Bukola Saraki Childhood Story Plus Untold Biography Facts

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Bukola Saraki Childhood Story Plus Untold Biography Facts

Our Bukola Saraki Biography tells you Facts about his Childhood Story, Early Life, Parents – Florence Morenike Saraki (Mother), Late Olusola Saraki (Father), Family Background, Love affairs, Lifestyle, Personal Life, and Net Worth.

The analysis of Bukola Saraki’s Biography involves telling you about his life before fame and family background. More so, many OFF and ON-Screen little-known facts about him.

Yes, everyone knows about his political ascendancy. However, only a few consider Bukola Saraki’s Biography, which is quite interesting. Now, without further ado, let’s begin.

Bukola Saraki Childhood Story – Early Life and Family Background:

For Biography starters, he bears the nickname “Strongman of Kwara politics.” Abubakar Bukola Saraki was born on the 19th day of December 1962 in the metropolitan borough of Hampstead, United Kingdom.

He was born to his mother, Florence Morenike Saraki, and to his father, Late Olusola Saraki (a seasoned politician).

 

Saraki Grew up in Northwestern Nigeria with his three younger siblings who were all born in London.

He was the firstborn of ‘the house’ and, by virtue of his position in the family, shared a strong bond with his father, who often took him along to town hall meetings.

Stronger was the bond between Saraki and his younger sister, Gbemisola, who is popularly known by the name – Gbemi.

The duo were three years apart in age but grew happily together with shared childhood interests, which included the choice of spending vacations in London.

Saraki’s parents foresaw an auspicious future for the duo in politics and did their best to groom both with the provision of a good education.

Bukola Saraki Educational Background:

Notable among Saraki’s educational progress was his high school education at Kings College Lagos between 1973 to 1978 when he sat for the West African Examination Council Examination, WAEC.

He immediately enrolled at Cheltenham College in the United Kingdom, where he added the finishing touches to his post-basic education.

Saraki proceeded to the London Hospital Medical College of the University of London, where he studied to become a medical doctor.

He obtained his M.B.B.S from the aforementioned University and worked as a medical officer at Rush Green Hospital, Essex, U.K.

Returning to Nigeria, Saraki worked as director of Societe Generale Bank Nigeria Limited for ten years (1990-2000).

The period of Saraki’s decade-long work relationship with the bank in Nigeria also saw him build key political relationships.

Bukola Saraki Biography – Rise To Fame Story:

First among the Rewards of Saraki’s political relationships was his appointment as the Special Assistant on Budget to former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

His functions in that capacity include the preparation of the 2000 and 2001 budgets as well as the formulation of key economic policies.

The successes recorded by Saraki in his implemented policies emboldened him to contest in the gubernatorial elections of his home state, Kwara.

 

Saraki won the election which enabled him to serve for four years before his re-election added another four years to his tenure.

His service in Governing Kwara State saw him conferred with a number of recognitions and roles, which fetched him fame.

They include; the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum, the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON), among others.

These achievements aided him in securing a senatorial seat as the Senator representing Kwara Central in 2011. The rest, as they say, is history.

 

Who is Toyin Saraki? Bukola Saraki’s Wife:

Bukola Saraki has been in a decades-long relationship with his wife, Toyin Saraki. Toyin Saraki, like her husband, also came from an affluent and political background, a trend that is common with Nigerian elites.

 

They tied the knot in 1991 and have been able to maintain a scandal-free relationship.

 

Fast forward to date, Toyin is a healthcare philanthropist as well as the founder and president of Wellbeing Foundation Africa.

Four children were borne of their union. They include Oluwaseni Saraki and Halimat Oluwatosin Saraki, as well as the twins Teniola Saraki and Teniayo Saraki.

 

Bukola Saraki Family Life:

Saraki was born into an affluent family with rich political influence. We will bring you details about members of his family.

About Bukola Saraki Father:

Saraki’s father, Olusola Saraki, was an influential politician and senator of Nigeria’s second republic. Olusola is also a trained medical doctor who studied at the University of London and St George’s Hospital Medical School.

 

Olusola did well to groom his son politically before he died in November 2012 after a long battle with cancer.

About Bukola Saraki Mother:

Bukola Saraki’s Mother is Florence Saraki. she is a mother to Saraki’s siblings, Gbemisola and Laolu Saraki.

About Bukola Saraki Sister:

Bukola Saraki’s sister, Gbemisola Ruqayyah, is a one-time member of Nigeria’s National House of Assembly as well as the Senate.

 

The Iron Lady, who is into insurance, holds the record of being the female legislator with the highest number of sponsored bills. She is also considered to be Kwara state’s biggest grassroots mobilizer.

About Bukola Saraki Brothers:

Saraki’s Brothers are Tope and Laolu Saraki. The duo have been able to live private lives owing to the fact that they have no political dealings.

Bukola Saraki Biography Facts – Issue with Late Father:

Olusola groomed Saraki politically and was instrumental in most of his son’s political successes. However, the father-son relationship degenerated into a rivalry in 2011 when Saraki went against Olusola’s choice for his (Saraki) gubernatorial Successor.

Olusola had always wanted Saraki’s sister, Gbemisola Ruqayyah, to succeed Saraki as Governor of Kwara state.

However, Saraki worked against his father’s wishes by ensuring that his Godson and finance minister, Abdulfatah Ahmed, became governor.

 

Although Olusola was pained by the development, he found reasons to forgive his son by noting that:

Bukola came to see me in Los Angeles to apologise. Later, he made all manner of influential and highly respected people to beg me. What happened to me during the last election was a misfortune. I never expected it but I know that was how the Almighty Allah wanted it, and I have taken it as a human being.

Bukola Saraki Biography – Dual Citizenship:

Saraki was born in London and consequently possessed dual citizenship of Nigeria and The United Kingdom. Issues about his dual citizenship were debated by many after his ascendancy as Nigeria’s Senate President in 2015.

Many argued that Saraki is not a citizen of Nigeria by virtue of possessing dual citizenship. Hence, they are not eligible to contest and hold elective positions.

 

However, Section 28 of the Nigerian constitution provides that

 “Subject to the other provisions of this section, a person shall forfeit   forthwith his Nigerian citizenship if, not being a citizen of Nigeria by      birth, he acquires, or retains the citizenship or nationality of a country, other than Nigeria, of which he is not a citizen by birth. ”

In other words, one forfeits one Nigerian citizenship if one is not Nigerian by birth and voluntarily acquires citizenship of another country.

This further raised questions as to who is a citizen by birth, a question answered by section 25 (1C) of the Nigerian constitution.

It states that anyone born outside Nigeria can be a Nigerian Citizen by birth if their parents are already citizens of Nigeria.

It would be recalled that Saraki’s parents were citizens of Nigeria who gave birth to Saraki in London. As a result, the issues surrounding his dual citizenship did not hold water.

Bukola Saraki Bio – Code of Conduct Tribunal:

Bukola Saraki was charged with counts of corruption by the Federal Government of Nigeria Shortly after he became the country’s Senate President.

Notable among the charges that were filed before the Code of Conduct Tribunal were the false declaration of assets and failure to declare some assets.

In addition, Saraki was charged with operating foreign accounts while serving as a public officer, among other charges.

 

He was, however, discharged and acquitted by the CCT in June 2017 on the premise that the Federal Government lacked evidence to hold charges.

Similarly, he was discharged and acquitted by the Supreme Court after the case was dragged through the court of appeal.

 

Personal Facts:

Saraki is one who strikes many as scheming. This is evident in the manner in which he doubled crossed his party to become the president of Nigeria’s senate.

 

In addition, he orchestrated the mass defections of senators to the opposition party, which he later joined in July 2018.

 

However, he is an astute politician who keeps his private life away from the public in spite of political controversies.

Bukola Saraki Facts – Not Just Politics:

Aside from politics, Saraki is an active follower of football. His favorite club is Arsenal FC, and he owns a club known as ABS FC.

Appreciation Note

Thanks for reading our Bukola Saraki Childhoodhood Story, plus untold biography facts. 

At ChildhoodBiography, we strive for accuracy and fairness in our quest to deliver you the Biography of Famous Politicians.

Kindly stay tuned for more related articles in our Politicians Category. You may find some interest in the childhood stories of Peter Obi, Atiku Abubakar, Ahmed Lawan, and Osagie Ize-Iyamu.

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Cole Daxton is a talented Childhood Biography Storyteller with a passion for uncovering the untold stories of some of the world's biggest celebrities. With a keen eye for detail, Cole Daxton has spent years delving into the Early Years and Success Stories of some of the most famous people in the world.

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