Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazak, was notably absent at the burial of Chief (Mrs.) Florence Saraki, the revered matriarch of the Saraki family. The Sarakis, known for their significant political influence in Kwara, mourned without the symbolic presence of their state’s helmsman.
Chief (Mrs.) Florence Saraki, mother to former Senate President and two-term Kwara State Governor, Dr. Bukola Saraki, and former two-term Senator, Gbemisola Saraki, was laid to rest in Lagos state, Nigeria. Her late husband, Dr. Olusola Saraki, was a political titan in his own right, serving as a Senator and Senate Majority Leader in the 70’s.
Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazak’s absence was particularly noticeable given the presence of his counterparts from virtually all geopolitical zones of Nigeria, including Lagos, Osun, Ogun, Delta, Akwa-Ibom, Sokoto, Kebbi, Abia, among others.
The event also saw a convergence of other high-profile dignitaries, including the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, and the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, who attended at different times despite their political differences with the Sarakis.
Also in attendance were Labour Party Presidential candidate Peter Obi, and Africa’s wealthiest man, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, among others. Their presence underscored the Saraki family’s enduring influence and the high regard in which the matriarch was held.
Governor AbdulRazak’s decision to skip the burial has fueled speculation and stirred conversations within political circles. The absence of the governor at such a high-profile event, particularly one involving a family with deep political roots in Kwara, raises questions about the current state of political relations and dynamics in the state.
It would be recalled that in a scathing criticisms by a former Chairman of the Lagos state chapter Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) and Chief Press Secretary to ex-GovernornAbdulfatah Ahmed, Alhaji Abdulwahab Oba, the Kwara Governor and his family were accused of ‘generational hatred and vendetta’ against the Sarakis.
“Nigerians have been asking why there was no official representation from the Kwara state government given the reality of the place of the Saraki dynasty in every aspect of the state’s history, from evolution to date. He was a two term governor and president, 8th Senate, Federal Republic of Nigeria”, he wrote.
“Well, it is good to note that discerning minds noted this absence. But even more is the untold story of how the state government went all out to ridicle and embarrass the Kwara State Traditional Council. Yes, ridiculed the traditional council once again.”
AA, as he is called, missed the great opportunity of showcasing his humanity all through the mourning period by the Sarakis. Assuming that he has deep hatred for the scion of the family, Dr Bukola Saraki, is it also the same with Senator Gbemisola Saraki, the former Minister who set family aside and supported AA against her own brother to win the 2019 election?
