OF SARAKI’S SOAP OPERA, TRAGIC COMEDY, THE INCOMING MINISTERS AND NIGERIA’S 55TH INDEPENDENCE Femi Ojo

Picture Courtesy of naijaloaded.com

No doubt the most political trending event currently in Nigeria is the ongoing corruption case against Senator Olubukola Saraki, the President of the Senate at the Code of Conduct Tribunal in Abuja, Nigeria. The trial is centered on his false declaration of assets while he was the governor of Kwara State some years back. Saraki’s problem is self-inflicted and it was firstly, his ambition to become the President of the Senate against his party’s position that was the metamorphosis of his travails. The political soap opera started from his illusory entry to the premises of the National Assembly on the day of his election and his subsequent endorsement by all the 49 senators of the PDP and some few senators of the ruling party. This was the day he drew the battle line between his party and himself. Ever since he became the President of the Senate, the political colourations and permutations in the ruling party changed with his fraternity with his former political party caucus. Saraki’s emergence as the Senate President, his close romance with PDP members and the spillover of his effrontery have become a kind of soap opera that Nigerians are interested in and a political movie that the rest of the world is also watching interestingly from a distance.

However, inherent in this Saraki’s corruption soap opera is a tragic comedy for the ruling party. This is because the recent adversarial relationship among the members of APC, who are divided over this issue, may portend a dangerous disintegration in the ruling party. As it is now, Saraki seems to be well accepted by the opposition party and some few elements in his party. His soul and spirit are in his former party, while he has his body in the ruling party. Should this antagonistic relationship continues Saraki’s loyalists and APC, this can undermine the current political process and the entire political dispensation of this change regime which may be to the detriment of Nigerian masses who voted for the new ruling party. The looming tragic comedy in Saraki’s travails may break the ruling party and this may result to political realignment of old PDP members who joined APC with their former associates in the current opposition party. The APC must tread softly while trying to regain what Saraki allegedly robbed the party politically. 

The Incoming Ministers

True to his promise, Mr. Buhari has demonstrated that he is a leader whose words, Nigerians can trust. For so long Nigerians have been waiting for the President to appoint his cabinets and just yesterday he sent his ministerial nominees list to the President of the Senate. It is believed that as soon as the appointments are ratified by the National Assembly, the nation’s economy will bounce back and the economy thrust of this administration will be known to all.  

For those who have been speculated to have made the list such as Dr. Kayode Fayemi, Chief Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Mrs Ifueko Omoigui- Okaru, Mr. Wale Edun, Charles Soludo, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, Mrs Abike Dabiri , Chief Onu, Ngige, etc. Nigerians are waiting to see them turn things around for better!

 HAPPY 55^TH INDEPENDENCE NIGERIA!

Today is the 55^th independence anniversary of our dear country. At 55 years of our independence, the country has gone through a whole lot but we are still standing as one. The country may not be where it ought to be but it is our hope that the dreams of the founding fathers of this country will come to pass. At 55 years, we are far from the lofty tall dreams of the founding fathers but in God we trust that one day the country will live the dreams of her great founding nationalists.

Happy Independence Nigeria!