AFTER PUBLICLY GRANDSTANDING EX-SENATE PRESIDENT DR. BUKOLA SARAKI NOW PLEADS & PREFERS OUT OF COURT SETTLEMENT ON THE DEMOLISHED ILE-ARUGBO

The Government of the day in Kwara State led by his excellency Governor Abdulraman AbdulRazaq, have been consistent in their assertion that the land upon which Ile-Arugbo was built by the Saraki clan was illegally (inappropriately) acquired and so has no proper documentation. But the Saraki clan led by the former Senate President of Nigeria, who was also a 2 termed Governor of the state have been claiming otherwise, that the land was properly acquired by them, but in truth have never been able to show any proper documentation to affect their claim.

So in the aftermath of the so called illegal and hasty demolition of the place as claimed by the Sarakis, as government of the day had gone ahead to lay claim to what actually belongs to her, in order to restore order and actually build on the land what it was actually earmarked for, the Saraki clan had done what was thought to be the best and most appropriate in the situation, which was them instituting a court case to get damages for the perceived slight and illegality meted on them.

But alas, against all the expected  legal fireworks from them to show that the Government had done them bad and that it was a personal vendetta that was carried out against them as claimed and therefore it was an illegal process that was carried out against them, they have now instead pleaded for an out of court settlement instead, in the place of their former grandstanding, which they had first adopted.

The thing is, if you were openly accused of perpetuating a glaring illegality and you have proof contrary to such flagrant accusations, wouldn't you be too happy to make your opponent look stupid by biting the dust? So it has now been found out as revealed by the court officials, that the only document that the Saraki Clan actually submitted to buttress their claim of ownership of the disputed land was only a mere letter of allocation without any other documents, like either a right of occupancy or even a  certificate of occupancy! How then do you lay claim to the land, a whole you that was a law maker at the highest level possible?

Even the mere letter of allocation itself had 90 days moratorium from the date it was issued for the conditions stated therein to have been met and that was since 2005 and even with that nothing was done.

So now we all understand that they actually had no case from the get go and that they were just rabble rousing to get sympathy. 

WITH THE PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY NOW OVER, WHITHER NOW DR. BUKOLA SARAKI?

Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki 

Now that the Presidential Primary of the PDP is over and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has become the PDP's flagbearer winning against the likes of Aminu Tambuwal and Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, what's the next step for the President of the Senate? At least now, there wouldn't or shouldn't be any more excuse for the National Assembly not to convene any more!

Either he must have bought a Senate form secretly and would now use it to go back to the upper House or the person who must have won the ticket would now step down for him or he would be on his way to some form of political oblivion, at least that much is left to be seen now.

We only just hope that now that the excuse(s) to engage in politics is now over, the House of Assembly, both the upper and lower houses would now resume legislation and allow the country move forward.

Dr. Bukola Saraki, one of the PDP Presidential aspirant could only muster 317 votes out of the overall 3221 that was possible. The 317 votes was not even up to 25% of the votes that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar polled, showing he was a paperweight in the scheme of things, even the Governor of Sokoto, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal had more than twice SARAKI'S votes. 

FEMI FANI-KAYODE GOES GUNG-HO IN HIS DECLARATION/ASSERTION ABOUT DR. BUKOLA SARAKI

Maybe the resurgence or the supposed revival of the PDP is a mirage after all, as one of her leaders in the person of the very outspoken Former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi FANI-KAYODE has blurted out his thought concerning the imminent demise of his own party, as he has faulted and condemned the qualities of one of the Presidential aspirants of his beloved party-The PDP! In the person of the current Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Olubukola Saraki.

Imagine that FFK as he is fondly called, insinuated something not too palatable in his assertion of the newest PDP Presidential aspirant, who only just declared his intention just yesterday in the words below-

So now imagine a top chieftain of the same party, now declaring that Saraki is not fit to have control of the party or its machinery! Is/are there already a division or divisions in the PDP which is supposedly the main opposition party? Are people already in different camps, ready to cling on to their own at all cost? To predict the death and funeral of your own thing, when all should be on board, working together against a common enemy is a bit steep or what do you think ? 

SENATE PRESIDENT DR BUKOLA SARAKI RESPONDS SARCASTICALLY TO ASIWAJU BOLA AHMED TINUBU'S ASSERTION ABOUT WHY HE DEFECTED FROM THE APC TO THE PDP.

Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki 

Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu 

This battle that has begun is most definitely going to be brutal, reason for that being that when elephants battle, especially giant ones like these ones, it is the innocent grass underfoot that would feel the massive weight. And already, the grass is already feeling it and feeling it real damn good. The defection of the Senate President from his former party the APC, back to his old party the PDP is already opening up what were supposed to have remained hidden cans of worms. From the little engagements so far between the juggernauts on both sides, supposed exposes of monumental proportions are suddenly bobbling out, which are already  causing unprecedented ripples.

Find below the response of Dr. BUKOLA SARAKI to the statement by The Asiwaju as to why he had to defect. It is rather very ironic though, that in trying to pooh-pooh the Asiwaju's assertion about his inordinate ambition, the Senate President conveniently forgot a statement he had made on December 18, 2014.

You are peddling falsehood, blinded by inordinate presidential ambition, Saraki replies Tinubu.

Press Release
August 20, 2018

The Tinubu Rhetoric - My Response, By Saraki

I have always restrained from joining issues in the media with Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and this is based on my respect for him. However, I will not allow him to create a wrong, false and mischievous impression about the reasons for my decision to exit the All Progressives Congress (APC) and present his prejudices as facts for public consumption.

I have been consistent in my complaints to all leaders of the APC, including Tinubu, that a situation where the National Assembly is not constructively engaged or carried along in key policy decisions, particularly those that will eventually require legislative approval, is not in the best interest of the nation. No genuine leader of the legislature will be comfortable that the Presidency will simply write a terse letter to the National Assembly on key issues which the federal legislature is expected to later deliberate upon and give its approval. The Buhari administration consistently treat the legislature with contempt and act as if the law making body should be an appendage of the Executive. To me, that is unacceptable.

In the same way, I find it very objectionable that many stakeholders who worked strenuously to get the administration into office have now been excluded in the government and not consulted on key decisions as necessary and expected. In fact, some of them are treated as pariah. A party which ignores justice, equity and inclusion as basic pre-condition for peace, unity and stability cannot sustain its membership and leadership.

Let me redirect the attention of the former Governor of Lagos State to the aspect of my July 31, 2018, statement announcing my exit from APC in which I emphasized that the decision "has been inescapably imposed on me by certain elements and forces within the APC who have ensured that the minimum conditions for peace, cooperation, inclusion and a general sense of belonging did not exist".

In that statement, I further noted that those APC elements "have done everything to ensure that the basic rules of party administration, which should promote harmonious relations among the various elements within the party were blatantly disregarded. All governance principles which were required for a healthy functioning of the party and the government were deliberately violated or undermined. And all entreaties for justice, equity and fairness as basic precondition for peace and unity, not only within the party, but also the country at large, were simply ignored, or employed as additional pretext for further exclusion. The experience of my people and associates in the past three years is that they have suffered alienation and have been treated as outsiders in their own party. Thus, many have become disaffected and disenchanted. At the same time, opportunities to seek redress and correct these anomalies were deliberately blocked as a government-within-a-government had formed an impregnable wall and left in the cold, everyone else who was not recognized as “one of us”. This is why my people, like all self-respecting people would do, decided to seek accommodation elsewhere".

Tinubu himself will recall that during the various meetings he had with me at the time he was pursuing reconciliation within the party, I raised all the above issues. I can also vividly recall that he himself always expressed his displeasure with the style of the government and also mentioned that he had equally suffered disrespect from the same government which we all worked to put in office. I also made the point that whatever travails I have gone through in the last three years belong to the past and will definitely not shape my decisions now and in the future.

However, during those meetings, the point of disagreement between me and him is that while I express my worry that there is nothing on ground to assure me that the administrative style and attitude would change in the next four years in a manner that will enable us deliver the positive changes we promised to our people, he (Tinubu) expressed a strong opinion that he would rather 'support a Buhari on the hospital stretcher' to get a second term because in 2023, power will shift to the South-west. This Tinubu viewpoint was not only expressed to me but to several of my colleagues. So much for acting in national interest.

It is clear that while my own decision is based on protecting collective, national interest, Tinubu will rather live with the identified inadequacies in the government for the sake of fulfilling and preserving his presidential ambition in 2023. This new position of Tinubu has only demonstrated inconsistency, particularly when one reviews his antecedent over the years.

Again, let me reiterate my position that my uncertain and complex relationship with Tinubu has been continually defined by the event of 2014 when myself and other leaders of the APC opposed the Muslim-Muslim ticket arrangement about to be foisted on the APC for the 2015 polls. It should be noted that he has not forgotten the fact that I took the bull by the horns and told him that in the interest of the country, he should accept the need for the party to present a balanced ticket for the 2015 General Elections in terms of religion and geo-political zones. Since that time he has been very active, plotting at every point to undermine me, within and outside the National Assembly.

It is a surprise to me that Asiwaju Tinubu is still peddling the falsehood about the fact that my defection is about automatic ticket and sharing of resources. Members of the public will recall that when the issue of my decision to quit APC came to the fore and many APC leaders were holding meetings with me, a newspaper owned by the same Tinubu published a false report about the promise of automatic ticket, oil block and other benefits. I immediately rebutted their claims and categorically stated that I never discussed any such personal and pecuniary benefits with anybody. My challenge that anybody who has contrary facts should come forward with them still remains open.

It should be known that Democracy is a system which allows people to freely make their choice. It is my choice that I have decided to join others to present a viable alternative platform for Nigerians in the coming elections. Tinubu and leaders of the APC had better respect this decision or lawfully deal with it. As for me, Allah gives power to whom He wishes. Human beings can only aspire and strive to fulfill their aspirations.

Signed

Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, CON
President of the Senate

THIS SURELY MUST BE A SUPER HAPPY TIME FOR THE SARAKIS

Dr Bukola Saraki and the twins

Given the battles for survival that he has had to fight all of these 3 years, you can't but allow him his time to gloat! And gloating, he seems to be doing at every given opportunity now. No matter who you are and whether or not you are his fan, you must just commend him for being a deft politician.

From the High Court, to the Appeal court and then to the Surpreme Court which is the highest court in the land, don't forget that in-between he also had to face the Code of Conduct too, where a sitting number 3 even had to sit at the Dock to explain himself! In all of them, he won against them all. For those alone, one cannot imagine the hundreds of millions that must have gone down the drain!

All those years that the battle was raging and raging, throwing tantrums, he had to be very careful not to talk too much, and  he also had to constantly be alert, on the watch, on his toes, because he didn't know particularly where the next wave of attack could spring from. Truth be told, whoever were those in his think tank team, they need to be very well commended and well compensated for being up to the task all through. They must have come highly recommended and they surely lived up to their billings. If he can, he must commend them for the rest of his life. They were truly extraordinary, especially at anticipating the moves of their principal's (SARAKI'S) adversaries, that's even before they the adversaries could think up what that next move would or could be, they had already prepared the way out for all or any eventualities. If nothing at all, they must be masters at playing chess, with the abilities to predict as much as the next 8 moves ahead, kudos to them. Without mincing words, they are no doubt a very solid, totally resourceful team.

Also to be commended would be those unseen, but quite formidable powers behind the Senate President, by that we mean his 'prayer team'. Those ones in possession of exceptional esoteric abilities, with the vaunted gifts of seeing limitedly into the immediate future. Mennnnnn, those people, whoever they are and wherever they are too, must be on fire!!!! Not many can weather the kind of storm of the last 3 years and can still come out of it all unscathed. Just imagine that in all of the shenanigans, he has accualy come out of it all looking like an innocent victim, in fact as the oppressed weakling. Wow!

So all through the battles, he dug deep, he had to be careful as he wasn't too sure where the pendulum could swing at times. He kept his aces to himself and his very close knit team, away from scrutinising/prying eyes. In fact also formulating his own  ingenious plans of actions in anticipation, ready to counter wherever and when necessary, whilst also ready to spring the many surprises (jokers) in his box that could turn the tide positive for him and negative for his perceived adversaries whenever necessary and in the process actually turning the hunter to the hunted! In fact sometimes actually using the art of deliberate misdirection to his most utmost advantage, sending his enemies on fool's errands and making the other side look stupid most often.

So far, so good, is all we can say for now and that's very glaring! And the obvious elation and sigh of relief can be perceived and seen all over them. By that we mean Dr Bukola Saraki and his family. Even his family, represented by the very adorable wife, who normally is very, very quiet, especially about anything that has to do with politics and issues related to it, has not been left out of the very public exhalation, since after they won their case at the Surpreme Court!

In the last few weeks, Mrs. Toyin Saraki has been releasing loads of very smart, not confrontational at all and very subliminal messages on her social media handle that says a whole lot about the family's current state of mind. It's so very obvious that first, the relief has been palpable and then by extension, the joy of the victory at the hand has been immense. Though the family would claim that the very latest exclamation of joy has to do with the family' s twin daughters gaining admission to an ivy league school abroad, those in the know, actually know too well that it's more of an all encompassing thing! Far more than the celebration of admissions into a school.

Everything seems so good now, in fact the feel good effect or factor has been extraordinary and it has extended to so much confidence, so much so to the extent that many are of the opinion that if Dr. Bukola Saraki should venture to run for election come next year, 2019, he could or would be the next Nigerian president without a whimper. Though we are not too sure about that for now, for the man of the moment is still going about right now doing consultations to see if those seen as the stakeholders would give their support for his candidacy for President come 2019.

What's quote obvious though is that baring any future unpalatable circumstances, he would surely stick out his neck for the race to become Nigeria's numero uno, and if the prophecy or prediction of Primate Ayodele Elijah of Inri Evangelical Ministry, who claims to have heard from God on his candidacy is anything to go by, then we might already have a new President in waiting then! 

DR. BUKOLA SARAKI OUTSMARTS THE POLICE TO ENTER THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY AND THE TSUNAMI HAS BEGUN.

The Senate President Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, the Waziri Garin of Ilorin, has shown again the deftness via which he was able to overcome all the shenanigans that was packaged against him all of the past 3 years, by outwitting the blockade set up against him at his residence today by reaching the National Assembly complex to sit and preside over the day's proceedings.

The security agencies comprising of the police and other security apparatik, bungled again like they normally do what was supposed to be their routine agenda for the day, which may have been to keep the Senate President under house arrest at all cost, Maybe because of what they must have heard was planning to take place today, the defection of many Senators from the APC to the PDP.

But the 3rd man of this administration, who is gradually fitting into the personae of the "skilled artful dodger" of that hilarious character in that well known novel Oliver Twist, like the great Houduni well reknowned for his escape art and act, the Waziri Garin of Ilorin just a few hours ago outsmarted all arrayed against him again and arrived gallantly at the National Assembly like a warrior who had escaped an ambush.

According to unconfirmed sources, the Senate President had had an inkling of the plans that awaited him in the morning of today, since yesterday, so he had perfected how he would first evade the plans set for him, while also embarrassing those set to ambush him in the first instance. Part of the plan was to use a decoy that would be seen by all, as the bungling security group set to ambush him would be flexing their might, while he would have effortlessly reached the assembly already.

The aftermath of his manoeuvre was that as soon as he arrived at the Assembly, 15 former members of his APC, led by Alh. Rabiu Kwankwanso, Dino Melaye all defected to the opposition party the PDP. The 15 that defected were Dino Melaye
Barnabas Gemade
Ibrahim Danbaba
Shaaba Lafiaji
Mohammed Shitu
Rafiu Ibrahim
Suleiman Hunkuyi
Isa Misau
Monsurat Sunmonu
Soji Akanbi
Usman Nafada
Musa Kwankwaso
Suleiman Nazif
Lanre Tejuosho. And just as soon as the defection masterstroke was achieved, the Senate President immediately adjoined all other proceedings till September 2018, effectively shutting down any moves by the APC to counter the move till that latter date. Also following what the upper house did, the lower house also perfected its own Defection, with 37 members in all shifting base to another party, mainly the PDP though.

SARAKI WEDS OLUKOYA 2017. ANOTHER SIDE OF THE STORY. NO ALCOHOL NO FUN!

Senator Dino Melaye & his boss Dr. Bukola Saraki

Chief Olusegun Aremu Obasanjo & Senator Ibikunle Amosun

Chief Obasanjo & Senator Melaye

- No alcohol of any kind was served.
- Those expecting to drink themselves to stupor for free were disappointed.

- There was the consciousness to be careful, so it was somewhat a boring affair.

- KSA as expected razzled-dazzled and Aliko Dangote as expected, did the needful.

- After party was lit as there was no restrictions on what the kids could do.

All the above and more below.

So the party has come and gone like that after all the attendant hoopla and razzmatazz and the memory of it would still linger for quite a bit. Though the 3rd leg is still upcoming in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory,  maybe some of those who attended this Lagos edition might just bid a bye to the Abuja edition, except maybe if things changes or are different!

What do we mean? Some of those who attended who said though the event was jam-packed, but claimed that it was boring! Boring? Yes they exclaimed that apart from the who-is-who crowd that came in large numbers, apart from the awesome decor that was gobsmarkingly in your face, it was rather a very strict, no alcohol must be served party!

What????? "A party of soft drinks, water and juice in Lagos State"? A state known for the tag- EKO FOR SHOW? Especially because of the kind of over the top things that we do in Lagos! What is a party in Lagos like, especially a high calibered one without alcohol (Rose Champagne-Moet, LP, Cristal, DP, Hennessy VSOP, XO, Johnie Walker Blue Label, Red Wine etc) to make the things merry, to make the people a lot freer and to allow people have fun of the highest order.

Morning of gist after the break.

SARAKIS AND OLUKOYAS GETS SET FOR THE "PRIMERA LIGA" OF ALL WEDDINGS- SET FOR ILORIN, LAGOS & ABUJA!

Oluwatosin Saraki

Dr Bukola & Toyin Saraki

Toyin Saraki

Otunba Adekunle and Erelu Ojuolape Ojora

- The Wedding would span Ilorin, Lagos and Abuja.

- The dates are Saturday, October 21, 2017, Saturday, October 28, 2017 and Thursday to Saturday, December 7 to 9, 2017.

- The known venues are Eko Hotel, Victoria Island, International Conference Centre Abuja and Yar Adua Centre also in Abuja.

- The families involved are the Saraki's of Ilorin, Ojoras of Lagos and Olukoyas of Ogun State,most likely Ijebu.........

All the exciting details and informations, about the wedding that might stand shoulder to shoulder, neck and neck with the sheer opulence, extravagance and clout that was displayed at the AMOSUN weds Dabiri wedding.

The man with awesome clout in the person of the current Senate President of Nigeria, in the person of Dr. Olusola Saraki would pull his weight as he would host the world at his 1st daughter's wedding of the year.

All things being equal, the State known to all as the "State of Aquatic Excellence", but more famously known as Lagos, Nigeria's undisputable economic hub and the richest state in the country by far, would host some of the heaviest of heavyweights by any yardstick of measurement, the movers and shakers of the society, the pillars of the Lagos establishments and more, top government functionaries and officials, both from the states and the Federal Government and National Assembly (Senate and House of Representatives), political juggernauts from  all sides of the divide, be it from thr APC, PDP, APGA etc, top business people (men and women) of life, the diplomatic community, both local and international, all would converge to make sure that this is the season's champion.

This most definitely would be the "Primera Liga" of all weddings in Nigeria this season without any iota of doubt and baring none. If the former despot Babangida, could pull his weight considerably, if Amosun and Dabiri could mesmerise all comers, then this one would be the king or emperor of weight pulling.

We had announced this wedding previously before on this your soar away platform, that was a few weeks back and told you how it was upcoming and that a leg of it was being planned as a "destination wedding". But that part has since been jettisoned and it is now a full NIGERIA affair, why take our money and the ensuing razzmatazz to another country that's not ours? This is the wedding that will say to all others and would tell them all brazenly,  "Elojokoje", meaning all others go sit down quietly without any iota of whimper whatsoever, in pidgin English " go Siddon dey look".

More exciting details after the break.