Popularly known as Bukola Saraki, Olubukola Abubakar Saraki is a Nigerian politician, physician, former governor of Kwara state, current president of house of senate and the chairman of the 8th Nigeria National Assembly etc.
He is a member of the People Democratic Party (PDP) though he left for The All Progressive Congress (APC) in 2015 and later return to PDP in 2018.
Bukola Saraki Profile
- Net worth: $200 million
- Full Name: Olubukola Abubakar Saraki
- Date of Birth: December 19,1962
- Nationality: Nigerian
- Occupation: politician/medical doctor
- Education: London Hospital Medical College
- Marital Status: Married
- Years Active: 2000 till present
Bukola Saraki Early Life
Olubukola Saraki who hails from Kwara state was born to Mrs Florence Morenike Sarai and Senator Olusola Saraki on the December 19,1962.
His father Olusola Saraki served as a senate leader from 1979 to 1983. Bukola graduated from Cheltenham College in United Kingdom before moving on to study medicine and surgery in the University of London.
Saraki further obtained his M. B. B. S at the London Hospital Medical College which was a branch of university of London.
Bukola Saraki Career
From 1988 to 1989,Saraki had worked at Rush Green Hospital, Essex, as a medical officer. Also, he worked from 1990 to 2000 as Société General Bank (NIG) Ltd director.
He later got an appointment from Olusegun Obasanjo-who was president of Nigeria by thattime- to serve as special assistant on budget in 2000.
Bukola Saraki contested in Kwara state governorship elections in 2003,under the umbrella of the People Democratic Party in which he emerged the winner, overthrowing the incumbent Governor Muhammed Lawal of All Nigeria Peoples Party.
He was sworn into office later on the 23rd day of May 2003. He ran for second term and still worn in 2007. There was a lot of reformation under Bukola Saraki’s rule, in the sectors like health, education, agriculture, infrastructures etc.
Inviting white displaced farmers from Zimbabwe over to Kwara state to be offered the opportunity to farm, was Bukola Saraki’s greatest achievement during is tenure as the governor of Kwara state.
This great achievement resulted in the establishment of Shonga Farms program, which is being repeated in other parts of Nigeria. He also got an appointment to serve as the chairman of the Governors’ Forum of Nigeria.
Under Saraki’s regime, Kwara state gain so much recognition, becoming the first state to have completed the Nigeria Independent Power Project. Saraki later re-energized the Ganno Power Station at Illorin, in coaction with Power Holding company of Nigeria.
Over 3750 rural communities were connected to the national grid via installation and development of seven substations and 725 transformers. Power supply became stable from 18-22 hours a day on completion of four electrification projects in Kwara state.
Bukola Saraki succeeded his sister Gbemisola Saraki after winning the senatorial district election in Kwara state, after completing his two tenure as governor of Kwara state.
He later served as the chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology, as well as Senate committee member on Capital Markets and Finance.
Saraki set up Global Legislators Organisation for a Balanced Environment (GLOBE) in 2013. He is presently the president of GLOBE.
In 2015 Saraki won the senate presidential election, unopposed. President Bukola Saraki of the house of Senate, lead a team of delegates, who were mostly senators, to Borno state to carried out an assessment on the damages caused by terrorists group boko haram and also to give hope to displaced and affected persons.
Bukola Saraki made history during his rulers hip as the Senate president in that the senate outdid other Senate’s that preceded it, by ensuring it cleared all 138 public petitions that was presented before it and also passed 201 bills.
The Petroleum Industry Governance Bill was rejected by Nigeria’s current president Muhammadu Buhari, according to him it reduces the president’s powers.
The bill was passed by the Nigerian Senate. At the plenary final of the 8th Senate, Bukola Saraki gave his valedictory speech on the June 6,2019.
Bukola Saraki has been faced with allegations relation to his involvement in corruption including; N3.5billion laundering from Paris Club Loan Refund which was presented in a report to President Muhammadu Buhari on March 10; also the federal high Court in Lagos on July 16,2020, reversed an interim forfeit order; ordering the FG(Federal Government) to return to Saraki all his houses in Kwara state to him.
Bukola Saraki Achievements
During his tenure as governor of Kwara state, Saraki was given the title, Turaki of the Fulani emirate of Illorin.
He was later elevated to the office of prime Minister of Illorin by the Emir of Illorin.
He received an appointed to serve in the leadership council of Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves which is an initiative led by UNF (United Nations Foundations).
Bukola Saraki was the first serving Nigerian governor to be awarded the National Honor of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) in 2010. Other former governors also received the award that year.
On 19 April 2019 Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki was appointed the “Ambassador-at-Large” of the International Human Rights Commission (IHRC).
Bukola Saraki Personal Life
Bukola Saraki is married to Toyin Saraki who has given him four lovely children whose names are Teniola, Tosin, Teniayo and finally Seni.
Bukola Saraki Net Worth
Bukola Saraki has a net worth of $200million as of 2020.
