Softly! Softly!! Softly!!! Senator Ahmed Bola Tinubu

Let me seize this opportunity to formally commend His Excellency, President Muhmmadu Buhari, GCON for pragmatic efforts in bringing about ia new Nigeria of our dream. His achievements so far in the area of anti-corruption crusade and the war against Boko Haram and indeed his laudable contribution to the general well-being of the electorates is highly commendable.

Similarly, the efforts of the new Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, CON, the Turaki of Ilorin and his allies in bringing about the desire peace and harmony among the senators in the upper chamber is also highly commendable.

However, going by the recent incidence of crisis, particularly' in the National Assembly precisely in the red chamber over the election of the Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, CON who doubled as a two-term Executive Governor of Kwara State and a onetime Chairman, Nigeria Governors' Forum coupled with the recent publication in the national dailies and radio broadcast over the seemingly sour relationship between Senator Ahmed Bola Tinubu, a former Governor of Lagos State, His Excellency, Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN over political differences between the duos and indeed over the strong opposition of Senator Ahmed Bola Tinubu again to the emergence of the” National Assembly President, there is need for Senator Ahmed Bola Tinubu to tarry softly in the interest of peace, harmony and the survival of the nascent democracy in Nigeria.

It is necessary to refresh our memory on how the former Governor of Zamfara State, His Excellency, Senator Ahmed Yerima nominated the current Senate President as preferred candidate for the prestigious number three position of Nigeria, the popular nomination was deservedly seconded by Senator Dino Melahe from Kogi State, which led to the emergence of the new President unopposed.

It will be recalled that before the nominatlon of Senator Bukola Saraki for the Senate President, the clerk of the senate, Senator Salihu Maikasuma read the proclamation sent to the house by our indefatigable President, Muhammadu Buhari, GCON given the senate clerk a matching order to commence the election and afterward, the election was conducted among all the senate members present in the chamber, they included the members of ruling party, APC and opposition party, PDP, the election which produced the 8th Senate president and deputy was conducted under a peaceful atmosphere by all members from both ruling and opposition parties without any rancour and the winners emerged. Rather than to allow the sleeping dog to lie, the APC leadership which preached changes as slogan throughout the campaign has became irritated of the outcome of the election both in the senate and in the house of representatives because their preferred candidates for the Senate President, Senator Ahmad Lawal from North East and Speaker, House of Representative, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila from South West were tragically defeated as shown through the outcome of the election in the two chambers respectively.

Sadly, because of this dictatorial attitude of some of the APC leadership failed to understand that the National Assembly is not a secretariat to any political party Democracy is defined as ruler ship by the people.

In a nutshell, democracy is government of the people for the people and by the people, the beauty of democracy worldwide guarantees among others, freedom of association, freedom to live, freedom of expression, freedom of religion, etc. In a democratic government, people are allowed through the election to choose their representatives who will represent them and their interest. In the government in other word, democracy guarantee the electorates to vote and elect those that will represent them in government for certain period of time and that was why eligible voters in Nigeria trooped out in large numbers to vote and elect the President' of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Members of National Assemblies (Red and Green Chambers), 36 State Governors in Nigeria as well as members of the State House of Assembly respectively in the last general elections.

The constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria provide for the three tiers of government, the executive, the legislature and judiciary.

It is note mentioning that each tier of these arms of government is constitutionally independent of one another, in other word, no arm of these three tiers has control on one another.

Furthermore, there is no section of the Nigeria constitution that empowers political party to control any of these three tiers of the government. It is safe to say that the role of the political party is merely advisory to members of the National Assembly.

Agreed, all members of the National Assembly are products of political party, but I want to add very quickly that once they are voted for by Nigerians and took oath of allegiance as a member of, the National Assembly or State Assembly or even ward councilors, they are automatically responsible and answerable to all eligible voters that voted for them and they have to work for the general well being not only for the electorates in their constituency but people of Nigeria including those who did not for them.

I have no doubt in my mind that this is what was demonstrated by the election of leadership of both Red and Green chambers which produced the 8th President of National Assembly and the Speaker, House of Representative respectively.

I therefore doff my hat for all members of the National Assembly who took part in the election for their exceptional act of courage and patriotism for our fatherland Nigeria and commend them for their act of gallantly and appeal to our workaholic President Muhammadu Buhari, GCON to work with the leadership of the National Assembly in the interest of the Nation.

The position of the President is above partisanship as the President is the father of the Nation, I do not know the criteria of the preferred candidates of leadership of the APC possessed that the two current occupants of both red and green chambers have not got. It will be recalled that the current Senate President was a two-term Governor of Kwara State and while he was in the helm of affairs of the state, he was diligent, efficient in the discharge of his duties.

He came in at a time when the Kwara State was in shamble both economically, educationally and within a very short time in office, he restored the state once again back to its well known state of harmony and peace, while people lay on their beds with their two eyes closed. His .tenure has brought rapid education development in the state as it is during that time, the state has its own university (KWASU) sited at Malete in Moro LGA, the education sector also witness massive employment of qualified teachers in the primary, secondary and tertiary institutions, while new classrooms were built across the state and dilapidated ones were renovated both students in secondary and tertiary institutions enjoy regular bursary and scholarship award by the government and the cultism activities were effectively curtailed by his government.

On security, even though the Nigeria Police Force including the State Security Service are the agents of the federal government, his administration gave maximum support to these agents by providing them with necessary equipments, such as patrol vehicles, communication gadgets and other security equipments to boost their services to the good people of the state.

In the area of health, new hospitals and clinics were provided across the sixteen local government areas in the state, manned by qualified medical doctors and nurses, drugs and hospital equipments were provided in abundant by his purposeful administration while the medical staff enjoy their entitlement and right as at when due.

The state civil servants as the engine rooms of any successful administration were not left behind in scheme of things as those due for promotion and other entitlement enjoy them without tear.

In a nutshell, all the entire civil servants under former Governor Abubakar Bukola Saraki now Senate President do smile home by every month-end as their salaries and other emoluments were duly provided for them including car loans, etc.

The good people of Kwara State cannot forget in hurry, the outstanding performances of “Bukky” as popularly called by his admirers, the massive road construction in the state capital and its environs, example of which is the construction of over head bridge in the state capital and electrification of both the state capital and urban areas. It was a period of joy and happiness, it is necessary to mention the excellent performance of Bukky in the area of agricultural development in the state. A good example is Shonga Farms which provided ample opportunities of employment to our unemployed graduates and adults.

The Turaki of Ilorin will forever be remembered by good people of Kwara State to be the first Executive Governor in Nigeria to bring foreign farmers from far away Zimbabwe to Kwara State and indeed Nigeria thereby making the state rallying point in Nigeria in the area of agricultural development. The giant stride of the Turaki of Ilorin as the State Governor then in the area of provision of a world class diagnostic centre in the state capital is another achievement of his administration. This commendable initiative of provision of diagnostic centre in the state capital has reduced incessant traveling abroad for medication by Nigerians who are in dare need of urgent medical attention.

In view of the above highlighted achievements recorded by Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki, CON as the two-term Governor of Kwara State, he is well qualified for the prestigious status of the Senate President.

Therefore, Senator Ahmed Bola Tinubu and his co travelers should bury their hatchet and support the new vibrant leadership of both National Assembly and House of Representative in the interest of peace and harmony. While the North West has already produced the President, the South West produced the Vice President, Majority Leader in the House of Representative and Deputy Speaker respectively, then one wonder why there should be cries over the election of the new dynamic Senate President who has not only distinguished himself as a charismatic Chairman of the Nigeria Governors' Forum but as a two-term Governor of Kwara State.

Nigeria is a nation of many diversities, diversity in religion, diversity in tribes, language including culture, we should all therefore learn how to tolerate another and work together, live together as a member of one united family.

I therefore appeal that the election of the incumbent Senate President must stay, it is not an over exaggeration to mention that three factors led to the success of the APC in the last general elections across the country.

The first factor was that, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCON was a man of impeachable integrity, incorruptible fearing leader; the second factor was as a result of abysmally of former President Goodluck Jonathan in all area of good governance hence, the electorates in Nigeria want a change and the last important factor was the contribution of the 5-former Governors of the PDP led by the new Senate President who merged to the APC thereby creating an easy in road for the APC in the North. What then will be the gain of the 5 Governors who abandoned the PDP for APC if they are now abandoned in the scheme of things as Tinubu and Co attempted to abandon them?

We should all learn how to tolerate one another in particular, the APC should learn how to manage their success now that both the Senate and House of Representative are now accorded desired cooperation and support to the APC government in the centre.

The recent campaign of calumny in both media and online against the God appointed Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, CON by some – disgruntled politicians and sponsored newspaper columnist cannot serve any good purpose in the current democracy. It is like a Landlord destroying his house for selfish and parochial interest. The National Assembly must enjoy independence without any interference from any leadership of the APC.

The Turaki of Ilorin now Senate President is no doubt a true son of Ilorin Emirate and indeed Kwara State and our people are therefore fully prepared to swim and sink with him; those who are unjustifiably castigating him are advised to learn from what be felled Chief Edward Clerk, the self appointed God father of former President Goodluck Jonathan who once engaged on campaign of blackmailing against their son as they responded appropriately then against the embattled self appointed father of the Ex-President.

Before I lay my biro, I would not forget to draw the attention of good people of Nigeria to the laudable achievements of the former Governor of Lagos State, His Excellency, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN as a two-term Governor, his achievements in all area of good governance such as in the area of road construction, electrification, education, indeed exceedingly well, a legal practitioner turn politician embarked on massive reconstruction of roads, not only in Lagos, but in all nooks and crannies of the Lagos state and work assiduously to turn Lagos State into paradise he was visionary and focus who gave its fine breed of cabinet members and other political office holder qualitative leadership in Nigeria.

He deserved any encouragement by President Muhammadu Buhari administration for his unprecedented achievements.

Power belongs to God and He bestowed power to anybody that He wishes.

Therefore, the new Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwumi Ambode should be magnanimous in victory and not allow himself to be dragged into unnecessary political crisis with his predecessor by seemingly over ambitious political leader.

Enough of political wrangling, enough is enough.