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Kazeem Adekilekun (not the real surname) has been
going to the Saraki’s home for political patronage since the age of 15.
Now 35 years old, he voted for the first time and also for the
politicians of his desire, saying it is goodbye to the political
dynasty in Ilorin.

“I used to follow my father here and I grew up to
start coming myself. Even when I was at Osiele College of Education, I
cannot come home during political era without coming here to be part of
whatever schedule for the time. I grew up to know it that way, but I
think that is gone, we have been liberated,” Mr. Adekilekun told NEXT
at his business centre around Taiwo Oke, Ilorin.

According to some of those who spoke to NEXT, the
ouster of the Sarakis’ is imminent, as most of them said that not even
the governor can come back from the Senate to contest and win.

“What Kwarans want is no Saraki in directing our
affair again. By the time a new person that is not installed by Baba is
not there – and I am sure that with the wave of things the marriage
between Bukola and PDP cannot last – then the state will soon start
enjoying the possibility of having new entrants in politics,” said
Sarafa Adekomi, a banker and father of two, at one of the popular
newspapers stand at Challenge.

Describing Olusola Saraki’s style of politics as
extinct, a young man who had come to see the possibility of sharing
money ahead of Saturday’s election, said: “Bukola Saraki gathered all
the youth of PDP to his side while baba is going with the elderly ones,
and now you can see what is all about. What I know is just that this is
the political era and I am here to get what belongs to me,” he said in
Yoruba.

New strategy

NEXT, however, gathered that the elder Saraki’s
party, the ACPN, had regrouped its loyalists by disowning some leaders
and youth who were alleged to have been more interested in the
financial benefits accruable from the party. It also organised groups
of youth into areas, for door-to-door campaign for the forthcoming
elections.

At Mr. Saraki’s Ode Opobiyi area ward, where the
state governor defeated his father’s party to the third position, no
one was willing to talk openly. While some jokingly said the squirrel,
which is ACPN’s logo, fell from the tree, others believe that the elder
Saraki is still relevant to the success of the state.