Intrigue drips from every page of Femi Adesina’s new book, “Working with Buhari,” especially when it comes to the dramatic 2015 National Assembly elections. In a bombshell revelation, Adesina paints a picture of political chicanery, where Senators Bukola Saraki and Yakubu Dogara pulled off a maverick maneuver, seizing the leadership of the National Assembly through a clandestine deal with the opposition PDP.
The Plot Thickens:
Saraki, a man with ambition etched across his face, knew he needed more than just his APC colleagues to secure the top post. Enter the secret pact with the PDP, turning rivals into temporary allies to boost his numbers.
The APC leadership, blissfully unaware, marched confidently towards the International Conference Centre for their pre-election meeting. Little did they know, their carefully laid plans were already unraveling at the National Assembly, imploding on live television.
Renegade APC members, seduced by Saraki’s promises or perhaps disillusioned by their own party, joined forces with the PDP, forming the quorum needed to elect Saraki and Dogara as Senate President and Speaker respectively.
Beyond the Headlines:
Adesina’s account offers more than just political drama. It highlights the fragile nature of party loyalty and the potent allure of power. It raises questions about transparency and backroom deals in a system that thrives on consensus but can buckle under the weight of ambition.
Key Takeaways:
- This political heist wasn’t just about individual victories; it reshaped the power dynamics within the National Assembly, setting the stage for years of friction and tension.
- The episode serves as a cautionary tale, reminding us to be wary of hidden agendas and the ever-shifting sands of political alliances.
- Ultimately, Saraki and Dogara’s gambit was a gamble, one that paid off for them but left scars on the fabric of Nigerian democracy.
