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?

DOGARA'S FACTION BYCOTTS MEETING WITH BUHARI AS MEETING ENDS IN STALEMATE

In a bid to resolve the crisis that has ravaged the ruling All Progressive congress APC, General Mohammadu Buhari late on Wednesday  night met with the warring factions in the House of Representatives  at the presidential Villa Abuja.
Although  Majority of the Lawmakers loyal to the Speaker Rt Hon Dogara boycotted the meeting the Gbajabiamilla faction were seen in their numbers at the venue of the meeting.

Buhari Exchanging pleasantries with Hon Members at the Meeting Last Night

A lawmaker who spoke to TMS on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue said  the lawmakers could not reach an agreement despite the intervention of General Buhari and Professor Osinbajo due to the insistence of the Gbajabiamilla Faction on producing the House leader, as such the meeting ended on a stalemate.

It will be recalled that the crisis in the party escalated on Tuesday with the press release by the former national chairman of the party Chief Bisi Akande and the reply by the former Chairman of the nPDP Alhaji Kawu Baraje.

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MR. DANGOTE: I AM SORRY BUT I DONT BELIEVE YOU ON THIS !

The name Aliko Dangote rings a bell in virtually every home in Nigeria, Africa's richest man has a footprint in virtually every home in the country , you are either eating bread made from his flour or consuming soup seasoned with his salt,  drinking  soft drinks or taking syrups made with his sugar .

That was why in 2007 i took a loan from first bank to purchase shares from his flour company, but the billionaire had  other ideas , he returned over 97 percent of the money back to subscribers after almost a year and without interest at a time banks were charging over 19%  as interest and allotted 3 % of the shares to the millions of Nigerians who had participated in the public offer and kept over 90 percent to himself. 

After licking our wounds like many other Nigerians we moved on in invested in other vocations , so i was surprised yesterday evening when  i received a mail from Dangote cement  me and other Nigerians to invest in their expansion.
  After a lot of skepticism i decided to open the attachment and this screen shot below showing he owns only 0.17 % was for me deception taken too far , it  did not allow me read the content of the attachment  , even a primary school pupil knows that Dangote still own the bulk  of Dangote Cement by direct and indirect share holding it was a LIE i could not stomach