PROFILE OF ABUBAKAR BUKOLA SARAKI

Abubakar Bukola Saraki was born in 1962 to the family of former Senate Leader Olusola Saraki and Florence Saraki, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki is a medical doctor and Nigerian politician.

Dr Bukola Saraki attended King’s College, Lagos from 1973 to 1978 and then Cheltenham College in the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1981. Dr Saraki obtained his M.B.B.S (London) from the London Hospital Medical College of the University of London from 1982 to 1987.

He returned to Nigeria in 1989 and worked in the financial sector for nearly a decade until he rose to the position of Executive Director where he oversaw corporate development and expansion programmes within the industry.

Under his leadership in Societe Generale Bank, SGBN was at the forefront of using information technology to revolutionize banking in Nigeria. SGBN was the first bank in Nigeria that initiated and implemented the use of automated teller machines that have gone ahead to revolutionize electronic payment in Nigeria. SGBN is known today as Heritage Bank with branches across Nigeria.

BUKOLA SARAKI POLITICAL ODYSSEY.

Dr Saraki’s political journey began when he contested and won the Kwara State gubernatorial election in 2003 as a member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). He re-contested in 2017 for the same position and won. As Governor, he garnered national and international acclaim for his innovative approaches to agriculture, health, education, fiscal policy and environmental reforms. He is presently the President of Nigeria’s Senate and the National Leader of the People’s Democratic Party. Being the highest ranking office holder in the party.

He started his career in public service as special assistant to then President Obasanjo.

WHY DR ABUBAKAR BUKOLA SARAKI FOR PDP 2019?

Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki is a unifier and a builder who has always promoted unity and cohesion. This he has displayed in the unifying of the two factions in Osun State PDP to boost our party’s profile and chances in the state.  

He was pivotal in making sure that PDP got the position of the deputy senate president in the 8th national assembly, extending a much needed lifeline to the party. Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki is a leader who has the commitment and doggedness to take the battle to the opposition camp and defeat them as he has done in the past. He has unrivalled capacity to achieve, he is a bridge builder and a leader who is ready to effectively lead the reorganization of Nigeria and grow our economy again.

Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki represents hope and the PDP will win with him in 2019.  He is the best man for the job and we cannot afford to waste our best opportunity to return to Aso Rock and bring power to the people.

In every role he has undertaken, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki has demonstrated great skill and ability. He has been successful as a business leader, governor and senate president. He has an excellent understanding of the economy and governance.

He was the governor of Kwara State for 8 years and changed the face of governance in Kwara State, embarking on far reaching reforms across the health, educational, agriculture and other key sectors that enhance the lives of the people. He was the leader of Nigeria governors forum, providing key leadership for governors across Nigeria at a young age.

PDP will bounce back to winning ways with Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki, as he will accelerate the process of meaningful radical economic transformation that will put Nigeria on the path of progress and change the narrative that has led Nigeria to be named the poverty capital of the world.

As a committed leader, Bukola Saraki will go beyond rhetoric to undertake the practical tasks that will transform the economy, while ensuring that it grows at a much faster rate and creates jobs that will make life better for Nigerians.

As Nigeria’s economic ambassador, he will not demarket Nigeria on the global stage but will take decisive steps to restore investor confidence, attract the needed foreign direct investment that made it possible for him to build the Shonga Farms in Kwara as the then state governor.

Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki as an outstanding legislator and current senate president possesses the ability to embark on far reaching reforms.  Under his leadership as the senate president, the 8th senate has passed more bills than any previous senate and resolved more petitions than all past senates combined, it supported and passed the Not Too Young To Run bill, opened the NASS budget for public scrutiny, concluded the Constitution amendment and passed the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB) which seeks to provide for the governance and institutional framework for a renewed and transparent petroleum industry.

Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki understands the issues and is not a blamer and excuse giver. He will truly lead from the front and change the narrative about Nigeria and our great party the PDP. The choice for PDP delegates is to make history with Saraki and nominate him as the party’s flag bearer come 6th October 2018 and watch as Nigerians elect him as Nigeria next president in 2019.

TRACK RECORD OF PERFORMANCE.

PRESIDENT OF THE  8TH SENATE AND CHAIRMAN OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY – 2015 TILL DATE.

• The Senate under his leadership has also worked to grow the Nigerian economy by initiating and passing bills which are aimed at improving and strengthening Nigeria’s business environment. Some of these include the Companies and Allied Matters Act; the Secured Transactions in Movable Assets Act; the Credit Bureau Reporting Act and the Warehouse Receipts Bill; Nigerian Railways Authority Bill; National Transportation Commission Bill.
• Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki has led the senate to pass major bills like the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit Bill; the Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Bill; the Witness Protection Bill; the Whistleblower Protection Bill and the Federal Audit Service Commission Bill, to help Nigeria’s fight against corruption and other financial crimes.
• As senate president he leads a senate which has in just over three years passed 213 bills and cleared 138 public petitions. The best performing national assembly since Nigeria return to civilian rule.

ECONOMY

• The new economic reforms passed by the senate are projected to add an average of N3.76trn over a five-year period.
• Passed the PIGB and 6 other key Legislation passed to boost economic diversification
• Key legislation passed to enable private sector participation and aid delivery of high priority infrastructure projects.

EDUCATION

• Amended the Universal Basic Education Act to increase budgetary allocation to the UBE to 3%. 40% reduction in counterpart funding clause for states to access education intervention funds from the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC)

HEALTHCARE

• N57bn voted for basic healthcare across Nigeria.
• Negotiated an end to the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) health workers strike.

FIGHTING POVERTY AND INSECURITY

• The Poverty Eradication and North East Development Commission Acts address the needs of the poor and tackle national security issues.

SENATOR KWARA CENTRAL  2011 – 2015

• Appointed the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment
• In 2012, he was appointed into the Leadership council of the Global Alliance for Clean cookstoves, an initiative of the United Nations Foundation that aims to use public-private partnerships to create a thriving global market for clean cookstoves and fuels for over 100 million people by 2020.
• Senator Saraki established GLOBE Nigeria as an affiliate of the Global Legislators Organization (GLOBE International)
• Promoted the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency Amendment (NOSDRA) Bill to ensure that oil companies pay appropriate levels of compensation to communities affected by oil spills.
• Spearheaded the issue of Lead Poisoning crisis in the mining areas of Zamfara State as well on the initiative for the Great Green Wall to combat desertification and climate change.
• Moved a motion calling on the Senate to investigate the Federal Government’s financing of fuel subsidy.

GOVERNOR OF KWARA STATE  2003 – 2011

AGRICULTURE

• Repositioned agricultural sector and secured million-dollar investments in commercial agriculture.
• Implemented Fertilizer Voucher Scheme (FVS) to ensure that fertilizer gets to genuine farmers, this was the forerunner of the Fertilizer e-wallet scheme implemented nationally by Dr Akinwunmi Adesina under the Goodluck Jonathan administration.
• Provided subsidized inputs and guaranteed credit facilities to small-scale farmer creation of 50,000 new jobs in agriculture by attracting private investors to invest in    commercial agriculture.
• As an innovator, he initiated and developed the Shonga Farms Agriculture Programme a production capacity of 50,000 litres of milk and 10,000 birds for poultry daily. Shonga Farms achieved maize, rice and cassava yields above the national average.
• The State created the Crop Outgrowers Scheme contracting independent farmers and guaranteeing a market for their crops.
• Creation of 1,000 jobs in the fishing industry and vocational training for 300 youths by establishing the Fish Farm Training Centre.

EDUCATION

• Pushed up Gross Enrollment Rate for primary schools from 78% in 2006 to 115% in 2009, with a gender disparity of less than 1%
• Established the International Aviation College, Ilorin, which has produced over 100 pilots in 5 years, most of who now fly for Nigerian airlines like Dana, Air Peace etc.
• Doubled pass rates in primary school examinations from 24 percent in 2006 to 49 percent in 2009. Secondary school rates improved from 32 percent in 2007 to 50 percent in 2009
• The ratio of pupils per classroom decreased from 76:1 in 2003 to 32:1 in 2009, providing better access to education for children.
• School retention rates improved from 72 percent in 2006 to 95 percent in 2009.
• Established the Kwara Football Academy, the first ever football training institution in Nigeria.
• Implemented the first ever Teachers Development Needs Assessment in 2008.

HEALTHCARE

• Established Kwara Advanced Ultramodern Diagnosis Centre
• Sponsored the Community Health Insurance and Kwara Safe Maternity Service Act
• Launched Malaria-Free Kwara Programme
• The Kwara Eye Program screened over 48,526 people in Kwara and carried out 2,630 cataract surgeries.
• On the issue of polio eradication, he worked closely with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to deliver the Immunization Leadership Challenge, which was a radical program designed to reward States that made significant improvements in polio and routine immunization.
• Established the Kwara State Community Health Insurance Scheme for individuals in partnership with the Dutch Charity Pharm Access, which won the Financial Times/International Finance Corporation award for improving access to primary healthcare in rural regions.
• Through the establishment of the State Agency for Control of AIDS, the rate of HIV/AIDS reduced from 2.8% in 2003 to 1.8% in 2008.

INFRASTRUCTURE

• Rehabilitation of Ilorin Airport to international standard and construction of Ilorin Cargo Terminal.
• Completion and commissioning of the Ganmo Power Substation.
• Led investment in the installation of 725 transformers and built 7 new number 15MVA substations across Kwara State
• Created Housing programmes which provided 1,551 new homes for both civil servants and those on low incomes.
• Access to safe water. Provided water in all 193 wards across Kwara State
• Reduced the distance to accessible water for all to 1Km from 5Km in 2003
• Increased the number of functioning boreholes from 90 in 2003 to 2,028 in 2010 across all rural communities in Kwara
• Increased water treatment at Asa Dam from 4 million gallons in 2003, to 25.5 million gallons in 2010 in the State capital
• Refurbished all 64 waterworks and built an additional 28 new water facilities across the State
• Advanced the satellite mapping exercise of water resource locations across the State
• First governor to establish the Price Intelligence Unit which later metamorphosed into the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) at the federal level.

CHAIRMAN OF THE NIGERIA GOVERNORS FORUM.

• As chairman of the NGF, Dr. Saraki Initiated and promoted the Peer Review Mechanism which was the first of its kind at the sub-national level in the world. The DFID, the World Bank and the UNDP actively supported and lauded this initiative. This further Elevated the status of the NGF and enforced the true spirit of Nigeria’s Federalism by ensuring that Federal policies reflect state interests.
• As Chairman, Dr. Saraki pushed for several critical interventions in the affairs of the nation; including the facilitation of the adoption of the ‘Doctrine of Necessity’ that enabled the National Assembly to pronounce then Vice President Goodluck Jonathan as the Acting President. This intervention averted arguably the biggest constitutional crisis in Nigeria’s recent history.
• Working with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and governors across political parties, he changed the country’s approach in the fight against polio by facilitating the engagements with Nigerian States to properly implement the polio-eradication programme. Dr Saraki’s innovative and collaborative approach ended the scourge of Polio in Nigeria.

SPECIAL ADVISER ON BUDGET MATTERS TO PRESIDENT OBASANJO – 2001

• Under the presidency of Olusegun Obasanjo, Dr Saraki, as a Special Assistant on Budget matters, initiated the Fiscal Responsibility Bill to curb corrupt practices encouraged by bureaucracy.
• Served on the Economic Policy Coordination Committee.
• Working with the Budget office, he promoted efficient budget cycles under President Obasanjo.

AWARDS

Governor of the Year’ by This Day Newspapers 2004

Harvard Business School Africa Club Award 2005

Kenneth Kaunda Foundation Best Governor in Africa 2006

Outstanding Governor on Energy 2009 by the Nigerian Compass

Award of Excellence in Development of Education and Health Care Delivery in Nigeria by the College of Medicine, University of Lagos 2012.

Article from http://grownigeria.ng.