Aftermath of the Ministerial nominations from Kwara state and the dusts it gathered, it appears that the ripples might not have settled.
When President Muhammadu Buhari picked his trusted ally and immediate past Minister of Culture and Information, Alhaji Lai Muhammed and a former Senator, who is also the sister of the deposed Kwara political leader, Senator Gbemi Saraki, as the ministerial nominees from Kwara, few people were convinced there wouldn’t be ripples after such a daring decision.
The reasons are not far- fetched. If Kwarans could have their ways, very many would have preferred the nomination of Alh. Lai not to see the light of the day. This was supposedly premised on his growing disaffection within the state political structure. There were even rumors in some quarters that he was estranged with the state Governor. Couple with the above reasons were also complains of inaccessibility for help and assistance to his people as they expected of a Federal Minister. Meanwhile, against all odds, the Oro-born politician still made the cut.
It was not much different for the other nominee. The other half of the Sarakis, the beautiful torchbearer of the late political juggernaut fondly called Oloye, as she made history amidst throes and thorns. There was no doubt going by affluence and political connections, only few women could rub shoulders with her in Nigerian political landscape.And she proved her mettle once more by emerging the winner of a fierce race for a slot in the federal cabinet against the men from her hometown.
She was smeared by the ugliness of her brother, Senator Bukola’s ugly past and impure political future. Many people are still in doubts of her sincerity even after many years of indifference between them. Her meritorious contributions and sterling political participation at the national level matters less back home where she’s a loner with no real friends to call her own. Unless there’s some words somewhere to mask the truth, it was a known secret that Senator Gbemi cheated nature and warred and waltzed through mischief and chicanery by her own kinsmen to cart the trophy home.
But instead of this rivalry to abate, particularly after the President had made his calls, there might not be an end in sight. Not yet, at least, when the emerging political moves as evident by the incidence at the Senate earlier today, still paint her as a standalone in her own political home.
There might be no critical pointer than the happening at the Red chamber on their screening days.
Regardless of what words the Governor would offered to the people, his conspicuous absence at the beautiful woman’s screening and headline grabbing presence at Alhaji Lai’s screening as one of the entourage of the erstwhile Minister was said to be a big political statement for discerning of the initiates.
Meanwhile, there’s a word of caution by an highly placed partyman for the public not to read meanings to it yet.
Even when talks are increasingly rife that Alhaji Lai Muhammed remains the authentic leader of Kwara politics. How accurate this call is would be decided by the reportedly brewing waters of discord amidst the O to ge revolutionaries.
It’s gathered that appointments in the coming days may however make or mar the friendship. That Senator Gbemi’s coast might still become clearer or shoddy depending on what and who and how carrots go round in the coming days.
But as it stands, Senator Gbemisola Saraki’s enstrangement continues, no matter what they make us believe.
Or if we forget the Governor’s snub, can we disregard the uncovered suspicion the elites are reported to hold for Senator Gbemi on account of her blood tie? Can we discountenance the reports that many still smarts from defeat in the ministerial race?
Maybe we should. But we won’t assume their was no game. The battle for supremacy persists.
And in fact, the game is on…