As Saraki Goes Into Political Purgatory

First of all, all praise to Almighty God, who gives power to whom he wills. The political victory came to Saraki in the past so easily that he forgot who he was. He became haughty and prideful. To the proud, the arrogant and the haughty, no one except God is powerful by himself or herself. Power is given, bestowed or granted and it must be kept in trust with reverence or it will be retrieved. Saraki got invested in himself so much as to take his people for granted and hold them in disdain.

When I started attacking Saraki on this wall and in my column, many may not know I once sat with this man, at the same table at a wedding reception, in which I was “chairperson”. We exchanged banter and he was quite personable, likeable and young.

There is nothing wrong with ambition; there is everything wrong with vaulting ambition. Vaulting ambition blunders the ambitious into thinking everything is fair game, it reduces their humanity and exposes an ugly side that is very alienating.


Politically, Saraki has the best resume to be anything in this country. He was governor for 8 unbroken years. He was Chairman of Governor’s forum which meant he knew 35 most powerful men in various states at the time and championed their interests. He was in the Senate for 8 years, that means he knew at least three most powerful political players from each state of the federation.

From birth, Saraki was never in lack. How could a man so blessed, be so greedy and petulant? How could a man so privileged and young let us down? Like Dimeji Bankole, he had it all and squandered it all. That was my major angst. Saraki would sit on his chair in his vast living room and old men would crouch on the floor with him nodding at them with mindless inattention. He divvied up Kwara State resources with such reckless wonder. He thought he was Kwara.