Bukola Saraki Biography: Early Life, Career, Controversy, Wife, Children & Net Worth
Abubakar Bukola Saraki (born December 19, 1962) is a Nigerian politician who served as the 13th President of Nigeria’s Senate from 2015 to 2019. He was a medical doctor by training and served as Kwara State’s Executive Governor from 2003 to 2011.
He was elected to the Nigerian Senate in 2011 to represent Kwara Central Senatorial District. Bukola Saraki is a two-time PDP presidential candidate, having run in both the 2018 and 2022 primaries.
Bukola Saraki Biography
Bukola Saraki attended an excellent preparatory school in Lagos State for his primary education. He went on to attend King’s College in Lagos, where he graduated with honours in 1978. Following graduation from King’s School, he attended the prestigious Cheltenham College, a public boarding school in the United Kingdom.
He studied at the institution from 1979 to 1981. He was then admitted to the London Hospital Medical College of the University of London. He studied at the medical college from 1982 to 1987, getting a Bachelor of Medicine and a Bachelor of Surgery.
Career
After finishing his university education, Bukola Saraki began his profession in medicine. He worked as a medical officer at Rush Green Hospital in Essex between 1988 and 1989. He then went to Nigeria to join his family’s business, serving as a Director of Société Générale Bank (Nig) Ltd between 1990 and 2000.
Saraki joined public service in 2000 as President Olusegun Obasanjo’s Special Assistant on Budget. In 2003, he campaigned for Governor of Kwara State on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) platform and defeated incumbent Governor Mohammed Lawal of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP).
He was sworn into office on May 29, 2003, and reelected in 2007. He was the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) throughout his tenure.
After serving two terms as Governor, Bukola Saraki was elected to the Nigerian Senate to represent the Kwara Central Senatorial District, succeeding his sister Gbemisola Saraki-Forowa.
As a first-term Senator, he was named Chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology and a member of the Senate Committee on Capital Markets and Finance. Before the 2015 presidential election, Saraki joined the newly created opposition party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), which beat the incumbent PDP.
Re-elected to the Senate in 2015, Saraki was chosen unopposed as Senate President on June 9, 2015, with the support of both PDP and APC Senators. His deputy, Senator Ike Ekweremadu of the PDP, was also elected following a close race. On July 31, 2018, Saraki rejoined the PDP and ran in the 2018 PDP Presidential Primaries for the 2019 election, but lost to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
He was then appointed as the Director General of Atiku Abubakar’s Presidential Campaign for the 2019 Presidential Election, which the PDP lost to incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari of the APC. Bukola Saraki lost his reelection attempt for the Kwara Central Senatorial Seat in 2019 to Dr. Ibrahim Yahaya Oloriegbe, who received 123,808 votes to Saraki’s 68,994.
Saraki announced in January 2022 that he would run for President under the PDP banner. However, in the PDP primaries held in May 2022, he finished third behind Nyesom Wike, who received 237 votes, and winner Atiku Abubakar, who received 371 votes.
Corruption
Dr. Bukola Saraki has persistently battled and refuted all allegations of corruption against him, and he has won a number of court battles as a result. He has also labelled the accusations as political vendettas and “witch-hunts” Unlike most of his political colleagues, Saraki was extremely affluent, having amassed a sizable fortune through successful business endeavours prior to entering politics in 2000.
Bukola Saraki became Nigeria’s first Senate President to be served with an arrest warrant after Danladi Umar, Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, issued one against him on September 18, 2015.
Bukola Saraki Wife
Bukola Saraki is married to Toyin Saraki (formerly Ojora). The couple’s partnership has produced four children: one son and three daughters. Saraki comes from an illustrious and rich family. He owns stakes in several major Nigerian companies.
He owns desirable properties in Nigeria, Europe, and North America. During his stint as Governor, he was appointed Turaki of the Fulani Emirate of Ilorin. Years later, the Emir of Ilorin appointed him Waziri (or Prime Minister) of Ilorin. The title had previously been held by his father, Olusola Saraki.
In 2010, he became the first serving Governor to receive the Commander of the Order of Niger (CON).
Bukola Saraki Children
Saraki’s children are Tosin, Seni, Teniola, and Teniayo Saraki. Teniola and Teniayo Saraki are twins. Seni, Saraki’s son, is an entrepreneur. Seni Saraki is Native Records’ founder and CEO, as well as Native Magazine’s Editor-in-Chief.
Bukola Saraki Net Worth
Bukola Saraki has built a fortune through commercial ventures and public service. He is reputedly worth around $2 billion (USD).
