Saraki’s triumph of faith and resilience

Until recently, despondency was evident in the camp of the Senate President,  Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki (CON).  He was a pariah of a sort in his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC). The presidential snub was unmistakable and the distinguished senator was a constant face in the courts. But now, the reversal is the case:  Saraki is a constant face in the Villa and presidential programmes, and the party’s apparatus has embraced him. The Code of Conduct trial goes on but the criminal trial on alleged forgery of Senate rules has been dropped.

It is not hurray yet, but there is a big sigh of relief in the Saraki camp that the Senate President is no longer shackled to do his job; that the Presidency and the National Assembly can now collaborate effectively to lift Nigeria up.  The stabilisation of the polity didn’t happen by chance; it is a product of the Senate President’s resilience and competence. Saraki’s thorny ascension to the Senate presidency indicated early that there wouldn’t be a smooth transition from being just a distinguished senator to being the first among his equals in the Red Chamber.   He wasn’t the choice of his party’s power brokers but he outsmarted his opponents to have an unopposed ride to the senate presidency.

But that success soon signaled a collision course with the party and the presidency.  Some of his influential colleagues from his party in the Senate took him headlong not only in their hallowed Red Chamber but with the police and at the courts.  From the blues came the Code of Conduct tribunal with multiple charges against the SP for offences allegedly committed while he was governor of Kwara State. Then, also came the forgery case against the SP and his deputy, Rt. Hon. Ike Ekeremedu.  The SP was docked but he still managed to rally  his primary constituency, the Senate, to focus on the issues important to Nigerians.

He displayed remarkable dexterity in his handling of national issues. The unity of the Senate and the National assembly  is a testimony to his leadership qualities.   The Presidency has forged a more friendly working relationship with the National Assembly.   And there have been publicly–applauded initiatives including the economic recovery bill, the Made-in-Nigeria Products advocacy, swift confirmation of the federal ministers,   rejection of the controversial $30 billion loan and the rejection of the unpopular increase in data tariff by the mobile phone network providers.  The election of former Minister Of Youth and Sports, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, has erased any doubt that  Saraki is back on the national stage, wiser and stronger.   Happy Birthday to the quintessential leader. Raheem Adedoyin.