By: Taiye Jacob
It is evident that Senator Bukola Saraki now finds himself politically stranded and, to a large extent, deserves our sympathy. His recent statements concerning the former Governor of Delta State and PDP Vice Presidential candidate, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, and others’ defection to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) were not made in isolation; rather, they were deliberate attempts to curry favor with the PDP governors, as aligning with them appears to be his last remaining political lifeline.
For the past eight months, Saraki has been tirelessly lobbying to return to the All Progressives Congress (APC), but all efforts have ended in futility. In a desperate move, it is rumored that he attempted to negotiate a deal to remain in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) while clandestinely working for the APC. However, that plan also collapsed, as major players in both parties found it hard to trust him, given his political antecedents.
As political realignments gain momentum across the country, Saraki finds himself increasingly isolated. No formal invitation has been extended to him by the major coalition stakeholders. Many within the movement are wary of his inclusion; some perceive him as too slippery and treacherous, while others openly describe him as a political liability. One coalition leader succinctly captured the sentiment: “This is a man who has lost two major elections consecutively, both ‘home and away.’ This is a man who, even as a sitting Senate President, could not deliver his own local government in 2019.”
In a bid to salvage his dwindling influence, Saraki allegedly sent multiple emissaries to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, seeking to broker an arrangement to be accommodated within the emerging coalition. Unfortunately, all attempts were rebuffed. One of Saraki’s closest aides, a prominent legal luminary with strong ties to Atiku (especially during the Supreme Court case involving President Bola Tinubu), volunteered to intercede on his behalf. Despite the effort, he failed to persuade Atiku to grant Saraki a role within the coalition.
Undeterred, he has continued to reach out to various PDP governors. However, reliable sources reveal that even within his inner circle, he bitterly complains about how the governors have been toying with him, offering no firm commitment. As part of his renewed strategy, the same legal associate has now been tasked with reaching out to Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, hoping to secure a soft landing for Saraki.
His recent public criticisms of Governor Okowa and others are believed to be part of the credentials being assembled to convince Governor Bala Mohammed and other critical stakeholders to accommodate him in what is being termed the “third leg” of the PDP. With both Atiku Abubakar and Nyesom Wike having firmly closed their doors against him, Saraki’s options have become severely limited.
Indeed, it is a pitiful situation for a man who once bestrode the political landscape like a colossus, now desperately seeking relevance at all costs and by any means necessary.
Taiye Jacob, is from Ifelodun Local Government.
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