Saraki Vs Tinubu Comparism: Why Overrate Bukola Saraki - Solomon Tonye - aka Barcanista

I read an article on Nairaland that drew comparism between Senate President Bukola Saraki and Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Being a pro-pdp commentator and a campaigner for Saraki's Senate Presidency, some may expect me to naturally be on the side of the Saraki. But this will not be so because I can't live in self deception.

Yes, Bola Tinubu was a Senator, two term Governor of Lagos state and political godfather of the state. Saraki on the other hand is the incumbent SP, a two term Governor of Kwara state and the political godfather of the state. However, there are more to this.

Senator Bola Tinubu
For those that aren't aware, Bola Tinubu rise to power as Lagos state governor in 1999 was associated with his 1993 democratic struggle against IBB first and later Sani Abacha. The AD 1999 contest was direct struggle between the favored late engineer Funso Williams and the political activist Bola Tinubu. Tinubu as at then had little political structure but somehow beat the late engineer to the AD ticket. In 2003 he somehow outsmarted some Afenifere leaders of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) and got re-elected, all other five AD incumbent governors bowed to the power of PDP. He consolidated his hold on power by dismantling the existing Afenifere structure in the party by forming the Action Congress in 2006 with the absorption of two mushroom parties-Justice party(JP) and Advance Congress of Democrats (ACD). His leaving AD crumbled the party forever.

In 2006 Bola Tinubu led AC gave embattled Vice President Atiku Abubakar a political lifeline after the Turaki Alhaji was whipped to size by then President Olusegun Obasanjo. Atiku had to defect to AC along with his loyalist Governor of Adamawa state Mr Boni Haruna. Also to defect were Chief Audu Ogbeh former National Chairman of PDP from Benue state. During the 2007 election run-up, Tinubu media tried to polish Atiku's image to counter the negative image from the FG as Atiku was the AC Presidential candidate for 2007. Though Atiku won Lagos state in a landslide thanks to Tinubu structure, he lost Adamawa state (his home state) to Muhammadu Buhari. Atiku's AC candidate for the Adamawa guber election also lost woefully to PDP's Admiral Nyako.

In the run-up to 2007 general election, there was a major shakes in the Lagos state chapter of AC. Tinubu had "imposed" his unknown Chief of Staff Raji Fashola as his party's governorship candidate over heavyweights like Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi, Mr Jimi Agbaje, Hon Ganiyu Solomon, Dep Gov Femi Pedro etc. Jimi left to fly the flag of DPA, Pedro was given the flag of LP, Afikuyomi was given the ANPP flag(he later returned to AC on election eve) while Solomon was compensated with a Senatoral ticket of AC. Tinubu's AC still managed to win the Guber and all Senate seats. The unknown Raji Fashola became Governor courtesy Tinubu. Not just that, Bola Tinubu deployed his loyalists Rauf Aregbesola to Osun state to unseat incumbent Olagunsoye Oyinlola of PDP. Fayemi was also deployed to Ekiti state where he defeated Segun Oni (credit to Ayo Fayose support). It was Tinubu legal machinery led by Yemi Osinbajo that fought to help LP's Rahman Mimiko to unseat PDP's Segun Agagu. Adams Oshiomole had to seek refuge in AC in 2007 when he saw that the LP can't help him dislodge PDP from Edo Government house.

The 2010 Atiku's exit of AC gave Tinibu a major setback. Nevertheless, his AC/ACN managed to sweep all SW states but Ondo state and also got a Senatorial seat from PDP's stronghold-Benue state in the 2011 election. As at today, Bola Tinubu controls the APC structure in the entire South except Rivers and Imo states.

In his political sojourn, Bola Tinubu has churned out prominent names like Sen Musliu Obanikoro (a former ally and Commissioner under Tinubu), Raji Fashola (a former governor that rode to power via Tinubu's benevolence), Rauf Aregbesola (Incumbent Governor of Osun state), Kayode Fayemi (defeated exGovernor of Ekiti state), and even VP Yemi Osinbajo is in power thanks to Tinubu.

Senator Bukola Saraki:
Saraki was a "mere" appointee of Obasanjo prior to the 2003 Governorship election. He won the PDP primaries courtesy Oloye Olusola Saraki, his father and political godfather of Kwara state. He was to be elected as Kwara state governor not on his own but solely on his father. His father had installed then Governor Lawal in 1999 and replaced him him Bukola in 2003. In 2010 Saraki declared for President. He along with IBB and Atiku Abubakar were the Northern PDP aspirants that sought to unseat President Jonathan in 2011. In same 2010 a Northern caucus within the PDP called for a consensus Northern candidate among the three northern aspirants. Atiku defeated Saraki and IBB to be the northern candidate for the PdP. Saraki pledged his allegiance to Atiku during the PDP Presidential primaries for 2011 election but Atiku lost WOEFULLY to incumbent Goodluck Jonathan. Saraki couldn't even influence other North Central PDP caucus apart from his Kwara to vote Atiku.

In 2011 Saraki's father wanted Bukola to go to Senate but Gbemi his daughter to become Governor. Saraki however had Abdulfattah Ahmed in mind. The truth is Saraki and his father played a fast one on Kwara people. The ACN candidate Muhammed Balgore was gaining momentum, Saraki's father had to play the Gbemi card by forming ACPN to confuse the electorates and split the ACN's vote. In fact, on June 5, 2011 just 8 days after Gov Ahmed was inaugurated , Olusola Saraki and Bukola Saraki "re-united" after Bukola "begged", the PDP and Pa Saraki ACPN merged as one BIG Family. Pa Olusola Saraki was again affirmed to be the leader of PDP in Kwara. Saraki and his sister Gbemi were to play the same trick in 2015. How? Gbemi remained in PDP after Saraki moved to APC in 2013. She caused lots of troubles and had her faction and then dumped PDP to APC on the eve of 2015 Presidential election after deliberately destroyed the party from within.

Saraki's ascension to Senate Presidency is not due to the political commando of Saraki but because he had to bend to PDP's compromise and also because PDP needed to neutralise APC's proposed structure. It would have infact been the reverse if Saraki was APC candidate and Lawan was the rebel. Also note that the power and influence of the Senate President starts and ends inside the Senate Chamber and the occupant's Senatorial district. In fact, Senators may elect to kick him out if he bites more than he can chew. Also looking at Saraki, with exception of Governor Ahmed I don't think Saraki can boast of any influential loyalist. Even Ahmed is not a force of influence among Governors like we have Rochas of Imo, Wike of Rivers, Amosun of Ogun, Ajimobi of Oyo, Fayose of Ekiti, Oshiomole of Edo, Shetimma of Borno, Obiano of Anambra etc.

Comparing Bola Ahmed Tinubu political influence with that of Bukola Saraki is like comparing an Eagle with a tse-tse fly simply because both have wings. Saraki's sycophant should not make him believe that he rose to SP seat on his own.


CAVEAT: This article is purely on the political influence of both men. It is not an endorsement of either party nor a statement of sainthood.

On Buhar / Osinbajo Public Asset Declaration: The "30 Days" Verification Is Over- By Solomon Tonye Aka Barcanista

The Genesis
During the campaign period President Muhammadu Buhari and his Vice Yemi Osinbajo pledged to publicly declare their assets in line with their "transparent" leadership. On the eve of Buhari/Osinbajo inauguration (May 28, 2015), President Buhari and Osinbajo filed their secret asset declaration with Code of Conduct Bureau(CCB) in line with the constitutional provisions. Two days later, Nigerians were however shocked when Buhari's spokesman Alhaji Shehu Garba on air to tell the public that by "declaring with CCB, Muhammadu Buhari and Yemi Osinbajo had fulfilled one of their pledge".

Majority of the population couldn't take such because we are well aware of the difference between secret and public asset declarations. We demanded to see the asset of the President, his Vice and their spouses (similar to what late President Yar'adua did).

The CCB 30 Days Verification Timeline
Rather than publicly show Nigerians the asset, Buhari's spokesman Alhaji Shehu Garba came out on June 6, 2015 to tell Nigerians to wait after CCB mandatory verification even when the CCB has no business with public asset declaration. In his own word...

“While such public display of concern is appreciated and valued, it must be said that it is a little precipitate. As required by law, the declaration and submission of documents to the CCB have been made, but there still remains the aspect of verification which the Bureau will have to conduct to authenticate the submissions made to it.
“In the circumstances, it is only after this verification exercise, and not before, that the declaration can be said to have been made and validated; and only after this, will the details be released to the public.”

Some other APC sympathisers like Dr Peregrino Brimah and some SaiBuhari chanters re-echoed the 30 days verification period. In fact, they reminded us that late President Yar'adua published his asset on Jun 28, 2007 (30 Days after his declaration with CCB).
Though Nigerians know that the 30-Day period was only to buy time, nevertheless we gave them the time.

30-Day Verification Elapsed, Where Are The Assets?
Today 28, June 2015 makes it 31 Days after Buhari and Osinbajo filed their asset declaration before CCB. The 30-Day verification period has elapsed.

Where are the assets of President Muhammadu Buhari, VP Yemi Osinbajo and their Spouses?

A "Standing Ovation" For Mr President - By Solomon Tonye aka Barcanista

Yes, Mr President deserves some commendation on his recent feat. Mr President has been talking and campaigning since May 29 amid cheers by his supporters. We all should rise up and give President Muhammadu Buhari ovation. I will tell you why the President deserves such honor..

1. Mr President directionless?
Just yesterday (June 22) he ordered for the dismantling of Military check points nationwide. 24hrs later he reversed himself after the Governors "talked sense into him".

2. An Empty Treasury?
Same yesterday President Buhari met with Aso Rock's Press corps and informed them that the government of exPresident Jonathan left a "virtually empty" treasury. The President however forgot to tell the press corps that exPresident Jonathan left $29.865 billion in External Reserve (as of March 2015)
Mr President also forgot to tell Nigerians that Jonathan left $2.07billion in Excess Crude Account as at May 2015
How can Mr President say the treasury is almost empty when we have almost $30b in External reserve and $2b in ECA?

3. Mr President Agrees To Share Excess Crude Account:
Mr President has agreed in principle to set up a committee headed by Mr Osinbajo in order to "SHARE" the money in the Excess Crude Account. Mr President did not ask the states what they did with the N2.925trn they received from the ECA between 2011 and 2014 after cajoling exPresident Jonathan( N966.6 billion in 2011, N816.3 billion in 2012, N859.4 billion in 2013 and N282.8 in 2014)
Funny enough the same President that was talking of "virtually" empty treasury 24 hours ago is talking of "Sharing" the left over 24hrs later.

4. Buhari to Recover Stolen Money...Really?
It was shocking to hear that Buhari has vowed to recover "stolen" wealth. The same Buhari that would rather withdraw the N21billion corruption charges against Timpre Sylva instead of forcing him to vomit it? Or the same Buhari that instead of pursuing the N15billion corruption case against Abdulaziz Nyako rewarded him with Senatorial seat? Or the Buhari that would rather fraternise with exGov Murtala Nyako instead of taking back the multibillions he stole from Adamawa state.

5. The DSS No Longer Relevant Under Mr President
The Department of State Security is statutory responsible for internal intelligence. No serious leader can afford to shut out his country's internal intelligence unit during security meeting especially at a time of insurgency. But our dear president has never deemed it fit to invite the DG of DSS to ANY security meeting since he came to power. How will the President understand the status of the intelligence gathered to properly strategise against the insurgents and overall security without the input of the nations internal intelligence agency?


Don't you think President Muhammadu Buhari deserves a standing ovation?

PLAY BOY PATHWAY BY OCHE JOSEPH OTORKPA

Junior was thirteen years old, when he had his first sexual intercourse with a neighbor’s daughter Mary, who was 4 years older. From then onwards Junior never looked back as he jumped from one girl to another.

Despite becoming sexually active as a Junior Secondary School II student, Junior’s academic brilliance was a source of great joy to his parents, his performance at Senior Secondary school Certificate Examination (SSCE), was the best in recent times and as the only child of his parents, he received every encouragement and got admitted into the Law Faculty of the Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife, South-west Nigeria. Even as a freshman he continued to maintain his status as Play boy 001, the ultimate chick magnet and the boy every freshman and sophomore wanted to be like. It was a strong belief by most guys on campus that Junior had a “God-given” charm which made him irresistible to any girl regardless of her class.

He graduated from University with good grades and proceeded to the Nigerian Law School. He did very well at law school and then proceeded for the mandatory one year National Youth Service—all these while junior’s lucky streak with the ladies continued.

However, two weeks to his passing out Parade and subsequent move to England for post graduate studies, nemesis came knockingat the door. Junior became ill and was hospitalized for seven days.

He could neither eat nor drink and everyone was terrified at the alarming rate at which he lost weight. At the hospital, the doctor asked to see Junior’s relatives, by this time Junior’s parents had arrived having been informed earlier of his worsening health condition by the corper’s liaison officer (CLO). After spending some time at his bed side, His parents were ushered into the doctor’s office. In the office, the doctor’s major problem was not Junior but his mother who was crying profusely not believing what her eyes had seen, and lamenting the fate that could befall her only child, yet the doctor was about to reveal the mystery behind her son’s ill health.

While similar events have become a characteristic of our generation no one seems to be noticing. Universities and College hostels have been transformed to be mini brothels while “roaming” after school is fast becoming a tradition among secondary or high school students. For peanuts young men are willing to sacrifice their lives on the altar of pleasure, taking on women old enough to be their mothers.

The “Play Boy” syndrome has come to be accepted in most communities as a way of life. While the boys see it as the height of their romantic illusion, the girls are happy to jump at any offer from the ladies man not minding the consequences.

The fact that a play boy and his lieutenants could become victims of HIV/AIDS and STIs, be assaulted by an estranged lover or lose future ability to differentiate between true love and infatuation seem not to be a source of worry, neither does unwanted pregnancy, child birth or abortion which could stop education and eventually lead to a low self esteem appear to deter many.

As the world confronts the challenges of globalisation, the entertainment Industry and a web saturated with explicit sexual content, is increasingly making it difficult for young people to make informed decisions about sex, the media simply encourage young lads to make potentially dangerous decisions completely denying

them of the right to know the consequences of those actions. As T.D Jakes rightly puts it “life will always require us to take risks but we must discern which risk is worth taking and which will short circuit our long term goals for short term pleasure”.

It is important to note that while the expression of one’s sexuality is a normal component of living, control over this natural phenomenon is however an individual decision. This is where Sex Education comes in. But are parents ready to take on the taboo subject?

Quote:

“Players” are liable to die young”

—Oche Otorkpa


EXCERPTS FROM MY BOOK THE UNSEEN TERRORIST