Saraki, the friendly foe of reckon

Bukola Saraki’s leadership style since successfully staging a palace coup amuses me. I mean, it doesn’t matter what the matter is; you find an unflappable mien. Just like his boyish looks, his language is refined though his foes would snigger that appearances could be deceptive. When an attempt was made to tackle his anticipatory asset declaration, he refused to hide in his cupboard or under his wife’s skirt. Instead, he summoned an impressive array of learned silks ostensibly for the prolonged legal war. Yes, the sinnate was shut down during the trial, but he had nothing to do with it.
Saraki might have trained as a medical doctor, but by Naija standards, he could get a Port Harcourt Degree, PhD in politics from any university. When it became obvious that his traducers would insist on docking him to take his plea, he blandly sat there devoid of emotion, an actor whose role has been well rehearsed before the show began. That charge would have made conscionable people step down from the sinnate presidency, but Saraki has kept his rocking chair and gavel. His arraignment might be a blotch on his garment of integrity, but he has worn it like a lapel pin. When it was alleged that enemies pelted him with pure water at the Eid praying ground in Ilorin, Saraki brushed it off as another wishful imagination of envious foes. Other politricians would have unleashed hell on the miscreants but the scion of the Saraki dynasty moved on and continued to fly home when needed to keep the legacy of Oloye.
While people were worried about the relationship between him and anti-corruption spitting president Sai Baba, Saraki showed manly courage, visiting the president at the villa when invited and driving out like a toad flexing before Iya Basira’s butcher. When it was time for the president to lay the budget, Saraki played an excellent host without rancour. When the budget grew legs and walked out of the custody of the NASS, Saraki did not openly make political capital of it. A wounded presiding officer would have made demands – he simply let the two versions speak against themselves. Saraki does not have the guffaw of the late Chuba Okadigbo and does not seek unnecessary press attention. He has been in public limelight virtually all his life and does not need the cheap popularity.
When insulted or abused, the tendency is to go to the gutter; but Saraki understands that you can’t keep an opponent in the mud without getting a bit of it on your face, so he plays with dignity – from a safe distance. When news of the N330 million cars for the sinnate broke, even the Wizard of Ota, a man whose regime bribed its way through scandals and sleaze had something to say about it, but Saraki bid his time. It is now believed that the cars have been delivered, but Saraki simply waves it off as cars for his security aides. He takes nothing for himself. You can’t fault that from a man who secured a mouth-watering severance package from Kwarans to wit – two tear-rubber cars every two years for life. If NASS gives him none, he still wouldn’t walk the road except he was exercising.
A man whose family successfully ran Societe Generale until it timed out without declaring bankruptcy could not be swayed by the allure of stretch limos. Those who think sinnators should be paid the minimum wage could start with Dino Melaiye who boasts of the most exotic of cars plying the worst roads in central Naija; a man who asked colleagues to patronize made in Naija babes because their services are denominated in Naira. They could check with common sense sinnator, Ben Murray-Bruce who for the sake of popularity swapped his legendary electric Kia SUV for Innoson jeeps.
It is doubtful if Lanre Shittu supplies Innoson vehicles. Truth is, just as Sai Baba did not promise N5,000 to unemployed graduates, Saraki did not promise to ride made in Naija cars as sinnate president. Yet, none could question the patriotism of the sinnate president – he wears it daily in his moderately embroidered agbada.
In his characteristic candour, Saraki has responded to the wizard of Ota, assuring him that the legislature under his command has sworn to the anti-corruption mantra of the do as I say regime. Its leader is fighting corruption with eleven jets and unlimited air miles. Only last week, he proudly unfurled the age-old colonial legacy with kilted officers blowing bagpipes to herald his welcome visit after a long world tour and self-sponsored pilgrimage.
Saraki is yet to secure a thousand unnecessary air miles to his credit. But then, he doesn’t need it. His foreign trips, where necessary would be borne by Kwarans and when its all over, they’ll be jointly shared by Naija. Without question, Saraki would get a federal severance package. Surely nothing disarms the enemy like the flaccid mien of a political foe imbued with power and influence but who keeps his foes guessing his next move.