I didn’t even see this coming. The day a politician doing iftar with his followers will become a talkshow on radio and former senate president Senator Bukola Saraki will become a gateman in Kwara. But “the come has come to become,” apologies to late 1st republic minister and nationalist Kingsley Ozumba Mbadiwe, and it is a comedy of comedies.
Over the course of the week, some members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) took over the media with salacious tales of how Senator Saraki wined and dined with them. They said he ate with them on the same chair, shook hands and took selfies after the meal, and therefore, was no demon as was being painted in the media. In his rather Oscar-deserving praisesinging errand, a certain Mudashir Babaita said he could not believe his eyes when he saw Saraki standing at the gate to usher visitors in.
Before I get into the kernel of this piece, I must commend Senator Saraki for two things. One, it is very good he continues to come home for this annual ritual to eat and dine with the people. After all since he left office, his successor has largely been on self-imposed exile — and it now takes an EFCC arrest for him to know God and the way home. Two, it is good Saraki makes no pretence of this year’s fete to be a pure image laundry stunt. Did I hear you ask how did I know? Read my lips: forget that one, _osiso_. But it is better late than never.
Due to the histrionics of opening gate probably for the first time in his life, a certain Babaita think he is human after all. It matters less to his logic that if he never saw him did routine things like sharing tables and embraces with his followers in the last twenty years, it goes more to confirm the ‘media reports’ about him than his tales by moonlight. Like others behind the #IftarWithSaraki radio jabberwocky, they understand less that the fact that they have to pay heavily for airtime to paint him as an angel is a confirmation that he’s overly bossy and had things to hide.
The thing about image laundering is that you mostly need it to conceal unpleasant characteristics of the subject to make it more acceptable, or overstate a bright patch to represent its whole existence. Interestingly, it works little on those who come in close contact with the subject or experience it.
In the case of a person like Saraki, what do you tell a woman whose misguided child pick up guns and die in defence of his political cause? Or a forebear of any of the chiefs that matched and queued under the sun to recieve a foreign musician? Or those who had to crawl to court his favours and those who were shut out of opportunities because they could not kiss his feet?
So, there are few issues with this comedy, or sorry iftar laundry. The first problem is that lies do not outlast the truth, and second is humility is not a show, it is a lifestyle. Have these launderers accept the truth yet? And is a 61-year-old Saraki ready for a new life?
These are some of the issues with “gateman” Saraki story. It is all good if they don’t rubbish the experience people had with him. Kwarans didn’t tell lies against no one. Majority of the people across age groups, including former aides and allies could not be wrong. What about those from outside the state who have had to work with him? After all, to err is human, to forgive is divine. Instead of brandishing him a new child, with no sins and no history, they could just say here is our leader, a former arrogant, power-drunk, desperate politician who has now changed eighth years after O’to ge wrecked his dynasty. You would not be lying. You would not be wrong.
We also need to come to one more realisation. And Sarakites need to own up here. Sarakites have not only gotten the memo from Kwarans that they would not accept less than dignity and respect from no one. They have also realised that Governor AbdulRazaq got remarkably popular with the people because of his calmness, frugality, and humility — and that has remained unchanging after about five years in office. How can they level up, I am thinking they wondered. Enters the “gateman” at iftar story. But when will they acknowledge and credit AbdulRazaq for this charismatic style of leadership instead of jumping the processes and beginning the show? There is the hypocrisy.
Hardly had he settled into office before he began to show he was a man not afraid to mix up with the people, a leader who could break bread with them anywhere. He made the rounds to various mosques on Fridays to say prayers, and flew same plane with them carrying his own bags. These were unprecedented in the history of the state and it didn’t take long before they dubbed him fake, an artiste. Five years after, not only has AbdulRazaq been steady and consistent, his style has seemingly become the model for leadership Sarakites cherish and now wished their leader Senator Bukola Saraki were known with. But when will they own up and acknowledge this? Never. And I understand them. It is enough if our people ultimately get leaders that respect and court their honour instead of the old way of lording over them.
I only have one worry. Humility is a lifestyle. If Saraki makes a show of it by acting gateman and chef, can he make it an art? We shall see.
Abdullateef is Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Communications