- Safiu Kehinde
Former Kwara State governor, Bukola Saraki, has paid tribute to his late father, Olusola Saraki, as he marked his 12 Years remembrance.
Saraki took to his X handle on Thursday to reflect on his experience since the passing of the prominent Kwara politician.
The former lawmaker described his late father’s lifetime as impactful and unforgettable.
“Twelve years ago, my father, Oloye, Dr. Abubakar Olusola Saraki, passed away. In those twelve years, I have come to realize that when someone like him leaves, they are never truly gone; the impact of their lives echoes through ours in ways that shape us and guide us — sometimes in ways that we do not always understand.
“Today, as I look back, I am deeply grateful for the years I had with him. I still feel his influence in my life, guiding me in ways I could never have predicted. I pray that Almighty Allah (SWT) will continue to grant him a place amongst the righteous ones in Aljannah Firdaus. Ameen.” Bukola Saraki wrote
The late Olusola Saraki is the patriarch of the Sarakis political dynasty in Kwara.
He came into politics in 1964 when he contested for the parliamentary election for Ilorin as an independent, but lost.
He returned to politics in 1977 after initially stepping down following his defeat in 1964.
Olusola was elected as a member of the Constituent Assembly that produced the 1979 constitution.
In 1979, he was elected a Senator of the Second Republic and became Senate Leader.
He would be re-elected for second term under the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) in 1983.
Olusola’s political influence in Kwara was extended to his family, making the Sarakis a force to reckon in Kwara politics.
As a political godfather, Olusola influenced the emergence of Bukola Saraki and Gbemisola Saraki who took over the dynasty from their father stopped.
The Sarakis still poised as a stronghold in Kwara despite Olusola’s death at the age of 79 in 2012.
Prior to his death, Olusola’s political dynasty came under threat and potential collapse over succession row between his children, Bukola Saraki and Gbemisola Saraki.
The Sarakis influence in Kwara would eventually crumble in 2019 following the emergence of the “O To Ge Saraki” campaign.