By Daud Abdullahi

One of Senator Bukola Saraki’s bootlickers recently tried to compare the cool-headed Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, with the embattled former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello. In the piece, the fictional writer attempted to draw a comparison between the duo but ended up exposing his paymaster in the process.

The author must have been paid to embarass Saraki because at least four assets belonging to the Bukola Saraki tucked away in secret offshore territories, have been uncovered.

This revelation, was made possible by internal data of the Panama-based offshore-provider, Mossack Fonseca, obtained by the German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung and shared by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) with PREMIUM TIMES and over 100 other media partners in 82 countries, could worsen Mr. Saraki’s case as he battles to extricate himself from allegations of corruption. (https://www.premiumtimesng.com/panama-papers/201222-panamapapers-hidden-family-assets-nigerias-senate-president-saraki-uncovered-tax-havens.html)

The Federal High Court Abuja recently adjourned a case filed by former Senate President Bukola Saraki against the plan by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and others to probe his earnings and properties acquired during his time as Kwara State Governor.

The court had on January 25, 2024 struck out two separate suits by Mr Saraki for lack of diligent prosecution by his lawyers (FHC/ABJ/CS/507/2019 and FHC/ABJ/CS/508/2019). (https://www.thewhistler.ng/sort-yourself-at-appeal-court-judge-tells-saraki-in-suit-against-efcc-others/).

Had the author been diligent and conscious of Bello and Saraki’s antecedents, he would have discovered that the piece would reveal the shenanigans of the party he wanted to cover. But since he didn’t, the article has now sparked debate on the legacies of his banished party and its leaders as the informed public he thought he could deceive now asks, ‘Why not like Yahaya Bello like Kwara PDP?’ instead of his warped title.

Of course, Bello and Saraki share many similarities and are better compared to each other. Like the latter, it was said that the former Governor refused to pay civil servants their entitlement and also frustrated their promotions based on political affiliations. Meanwhile, it’s public knowledge that Governor Abdulrazaq has consistently been paying civil servants their full salaries and has ensured those due for promotion since he assumed office in 2019 are promoted.

Like the PDP, Yahaya Bello was said to rule with an iron hand, disrespecting traditional rulers at will while using thugs to intimidate opposition members. Had Governor Abdulrazaq were to be like the Bello, as the writer posited, the likes of Bukola Saraki, Abdulfatah Ahmed, and other PDP leaders wouldn’t have had the guts to walk in Kwara freely after pillaging its coffer for 16 years! In the meantime, google would educate the writer of the travails of Dino Melaye and Senator Natasha in the hands of Bello. Tormenting late Governor Mohammed Lawal till he died remains Saraki’s legacy.

Quite ridiculously, the author also warned about ‘godfatherism’ and ‘impunity’ in Kwara. For one, Governor Abdulrazaq hasn’t imposed anyone on the Kwara people. The writer must be deluded to think that Yahaya Bello’s template, which was copied directly from Saraki, would be repeated by the Governor. For one, that’s a wrong comparison. It was the Sarakis that imposed a baby Governor on Kwarans in 2003, and that Governor Saraki went on to install his puppets in 2011 but failed woefully in 2019 with Razak Atunwa. It is quite evident that Governor AbdulRazaq is a peace-loving leader. He wines and dine with the people regardless of their social status. His outings in the last Ramadan fasting exemplified this virtue. In other words, it is Saraki that is known for intimidating and harassing people with state machinery. Anyways, Governor Abdulrazaq is not PDP/Bukola Saraki, nor is he the embattled Yahaya Bello who forced his successor on his people. He will ensure a smooth transition of power, and like him, the progressive who will succeed him will be prudent and receptive.

Therefore, Governor Abdulrazaq and former Governor Yahaya Bello’s leadership can’t be likened. There’s no comparison whatsoever. The former is less than six years in office and has achieved what the Kwara opposition couldn’t achieve in its 16 years of profligacy and corruption. Abdulrazaq’s leadership has been felt in all state sectors, including education and human capital development, agriculture and rural development, and health, among others.

Abdulrazaq has fixed over 600 schools with dilapidated buildings he inherited from the Saraki’s PDP that squandered the funds meant for rehabilitation. He’s revamping and building roads. Hospitals are equipped with modern facilities, and Kwara youths and women are trusted to lead from the leadership, an unprecedented feat in the state’s history. In addition, artisans and traders alike are equally not left out. How a man doing all of these was linked to Yahaya Bello is baffling. But it was expected from a party infamously known for churning out fake news and propaganda against the person of the governor forgetting that Saraki is still in court for corruption charges courtesy of the same EFCC.

The good people of Kwara are acutely aware that, if anything, the best comparison with Yahaya Bello would simply be the 16 years of Saraki’s PDP rascality and prebendalism.

Abdullahi a political analyst, writes from Ilorin.