Gbemi Saraki: An object of unity rising from North-central

Miss Angie Mutuka Luafindi, a resident of a small enclave within Sun City in South Africa was seriously worried and a bit nervous when the news about Xenophobia in that country was making waves in 2018. Her being extra worried was not because she is a stranger or non-indigene in South Africa but then, was basically due to the way brothers were attacking each other on the same shores of Africa. For Mutuka, Africa is one, and as such should fight to protect, preserve, develop and ensure the unity of each other devoid of ethnicity, tribe, religion, political affiliation and even parental background. Angie Mutuka Luafindi though a woman but then, believes she has all it takes to unite Africa as one indivisible continent based on her own perspective about life. All the same, her dream may look big, yet, with a positive step she is taking by every tickling of the clock to actualise her dream of uniting Africa, seems to be getting closer to manifestation. Will she achieve her dream? It’s only time that will tell!

Apart from Mutuka, there are women activists on the territories of African nations that rose up in their prime time to ensure liberation for every African child and the continent in general. Some of them were chased out of their territory either on government enforced or self-imposed exiles with some of their lives cut short when the ovation concerning their demands were becoming loud. Others overcame the storm and till date, are still fighting for the welfare of every segment of Africa and indeed for every African child. Before now, we had the likes of Miriam Makeba, Wangari Maathi, Margaret Dongo, Mary First, Winnie Mandela, Margaret Ekpo, Fumilayo Kuti, Queen Amina, etc. In our present Africa, there are women that are taking the lead after the demise of some of the names mentioned above. Most of them though are from a very comfortable background but, yet decide to ensure better lives for every African child. I am talking about African ladies and women that can go the extra mile to put behind their comfort zones and the good foundation laid by their parents in order to work extra hard to ensure beautiful future for the downtrodden in Africa. Presently, we have the likes of Joyce Bander, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Aja Fatoumata Jallow, Joice Mujuru, Sophia Abdi Noor, Diane Shima Rwigara, Mbali Ntuli, the list can go on and on but for the brevity of space, let me put a stop to it here. You see, like I said earlier, most of these women even for the clear fact that they were privileged to be born into a very wealthy family, they chose to stay away from their comfort zones to fight for the welfare of every African child. Most of them trade upon the head of porcupines, dine and wine with monsters all because they want liberation for every African child. Honestly though, I am male African child, nevertheless, I hold every African woman in a very high esteem. Yes, I mean our African queens that had put in so much to ensure better lives for every African child. Thank to you out there in South Africa, Malawi, Uganda, Rwanda, Chana, Kenya, and Nigeria, etc.

Now, haven given brief background on some few African women that immensely put in their best to better every African child, a thought about a particular African woman from Kwara state, North-central Nigeria, crossed my mind. I am talking about a woman whom even in the midst of plenty decided to identify with the downtrodden in the society. A woman whom God has been using to positively transform lives of many. She is referred to as Mama Africa. She is a woman with the heart of gold that is ready at all  times to go extra mile to put smiles on the faces of the downtrodden devoid of tribe, religion, ethnicity, political affiliation, parental background, etc. I am talking about Distinguished Senator Gbemisola Saraki, an erudite scholar, a political doyen of the most popular political dynasty on the shores of North-central and even the entire Nigeria.

Born on May 3, 1965, into the well-known family of Dr. Olusola Saraki of Kwara state. Gbemi has Yoruba and Fulani lineages. Gbemi right from her childhood never discriminates against people but rather gives everyone she comes across a sense of belonging at whatever capacity they meet her.

The eloquent, intelligent and highly principled Senator Gbemi Saraki attended the most prestigious Cheltenham Ladies College, England and came out as one among the best students during her studies. Immediately after graduation, she gained admission into one of the first generation universities in United Kingdom, a university that produced most of the best leaders in United Kingdom and even across the world. I am talking about the University of Sussex. Gbemi after her studies joined the banking sector and was immediately made a managerial officer in view of her brilliancy and leadership skills. Gbemi joined politics, contested for House of Representatives, and as expected, she recorded landslide victory. When Gbemi got to the green chamber, she turned out as rallying point of all her colleagues based on her excellent performance in the area of sponsorship of bills and point of order on the floor of the house. She went further to contest for Senate and again, she won with a clear margin. Gbemi’s appearance in the red chamber from 2003 to 2007 was another memory that shall continue to remain with many Nigerians and most of her colleagues. This is very true because, she was rated by many political analysts as distinguished senator with a golden voice and, especially with her phonetics styles of language usage coupled with her loaded good oratory usage of words.

After her lone tenure in the red chamber, Gbemi tried to govern Kwara state. However, her vision met a brick wall. Not satisfied with what happened, she dekved into private sector, revitalised her business and as expected, within short time, her business became so big that even metamorphosed into the international level. Additionally, the political contest of 2019 re-awakened the political destiny of Gbemi Saraki, the contest again made great opportunities for the doyen of the strong man of Kwara politics to display her political prowess. Gbemi instead of working together with her biological brother the then Senate President Abubakar Bukola Saraki, decided to do the opposite. She teamed up with the ruling APC in Nigeria which happened to be the opposition party in Kwara state, where she hails from. Gbemi’s political structure bulldozed  through the thick political structure of her brother Bukola Saraki and like a joke, the APC candidate emerged the winner of the governorship election at the state and the party also recorded landslide victory at the National Assembly election.

Again, when the ministerial names were presented on the floor of the senate on July 22, 2019, and Gbemi Saki’s name was found among the list, many political observers applauded the decision of President Muhammadu Buhari for including her. The saw her nomination and and confirmation as Honorable Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as one of the best political moves of the century. They based their opinion on Gbemis high leadership prowess, her intellectual capacity and political sagacity. However, for those who are from the same North-central zone as her, they believe her nomination to the federal executive council will never be a waste. They strongly believe Gbemi has the political mindset like her late father, the political juggernaut of his generation. They believe she will like her late dad use the slot of the North-central to better the lots of indigenes of the zone. Most of the North-central indigenes that Gbemi Saraki is occupying their slot are of the opinion that Gbemi should appoint all her aides to cover the six states in the zone. They believe with such inclusive leadership from her, there won’t be any room for protest against her occupying the ministerial slot. Will Gbemi hearken to the advice and the opinion of the massive indigenes of the North-central whose ministerial slot she is occupying? Only time will tell as we all await patiently for their inauguration on Wednesday.

Odeh is an Abuja based journalist, human/community development expert and a public affairs analyst

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