Rejoinder: Bukola Saraki In Maiduguri; Tentative First Steps For 2019 Presidency

By Moddibo Kawu
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I recently read an article written by Modibbo Kawu with the above caption and I was compelled to write a rejoinder because of the inaccuracies it conveyed. Ordinarily, I would not have bothered to write on such triviliaties, however, given the countless and blatant leis perpertuated by Kawu in the aforementioned article, I thought it best to enlighten unsuspecting readers.

As it stands, I am not surprised by the tone and intent of the article, because I have known Kawu Modibbo to be a constant negative news peddler in all ramifications. Most importantly, when it comes to Kwara politics, Kawu has demonstrated his disdain for certain factions, over his love for others.

When I first read the article I thought about the implication it will have on Sahara Reporters’ image, knowing fully well that Kawu being an editor of Sahara News has ultimately used this medium to champion his political mediocrity agenda. However, I quickly realized that we are in a world of press freedom where people can make any statements, comments and arguments; however uncouth and tenuous those comment and statements might look like. I found this heinous article written by Moddibo Kawu as unguarded and barbaric.

Kawu Moddibo’s article about Senator Bukola Saraki only succeeded in exposing his ignorance of what has been happening in the country. It is very obvious that this article was designed to attack the personality of Saraki, but it ended up with brunches of contradictions and lies. Rather than emphasizing the negative aspect of the Sarakis, Mr. Kawu could have delved into some of many vivid contributions of the Sarakis to the development of Kwara State which I am very sure he also benefitted from while he was the General Manager, Kwara State Television Authority between 1999 and 2003.

Additionally, the article by Kawu is full of contradictory statements - owing to the fact that the writer first claimed President Muhammadu Buhari publicly ignored Senator Bukola Saraki on the day of Eid-l-Fitr celebrations in Abuja.

In another contradictory statement, the so-called writer said Saraki was seriously ignoring President Muhammadu Buhari. This brings a question to mind: “which of these tales from Kawu should Nigerians believe?. By deciding to focus on trivial, and rehashing non-existing tensions, Mr Kawu provided a disservice to his readers by continuing the inordinate and pernicious criticism of the Saraki Dynasty which he benefited from on several occasions.

Furthermore, the writer in his ridiculous and heinous article, described citizens of the capital city he was born and bred in as “Local People.” Such a term signifies a lack of respect, and represents the fact that Kawu looks down on the place that played a role in his story.

Kawu should not forget that it was the same “local people” that recommended him to Late Oloye Saraki - who then gave him his first major breakthrough in his field of journalism by serving as the then General Manager of the Kwara State Television Authority (KWTV) between 1999 to 2003.

In addition to this, the writer should show the whole Nigeria vivid proof that shows how traditional rulers went to beg President Muhammadu Buhari on behalf of Senator Bukola Saraki. Secondly, the writer should give a proof to Nigerians on his back door efforts to joining PDP?

Amongst the many prevalent issues in Nigeria that need urgent attention from the leadership of the country, do you think taking or missing pictures with President Barack Obama will be the highest priority and achievement for the distinguished senate President of the 8th assembly?

In this same article, the writer also called Senator Bukola Saraki a self-centred-opportunist but the writer forgot to grade himself as someone who ate and dined on the table of Late Oloye Saraki and thereafter wiped his mouth like nothing was given.

Senator Bukola saraki while he was the Governor of Kwara state said and I quote “I have a vision shared by many of my countrymen. And this vision stems from when I grew up dreaming of what an ideal country should be like, what professionalism in business and government should be like. Today, we have a situation where, in many areas, Nigerians are saying to the world: “I am as good as everyone out there, I can be the best and I can live up to what it takes to be measured against the best anywhere.” And I believe we should be doing exactly the same in Government. We can be among the best in the world. We can change things.”

Both the 2019 and 2023 presidential elections in Nigeria are still far off, but this quote should serve as a reply to the writers and many unseen critics of Senator Bukola Saraki because we can vividly see how he eventually started the change agenda in Nigeria.

Dear Mr Writer, I’m not intimidated by the grammar, acronyms and titles after your name. You should be mindful of any porous article on the Saraki family because so many people of different classes and intellect might be reading it. I would also like to humbly advice Nigerian news agencies, social media houses to go by the way of credibility in order to select carefully the kind of information they put out there.

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