What Is On Senator Saraki's Mind? By Joe Igbokwe (Part 1)

Joe Igbokwe writes from Lagos. 

Senate President, Senator Saraki 

Given the overwhelming weight of evidence against Saraki and the excess baggage of cartons of corruption dating back to his days at Societte General Bank, his days as Governor of Kwara State for 8years, his heavy financial deals across Nigeria via salaries even after serving the State as governor, his massive involvement in Panama Papers scandal, his fraudulent manipulation to get the Senate Presidency, his trials at CCB, High Court, Supreme Court and now CCT, I had not thought that the Senate President, Senator Saraki will learn his lessons and quit the stage when the ovation has ceased to be loudest but this is Nigeria where impunity is not a crime.

In my silent moments, I have been trying to figure out who is beating the drums for Saraki or what is giving this guy the confidence that he will stand tall at the end of the day. It has never ceased to fill me with wonders why a supposed intelligent mind like Saraki who is also a medical doctor thinks he can overcome a precarious and delicate situation like this when somebody like President Buhari is on the throne. I am at a loss that Saraki’s many friends and well-wishers have not been led to see the hand writing on the wall and consequently advise their friend to bow to the exigencies of the moment and follow the path of honour and grace. I am stunned that Senator Saraki cannot understand that we are in a new dispensation that has zero tolerance on corruption and impunity.

How I wish that friends, family members, associates and hangers on will find the need to persuade Senator Saraki that it is all over for him.

• Did Saraki hear the Chief Justice of Nigeria when he lamented on long delays and adjournments that have associated with corruption trials and promised robust support to fight corruption by encouraging speedy trials? 
• Did Saraki take notice that it is the biggest institutional support for fight against corruption in recent times in Nigeria? 
• Did Saraki take mental notice of this signal from the CJN? 
• Did Saraki get the signal from his primary constituency in the Senate when the number of Senators following him to CCT suddenly dropped to 30 from almost 80 Senators?
• Can Senator Saraki deduce anything from this vote of no confidence? Did Saraki get the signal when President Buhari said he would have left the stage if he is Saraki? 
• How can Senator Saraki see the weighty cases against him as an act of witch-hunting and political persecution? 
• Has Saraki sat down to reflect on his political history, his antecedents, his many shady deals, his actions and deeds, his love for money, his many penchant for cutting corners, his many acts of impunity, his many betrayals, and selfish tendencies? 
• Can Saraki overcome these problems and still hold his head high as the President of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria?

Read Part 2