In the political history of Nigeria, no woman has been elected governor of a state, but Senator Rukayat Gbemisola Saraki representing Kwara Central Senatorial District, has signified her intention to become the first governor of Kwara State in 2011. Charles Ajunwa in this report asks whether she can break the jinxAll things being equal, Nigeria may get her first female governor in the 2011 general election as some women have declared their aspirations to become governors of their states. Prominent among the female aspirants is Senator Gbemisola Rukayat Saraki, representing Kwara Central Senatorial District.
Although, the Senator is yet to make official declaration of her ambition, but she and her supporters have been engaging in underground consultations with political stakeholders in the state, with a view to gain wide acceptance any time she comes out openly to declare her ambition.
Investigation by THISDAY revealed that daughter of the second republic senate leader, Dr Olusola Saraki will contest on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after the Ramadan fasting period.
Last week, Gbemisola was given a rousing reception when she arrived Ilorin International Airport. As early as 7a. m, thousands of her supporters, from different organisations across the state trooped to the airport to welcome the senator.
Dressed in colourful Ankara clothes, the supporters sang songs in her praise and danced around the airport’s premises carrying playcards with inscriptions: “ Gbemi Saraki,The Man In A Woman”, “Gbemi Saraki, The Amazon of Kwara Politics”, and “Don’t Mix Religion With Politics. ”
The Senator who arrived later from Abuja, was beeming with smiles while acknowledging cheers from her supporters as shouts of “Sai Waziri” rented the air.
Howver, her reception took a political dimension when as she drove in convoy of vehicles to pay courtesy calls to some prominent politicians in Ilorin. Among those she visited are Alhaji Alarape Ayinla, one of political leaders in Ajikobi ward, Alhaji Oba Wasaki in Ojuekun/Zarumi ward, Iya Alata Agbogbo and Alhaji Saka Opobiyi.
On the following day, the Senator visited the palace of the late Emir of Yashikira, Dr. Ahmadu Sunolafia. On Saturday, she paid homage to the palace of Olofa of Offa, Oba Muftau Gbadamosi and later proceeded to the house of late Olofa of Offa, Oba Mustapha Olanipekun to commiserate with the family on the death of the monarch. She also visited the the Asiwaju of Offa, Chief Emmanuel Adesoye, Senator Tunde Salau and the Emir of Kaiama, Alhaji Tokuru Umaru. Although, all her meetings with the leaders were done in closed doors, but it was learnt that Gbemisola seized the opportunity to brief the leaders and solicited support for her governorship ambition
Although both the elder Saraki and Governor Bukola Saraki who is the brother of the aspirant were initially opposed to the senator’s governorship ambition, but after extensive consultations with all stakeholders, they decided to let her try her luck in the 2011 governorship election.
Some had also kicked against Senator’s governorship ambition on religious and gender ground that she is a woman. But all these have changed now .
Apart from her father’s intimidating political structures and followership in the state, Gbemisola also commands large grassroots followership because of her love for the poor and the lowly people in the society. She is the longest serving female legislator in Nigeria, having completed eight years in the House of Representatives from 1999 to 2007. During her stay at the Lower House, she served in various committees such as Aviation, Foreign Travel Habitat, Legislative Budget and Research office, Navy , Special Duties, Privatization and Transport.
Presently In the Senate, she chairs the Committee on Maritime in addition to her membership of other committees. She also sponsored bills such as Mortgage Regulatory Bill; A bill for an act requiring regular publication of existing vacant positions in federal government offices to ensure transparency and equal opportunities in the recruitment of new personnel and for matters connected therewith; A bill for an act to establish skills acquisition and development trust fund and for related purposes; A bill for an act to establish a tax fund for the Nigerian Police; Nigeria Coast Guard Bill and National Transport Commission Bill.
The Senator as part of her mobilization strategy, has registered online FaceBook, a medium she is using to canvass support to her governorship ambition and also explains her views on burning national issues. Over 6,510 people are now interacting with her on the FaceBook. The following are some of her responses on national issues:
On Employment,she said “There could be sufficient employment generation through pragmatic articulation of building our infrastructures that could accomodate our graduates. When we spend judiciously in building our deficient infrastructures we'd be creating jobs for Nigerians at the same time building a legacy. Unemployment would create an industry of kidnapping and robbery where government won't create industry for employment. ”
On education, she said “Free education at all levels may be impractical by state governments, but it won't be out of place to pick a few hundreds of the best students annually and sponsor their education at the best universities while we are upgrading our own system of education. The hope of greater Nigeria is buried in the quality of our human capital, and when we enrich the quality of our citizens, we'd be enriching the quality of our nation. ”
On electoral reformS, she said “Electoral reformS'd go a long way in re- energizing the delivery of good governance in Nigeria, no doubt. But the path to nurturing a greater nation is the reform of our personal attitudes to issues like honor, honesty, empathy and patriotism that'd enhance the expectations of our greatness as a nation. Greatest reform starts with a culture of our personal responsibility towards making Nigeria greater. ”
On democracy, she said “No democracy is definite until the discourse of its reformS towards the perfection of its processes exhaults every avenue. Our polity deserves electoral reformS and all strategic ideas that could enhance the confidence of Nigerians in the processes and structures opf our leadership. In the absence of such reformS in our polity, a major tenet of democracy would have been defeated. ”
Topic: Female Governor: Will Gbemisola Saraki Break the Jinx? (Read 2983 times)
