Attacks by Saraki and Dogara against Asiwaju Bola Anmed Tinubu is very understandable

By Kunle Odufuwa

The attack on Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu by outgoing Senate President, Bukola Saraki and outgoing Speaker, House of Representatives Yakubu  Dogara is understandable. They are both politically paralysed characters desperately trying to get back to their feet. 

For Saraki, for the first time in twenty years, he would find himself politically ostracised after the convening of the ninth Assembly in June. He would have no say in Kwara where he had hitherto held the people in political hostage or at the federal level where he would have no straw to hang to hence his desperation to ensure his cronies clinch the leadership of the National Assembly. 

For Dogara, the one time Headmaster would find himself playing the role of a student under the leadership of a new headmaster in the House of  Representatives where he would be dictated to as against his former role where he dictated to others. He would no doubt not find it easy playing the role of a one time presiding officer and primus inter parie in the eight Assembly now having to play a non presiding role in the ninth Assembly. 

That Saraki and Dogara are now being checkmated by Asiwaju by working very hard to stop them from creating problems in the smooth administration of the ninth Assembly by installing their cronies would definitely not go down well with the two of them. 

Suffice it to say that Asiwaju had never displayed the type of erratic desperation exhibited by Saraki and Dogara before they hijacked the leadership of the outgoing eight Assembly. 

This was the same Asiwaju who wanted to return to the Senate in 2007 but surrendered the ticket to Ganiyu Solomon in order to ensure the unity, peace and traquility of the party in Lagos state. Finding themselves in such position, would Saraki and Dogara take such an action?

Again, Asiwaju wanted the Vice Presidential slot in 2015 but had to drop the ambition when there was opposition to a Muslim/Muslim ticket in the party and instead nominated the present Vice President Prof Yemi Osibajo. Would a Saraki and Dogara have heeded to such party position? They definitely would not do so hence their rebellion against the party’s position in 2015. 

Comparatively, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu had overtime displayed that he is a true party man amenable to party position and discipline as against the rabid rebellion against the ruling party displayed by Saraki and Dogara in their running of the outgoing Senate.

Let Saraki and Dogara continue with their contenmptuos tirade against Asiwaju but the fact remains that the Jagaban is well ahead of them. 

Today, the Jagaban can conveniently look back and identify a good number of leaders that passed through his political school and who are today great leaders within the political firmament of this great nation. We need not mention names but the enviable list is endless. 

Coupled with this is the fact that the Jagaban left an enviable footprint as Governor of Lagos state.

Given the stranglehold of Saraki on Kwara state, how many individuals did he mentor and holding high offices like those mentored by Asiwaju and what were his achievements as Governor of Kwara State. 

Dogara’s case is understandable, he needs a Saraki to help him find his political bearing and not being able to achieve that could only lead to what he and Saraki his leader are currently doing and that is to verbally attack Jagaban and call him names. 

The point remains that this country cannot afford to have a Senate like the dying eight Senate again hence the  leaders of the APC owe it a duty to ensure that  the ninth Senate is properly constituted and set it far apart from the politically leprous eight Senate. 

One thing is sure, Saraki and Dogara will maintain their desperate and selfish attacks on Tinubu while the ruling APC and Asiwaju Tinubu would  continue to work steadfastly towards having their way and by so doing ensure that hawkish political characters are kept off the ninth Assembly.