Olubukola Saraki

Early Life and Background

Olubukola Abubakar Saraki was born on December 19, 1962, in London, United Kingdom. He hails from a distinguished and influential political family in Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria. His father was the late Dr. Olusola Saraki, a towering figure in Nigerian politics who served as the Senate Leader of the Second Nigerian Republic (1979-1983) and held the traditional title of Waziri of Ilorin. His mother is Chief (Mrs.) Florence Saraki. Growing up in such an environment, Saraki was exposed to the intricacies of Nigerian politics from a very young age, which undoubtedly shaped his future career path. The Saraki family's political dominance in Kwara State has been a significant aspect of the state's political landscape for several decades, establishing a formidable dynasty.

Education

Saraki's early education began in Nigeria before he proceeded to the United Kingdom for further studies. He attended King's College, Lagos, Nigeria, from 1973 to 1978, where he completed his secondary education. Following this, he enrolled at Cheltenham College, Cheltenham, United Kingdom, from 1979 to 1981, pursuing his Higher School Certificate (HSC). Demonstrating an early aptitude for science and medicine, Saraki then proceeded to the London Hospital Medical College of the University of London, United Kingdom, where he studied from 1982 to 1987. He successfully earned his Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (M.B.B.S.) degree, qualifying as a medical doctor.

Career

Upon completing his medical studies, Bukola Saraki began his professional career as a medical officer at Rush Green Hospital, Essex, United Kingdom, where he worked from 1988 to 1989. After his medical practice, he returned to Nigeria and transitioned into the banking sector. From 1990 to 2000, he served as a Director of Societe Generale Bank (Nigeria) Ltd (SGBN), a bank founded by his father. This period provided him with extensive experience in finance and corporate governance, which proved beneficial in his later political roles.

Saraki's political career officially began in 2000 when he was appointed as the Special Assistant to the President on Budget Affairs by President Olusegun Obasanjo. In this role, he was instrumental in the formulation and implementation of the national budget, gaining crucial insight into federal governance and economic policy. He held this position until 2003, when he decided to contest for the governorship of Kwara State.

In 2003, Saraki successfully contested and was elected as the Governor of Kwara State under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He served two consecutive four-year terms, from 2003 to 2011. During his tenure as governor, he initiated several transformative projects, particularly in agriculture, health, education, and infrastructure. His administration introduced the Shonga Farms programme, a commercial farming initiative that brought in experienced white Zimbabwean farmers to boost food production and commercial agriculture in the state. In the health sector, he implemented a community health insurance scheme, one of the first of its kind in Nigeria, aimed at providing affordable healthcare to rural communities. He also established the Kwara State University, Malete, to expand access to higher education.

After completing his two terms as governor, Saraki was elected as a Senator representing the Kwara Central Senatorial District in the Nigerian Senate in 2011. He was re-elected in 2015. During his time as a Senator, he served as the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology, and was a member of other key committees. His legislative work focused on environmental protection, climate change, and sustainable development. In 2014, in a significant political realignment, Saraki, along with several other prominent politicians, defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the newly formed All Progressives Congress (APC).

In June 2015, following the general elections, Bukola Saraki was controversially elected as the President of the 8th Senate of Nigeria and Chairman of the National Assembly. His emergence as Senate President, against the preferred candidate of his party, the APC, marked a significant power struggle within the ruling party and established him as a formidable political operator. As Senate President, he championed a legislative agenda focused on economic reforms, anti-corruption, and good governance. He presided over the passage of several landmark bills, including the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB), the National Minimum Wage Act, the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) 2020 (though assented to after his tenure), the Credit Bureau Act, and the Secured Transactions in Movable Assets Act. These bills were aimed at improving the ease of doing business, strengthening the financial sector, and reforming the critical oil and gas industry. His tenure was also characterized by robust oversight functions, with the Senate engaging actively in scrutinizing government policies and agencies.

In 2018, Saraki again defected from the APC back to the PDP, citing grievances with the ruling party's leadership and its handling of national issues. He sought the PDP's presidential ticket for the 2019 general elections but lost in the primaries to Atiku Abubakar. He subsequently lost his bid for re-election to the Senate in 2019, marking the end of his consecutive elective office holding since 2003.

Major Achievements

Bukola Saraki's career is marked by several significant achievements. As Governor of Kwara State, he pioneered the Shonga Farms initiative, which brought modern commercial farming techniques to the state, significantly boosting agricultural output and creating employment. He also introduced a groundbreaking community health insurance scheme, expanding access to affordable healthcare for thousands of rural inhabitants, a model later studied by other states. The establishment of Kwara State University under his administration provided a vital institution for higher learning and human capital development in the state.

As President of the Senate, Saraki oversaw a period of significant legislative productivity. His leadership facilitated the passage of critical economic reform bills such as the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB), which aimed to unbundle the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and reform the oil sector for greater transparency and efficiency. Other key legislative achievements included the passage of the National Minimum Wage Act, which increased the minimum wage for Nigerian workers, and the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA), which modernized corporate governance laws. He also played a crucial role in strengthening legislative oversight, ensuring accountability in government, and advocating for a more independent legislature.

Personal Life

Bukola Saraki is married to Toyin Saraki (née Ojora), a healthcare advocate and philanthropist. They married in 1990. Together, they have four children: Oluwaseni, Tosin, Olaolu, and Halimat. The Saraki family maintains a strong presence in the social and political circles of Nigeria, continuing the legacy established by his father, Dr. Olusola Saraki. Toyin Saraki is the founder and president of Wellbeing Foundation Africa, an organization dedicated to improving maternal, newborn, and child health outcomes, as well as women's empowerment.

Legacy

Bukola Saraki's legacy is multifaceted. In Kwara State, he is remembered for laying foundational reforms in agriculture, health, and education, transforming the state's economic and social landscape. His initiatives, particularly the Shonga Farms and the community health insurance scheme, are often cited as progressive models for sub-national development in Nigeria. At the national level, his tenure as Senate President is characterized by a strong and often assertive legislature, which he championed as a crucial check on the executive arm of government. He is credited with fostering a legislative environment that prioritized economic reforms and good governance, leading to the passage of several impactful bills. Despite the controversies that marked parts of his career, Saraki remains a formidable and influential figure in Nigerian politics, representing a generation of leaders who navigated complex political realignments and sought to implement significant policy changes. His political journey underscores the enduring power of political dynasties in Nigeria and the continuous evolution of its democratic landscape. His influence continues to be felt through his political network and his advocacy for good governance and national development.