Since the Senior Special Assistant to Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq exposed Dr. Bukola Saraki’s failed surreptitious moves to work for President Bola Tinubu in 2027 so that he could hand over the leadership of Kwara State to him as a reward in his rejoinder titled ‘Wahab Oba: Tell Us About Saraki’s AP-DP status’, Saraki’s followers, commonly known as Sarakites have taken to the media, displaying a mix of confusion and ignorance. Rather than confront the facts, they’ve resorted to historical distortion and deliberate misinformation.
One of them, Onilemarun Abdulkareem, claimed that if President Tinubu were to choose between Bukola Saraki and Governor AbdulRazaq, he would choose Saraki over the Governor. He backed his claim with arguments that political observers and historians alike have described as false, laughable, and purely comic relief. I couldn’t help but laugh out loud at his ignorance in that article. Did Onilemarun honestly thought that only gullible Sarakites would read his piece?
Let’s correct the many lies he told, one by one.
First, contrary to Onilemarun’s claim, Saraki was not one of the founding fathers of the APC. He played no role in its formation. The APC was officially formed on February 6, 2013, as a result of a merger involving the ACN, CPC, ANPP, and a faction of APGA. Saraki and a few nPDP members only joined later when it became clearer that the APC stood a real chance of defeating Former President Goodluck Jonathan of the PDP.
Secondly, Onilemarun claimed that Governor AbdulRazaq was politically unknown before the 2019 elections. Sincerely, a simple Google search would have cured that ignorance. Long before 2019, AbdulRazaq had been active in Kwara politics funding his political platforms and empowering Kwarans. That’s unlike Bukola Saraki, a political product of nepotism, who was imposed on the state by his late father against the will of well-meaning Kwarans.
What people like Onilemarun fail to realize is that Kwarans are now wiser and can no longer be deceived by tired propaganda. The claim that Governor AbdulRazaq disrespects traditional rulers is yet another lie from Saraki’s fake news factory. Let’s not forget how Saraki once made our royal fathers line up at the airport to receive imported cows. Tell me, what’s more disrespectful than that? Not to mention how he punished monarchs by withholding their salaries.
Furthermore, Onilemarun argued that Governor AbdulRazaq lacks political followers, while Saraki has a formidable structure. But isn’t it laughable that a man with ‘no followers’ according to Onilemarun has defeated Saraki and his party in three consecutive electoral cycles? Saraki’s growing irrelevance and inability to reclaim Kwara through the ballot is why he attempted to strike a deal with President Tinubu behind closed doors, hoping to get Kwara back as a reward.
Another lie peddled by Sarakites is the baseless claim that Governor AbdulRazaq is secretly working with opposition elements to stop President Tinubu’s second-term ambition. How absurd! AbdulRazaq is not just a close ally of the President, he is one of Tinubu’s most trusted loyalists. He campaigned vigorously for Tinubu in 2023 and was one of the Northern governors who helped Tinubu secure the party’s ticket. The impressive votes Tinubu received in Kwara are a direct reflection of AbdulRazaq’s efforts.
On the other hand, Saraki is a known serial betrayer. He has repeatedly bitten the hands that fed him, betraying the man who made him governor, sabotaging late President Muhammadu Buhari despite being in the same party, and mismanaging Atiku Abubakar’s campaign funds, and undermining the very APC under which he became Senate President. Loyalty has never been Bukola Saraki’s strength.
Lastly, Sarakites must be delusional to think the President would choose Saraki over Governor AbdulRazaq. Tinubu does not choose a serial betrayer over a dependable ally and loyalist. Even when he forgives people like Saraki, he is careful not to entrust them with sensitive responsibilities. No serious President seeking reelection would sideline a humble, loyal, and effective leader like AbdulRazaq in favor of someone whose arrogance, greed, and disrespect to loyalists have made several of his political allies leave the sinking dynasty he inherited in drove.
Historians won’t forget how Bukola Saraki betrayed his own father which earn him a rumored curse that hasn’t been denied by him.
Mukail Babatunde is a writer and political analyst from Ifelodun , Kwara State.
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