A major item on the discussion menu in Ilorin last weekend was the political road show which landed with so much razzmatazz, recently in Kwara. It had all the contrived elements associated with a burlesque: there was a “special prayer session that featured many Imams”, according to THISDAY newspaper of Monday, June 27, 2011.
A major item on the discussion menu in Ilorin last weekend was the political road show which landed with so much razzmatazz, recently in Kwara. It had all the contrived elements associated with a burlesque: there was a “special prayer session that featured many Imams”, according to THISDAY newspaper of Monday, June 27, 2011.
Dr. Olusola Saraki reportedly forgave his son and new governor, Fatai Ahmed of “some ugly events at the last election which polarized the dynasty”. To show contriteness, Bukola and successor, Fatai Ahmed went on their knees in front of the old man, much to the admiration of supporters of “the dynasty”. At the heart of the burlesque, is the reconciliation of Saraki Pere (old man, Dr. Sola Saraki) and Fils (new helmsman Bukola Saraki). Saraki Fils, Bukola, decisively routed Pere, the Wazirin Ilorin, in an election which the old man described as the WORST RIGGED all his life! Fille, Gbemisola’s ambition was deflated and the old man’s mythical nine lives were torn to shreds.
The “unexpected” element of the intra-family feud was the emergence of Muhammed Dele Belgore and his ACN party. Belgore is in court, and no one knows where the pendulum will swing. Saraki Fils, Bukola, sought the assistance of leading traditional rulers in Northern Nigeria, before Pere accepted his pleas for forgiveness. As the story went, Saraki: Pere, Fils sans Fille (Gbemisola), met, avec le nouveau gouverneur, Fatai Ahmed, in London, to seal the reconciliation. Reconciliation became imperative, according to those who know, to forestall a divided house, just in case the courts order a re-run of governorship election. This permutation was before the recent court decision that winners of elections can be declared by the courts, contrary to the amended Electoral Act, which aimed to forestall what happened in Edo, Ondo, Ekiti and Osun States (former Speaker Bankole had bragged that the worst that could happen a re-run would be ordered, which the PDP would win anyway!). The family’s heirloom (Kwara State) might be endangered, if there was continued division between Pere et Fils, as reflected in their two parties, ACPN and PDP. When united, they are formidable.
The largest political billboard in Kwara literally carries the “NO VACANCY” message, when Dr Saraki declared that “there is no place for opposition in Kwara State and they cannot take over the state”. The Wazirin Ilorin expatiated on the impending and worrisome wave: “I realize that if I want peace to reign in Kwara State, and for opposition party not to be given chances like it happened in the last election, I have to listen to him”. Reacting to the shellacking he received in April, Saraki Pere went spiritual: “What happened to me during the last election was a misfortune to me, I never expected it but I know that was how Allah wanted it, and I have taken it as a human being. Since I never expected that it would be my blood that will change the face of Kwara, which he did to my satisfaction and admiration of everybody, then I have to accept this too as my fate”. Nevertheless, there is another dimension to the issue, according to Dr. Sola Saraki: “The crisis is in two arms. We have settled the political aspect, it remains the family aspect because Gbemi is still very angry, and I am behind her for that…” Essentially how Pere (Wazirin Ilorin), Fils (Turakin Ilorin) et Fille (the “still very angry” Gbemi) are reconciled will not be for public consumption. But it was noted that what Gbemi wanted, Bukola denied her (governor); what she held, he took (senator)!
If the situation is confounding, it is because in matters of high stake family politicking, those outside of the loop cannot know intimate details; and that is the fate of followers. While members of the ACPN have been assured of re-integration into the PDP, there have been demonstrations at the State HQ of the PDP that not a single place in the new government will be ceded to ACPN members. In the meantime, Bola Tinubu of the ACN was similarly in Ilorin to attend the fiftieth birthday of his party’s governorship candidate, Muhammed Dele Belgore, the other day. He then made a dig at the Saraki clan: there is a TRADITIONAL Emir in Ilorin, who they respect. But there is also a POLITICAL Emir, they are determined to remove! May we live in interesting times; in the words of the old Chinese curse! But a final twist to the tale was that after the reconciliation process, Saraki Pere was seen off to the airport; and as his plane departed, a crowd of youths introduced a new slogan: “BUKOLA, LEADER; an indication that the batons have changed hands from Pere to Fils. However as the French also say: Plus ca change, plus c’est la meme chose (The more things change, the more they remain same!)
ALHAJI R.K. YUSUF: A LIFE, A DEATH AND HARDSHIP
I spent last weekend in Kwara State, attending to some personal issues, not knowing that Alhaji Rahman Kola Yusuf, former General Manager of Radio Kwara and THE HERALD newspapers, had died a few days earlier. Given the fracturing of Northern Nigeria into nineteen states today, most readers could be pardoned for asking who on earth was Alhaji R.K. Yusuf? The distinguished journalist and a genuinely good-hearted man was one of the first generation of Northerners sent by the late Sir Ahmadu Bello to study journalism at the famous Fleet Street journalism training institute in London. His story was testimony to the sharpness of vision which characterized the Sardauna, because Alhaji RK Yusuf was not only from Offa, in what was then the Ilorin Province of Northern Nigeria, he was a Yoruba man, from a town whose most distinguished son, during the 1960s, was the late Chief J.S. Olawoyin of the Action Group and leading light of opposition politics in the North, who would rather that his part of the North was merged with Western Nigeria. RK Yusuf was not denied opportunity to study journalism and he built a career over decades during which he rose to the pinnacle. Till the end of life, he remained a Nigerian-Northerner of the old generation, who never stopped talking about the magnanimity of the Sardauna and the wonderful North within which he was born, educated and was cultured.
Alhaji RK Yusuf was my boss at Radio Nigeria, Ilorin, from 1977, and subsequently at Radio Kwara, Ilorin, where I was a pioneer member of staff, following the re-organization of Nigerian broadcasting by the military, in March 1978. I was seventeen years old, going eighteen, but was already beginning to make a mark as a continuity announcer, disc jockey, newsreader and a militant of the Nigerian socialist movement, as well as chairman of the workers’ union at Radio Kwara. I led negotiations to improve conditions of workers with Alhaji RK Yusuf leading the employers’ side and some of the sessions were very difficult; looking back now, we were very exuberant young men indeed. But RK Yusuf was patient with us, and while some would rather we were dealt with, Alhaji Yusuf protected us like the father that he was, realizing that yes, we were militant, but we were also outstanding broadcasters and journalists who helped to create the image of the station and central figures in the creativity at the broadcasting outfit. One of the most difficult moments in our professional life came during the attempted coup of April 22, 1990, by Major Gideon Orkar. I was continuity announcer on the morning shift, and was obliged to join the network service of Radio Nigeria, for the seven o’clock Network News and the coup announcement. The sequence of events that morning, led to our arrest following the crushing of the coup attempt, and his removal as GM of Radio Kwara. But because of his outstanding professional record, he was made GM at THE HERALD newspaper, where he saw out his career.
It was in his nature to keep in touch as my professional life took a new trajectory: reporting for the BBC; pioneer General Manager of the Kwara State Television Service; Editor of Daily Trust and so on. He would call to talk about my packages aired by the BBC; our programs on KWTV or an article I had written for DAILY TRUST. Alhaji RK Yusuf went through the hardships which characterized the life of the typical Nigerian pensioner: not receiving a payment for months-on-end; reluctantly seeking support from people and striving very hard to maintain dignity and self-worth. It was painful to see him suffer after giving his all in the service of his country. Why do we treat our pensioners as we do in Nigeria? Is it a crime to serve our country and then get old? A nation that does not treat its pensioners with dignity will not get commitment from those still at work. They will cut corners; they will steal; because they are scared of life when out of work. That is not how to build a country. May Allah forgive Alhaji RK Yusuf his sins and grant him Al-janna.
OFFA GRAMMAR SCHOOL: A WORRISOME DETERIORATION
The Fidau prayer for Alhaji RK Yusuf held at the Offa Grammar School, the first community secondary school in the North. It graduated many outstanding individuals who continue to make contributions to the development of our country. It is a school I knew, at the height of its glory, in the 1970s and 1980s, and I was very sad last weekend to see its deterioration. When I thought aloud about its state, someone said it was in Offa, seen as an ‘opposition’ area, so it was not likely to see improvement. I hope our governments realize that even “opposition” communities have a right to the good life. I pray the Kwara State Government will do something positive about good old Offa Grammar School soon.
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