2011 ELECTION: A MALIAN WANTING TO BE NIGERIAN PRESIDENT?

INTRODUCTION:
Senator Gbemisola Ruqayyah Saraki, the first official female daughter of Dr Olusola Abubakar Saraki has declared her interest to be the next Governor of Kwara State. She just got married to beat the Sharia law. One question on the lips of those watching developments in the north central Nigerian state is if she will get a smooth sail to the Government House located on the Ahmadu Bello Avenue in Ilorin.
The one-term House of Representatives member (1999-2003), two-term Senator Gbemisola Ruqayyah Saraki (2003-2010), has to beat the other tough candidates in the PDP then face formidable opponents from the other parties.
Is she ready for the expectations of governorship or is she extending her luck thinking it is the anonymity of being a legislator moreso all she’s got before now was by virtue of being “daddy’s pet”. What about her brother the incumbent Kwara State Governor, Dr. Bukola Saraki, who is reportedly looking across her shoulder on who becomes the next Governor of the State. He taunted the sister saying: "I have the courage and the capacity to make bold my ambition and pursue it. I don't need the ridiculous pretence of instigating crowds to persuade or beg me to run, or to wait on mere good luck to be a contender."

WHERE GOETH KWARA IN 2011?
Like every reasonable Nigerian who hears of the interest of Gbemi Saraki, its like the people of Kwara won’t mind if Saraki siblings: Bukola, Gbemi, Laolu and one other lady including their children should rotate Kwara State governorship mantle among themselves.
It is taunted that if you are not an affiliate of Ilorin 'ruling house' (sometimes called “Ile-loke”), or you are not a Moslem, you don't have to smell any top government or get any executive positions. You must be “anointed” to get any elective or selective office in and from the state. This is obvious and everyone knows that including the beneficiaries as well. They sometimes even play it to your face with no apology.
The man is wont to say "I have not yet decided on who I will pick as candidate. I prayed to God that I wanted somebody who would take care of Kwara State for me," as if the state is his private estate. No doubt, Dr Abubakar Olusola Saraki deserves every respect. People can disagree with his style of politics. For his daughter at this time to nurse an unholy ambition to rule Kwara after eight years of her brother’s rule is greed.

A MALIAN WANTING TO BE NIGERIAN PRESIDENT?
To make the people of the state look stupid and mulish, they are wont to tell us that "he is from Mali and not Nigeria? He said he is a Fulani immigrant from Mali". There are no evidences that he has naturalized to be a Nigerian. Agreed that Nigeria allows dual citizenship how can a Malian want to rule Nigeria? Are there no more Nigerians in this country again?
I THINK and candidly too, that Dr Abubakar Olusola Saraki needs to take it easy, count his successes and enjoy the rest of his life for the hard labor he has put in building Kwara politics. As it was rightly pointed out by Uztas Saanu Shehu, an Islamic preacher in Ilorin, there must be a shift from Saraki to another area so as to allow capable hands outside the lineage to succeed the incumbent in 2011.
According to the cleric, "My own advice is that come 2011, let somebody else taste power outside the Saraki family. It is more honourable that way. This family has produced a House of Representatives member for four years, a Senator for eight years, and a Governor for eight years. So the most ideal thing now is to allow somebody else to do it outside that family." Anything outside of this box is playing God.
I know the oldman well. I have reported him for about 15 years. A shrewd and sly politician. His key followers have a slavish mentality. He successfully installed Kwara State governors since the 1970s to date. Without mincing words and being immodest, has played his part in Kwara to where it is today. He should allow a credible candidate to emerge to lead the state to the next level.

THE MEDIA AND THE CAMPAIGN:
Most Kwarans FEEL, THINK AND WANT a credible person to lead them. The question whether Senator Gbemisola Saraki has what it takes to succeed her brother, Bukola, as Kwara State Governor is a mathematical debate. Or, how much has Bukola succeeded in his task as governor? History is there to judge what his son has done in the State with the understanding that miracles would not happen anywhere in Nigeria, not even in Kwara, as situations had turned sour before the new leadership style in the State.
Gbemi has some natural qualities that people would admire. She is like complexioned, a beauty to behold, speaks the queen’s English, and is a diva in whatever she wears. She is brilliant writes with the left-handed. Many of my friends that are close to her relish that she is very warm in the heart.

BOTTOMLINE: Gbemi is not the right person to continue with the moving progressive train of the State of Harmony. I do not see her fit into that Kwara executive slot. She looks too innocent to wanting to step into the heat at this century of Kwara politics.
Kwara needs a visionary, progressive, down to earth individual to lead the State to the 'Promised Land'. Someone who knows Kwara in and out, committed, educated, devoted, caring for the community not the untouchable, none friendly, antagonistic to the poor community cosmetic uncaring individual to govern Kwara State.
Can she match the intimidating credentials of the former Bauchi and Osun State military administrator, Colonel Theophilus ‘Aduragbemi” Bamgboye? Can she stand besides any of the other candidates that had shown interest to rule Kwara? Candidly, which other candidate in the state can near the credentials of Colonel Bamgboye in terms of the identified values of our next governor? Without being immodest to the interest of other candidates like Dele Belgore (SAN), Architect Lola Ashiru, Architect Kale Belgore, Alhaji AbdulFatai Ahmed (Saraki’s Finance Commissioner), and Alhaji Isa Bio Ibrahim, the current sports minister I think we can do well and better by having a level playing ground for these other worthy Kwarans.