bank at a time his contemporaries were middle-level managers. Even after he distinguished himself as presidential aide on budgeting, he could still have made a fortune if that was his driving force. Truth is, SARAKI had a choice. He chose to serve his people rather than rise to the commanding heights of banking or becoming a national political gladiator. Clearly, he didn't come into the game for the money but to contribute to Kwara's development and serve its people. And the results speak for themselves."

Why didn't I talk about his faults? Because there is no human without shortcomings but here in Kwara we have decided to look into and celebrate the many commendable sides of this great benefactor than to join the short-sighted critics who fail often even in the professional calling of a critic to wit; a critic must not see just the ugly side of the issue but point out the bright ones too. Happy Birthday, Turaki.