10 Basic Facts You Should Know About New Senate President Bukola Saraki

Former Kwara State Governor now senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, has finally been chosen as to lead the senate house.

This move has been causing rift in between the seemingly unbreakable All Progressives Congress, with many members loyalty being questioned.

Here are some facts you don’t know about the new Senate President.

1. He was born in 19 December 1962, and is originally a medical doctor.

2. His father is Dr. Abubakar Olusola Saraki, a one time Senate President (1979 – 1983) in Nigeria

3. He studied Medicine at the London Hospital Medical College of the University of London from 1982 to 1987 and practiced as a medical doctor at Rush Green Hospital in London.

4. His political career kick started when he was appointed by former President Olusegun Obasanjo Special Assistant on Budget issues in 2000.

5. He was the one who initiated the Fiscal Responsibility Bill and served on the Economic Policy Coordination Committee.

6. On 2003 under the umbrella of then rulling party, The People’s democratic party, he ran and won the Governorship election of Kwara state.

7. He was Kwara state governor for two terms, from 2003 till 2011 and had mostly positive reviews of his job.

8. He was the first Nigerian Governor to be awarded the National Honor of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON).

9. Many Governors have tried to copy Saraki’s community health insurance scheme, environmental ‘Clean and Green’ scheme, agricultural transformation, which have been praised as one of the reasons Kwara is a profitable and clean state.

10. Before being a senator, he was the former chairman of the Nigerian Governor’s forum.

Fierce contender, Senator Ahmed Lawan of Borno state who won the APC domestic polls was not nominated.

Now, Ekweremadu and Ali Ndume are now the contenders for Deputy Senate Presidency position.