BY DEMOLA AKINYEMI

It is no longer news that strongman of Kwara Politics, Dr Olusola Saraki has mended fences with his son and immediate past Governor of the state, Senator Bukola Saraki. What is news is the implication of the reconciliation for the politics of Kwara in 2015.

The return of the Second Republic Senate Leader with his loyalists in the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN) to the  ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is to ensure that power returns to Ilorin in 2015 after the first term of the incumbent Governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, the Vanguard learnt.

Chairman of the Elders Forum of the party, Amasa Jida had penultimate Tuesday reportedly addressed ACPN leaders both at the state and local government level intimating them of the reconciliation and their return to the PDP.

Before the open show, a chieftain of ACPN, Abduraheem Adisa had confirmed the reconciliation moves in an interview with Vanguard, saying that the elder Saraki would on Sunday make known the position of the party on the matter.

The fence-mending was courtesy of reconciliation overtures made by the PDP.

Vanguard reliably gathered  that a reconciliation team raised by the PDP penultimate Tuesday headed for London to appease and conclude reconciliation with Saraki, who left the country immediately after the April general elections following the thrashing PDP gave the ACPN and other opposition parties at the polls.

The team was said to have been led by Bukola Saraki. In the team were the incumbent Governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed; Secretary to the State Government, Isiaka Gold; Chief of Staff to the state Government House, Toyin Sanusi and some other top government and PDP officials.

Expectedly, the coming of Dr Olusola Saraki and his ACPN political family into PDP government will alter the existing  political calculations in the state as the new entrants would have to be integrated via political appointments and other patronages.

Already, tension is pervading the entire state over the development, particularly among some members of the ruling PDP who made uncomplimentary remarks about the elder statesman during the crisis in the Saraki family at the time of the election, and had closed their minds to any reconciliation in Saraki’s enlarged political family.

Impeccable sources  also informed that the political battle between the Igbominas where the governor hails from and Ilorin, which Dr Bukola Saraki,  his mentor and leader presently represents over his second term bid will come earlier than expected hence the need to urgently rally forces together and nip it in the bud.

Vanguard had exclusively reported penultimate week that the Saraki political dynasty had reconciled over the bitterness that trailed the last elections where all the candidates including Senator Gbemisola Saraki, who was backed by the elder Saraki on the platform of ACPN were all politically humiliated at the polls.

Following the reconciliation bid, it was reasoned among the members of the inner caucus of people who decide Ilorin interest and ensured the recent truce, that the Waziri of Ilorin, Dr Olusola Saraki is the only rallying figure who could ensure that the interest of Ilorin and indeed that of the Sarakis political family is protected and sustained.

However, it is not clear if Gbemi Saraki would be allowed to realise her governorship ambition in 2015 if the seat returns to Ilorin.

Those behind the power rotation plot to Ilorin in 2015 fear that Bukola Saraki, in spite of his rising political stature might not be able to contain the political crisis that would erupt pre-2015 hence the move to ensure that the agreement of one term for Governor Ahmed is retained when the agitations fully come into the open. And hence the realignment with Dr Olusola Saraki, who has a  wealth of experience in that direction .

The Second Republic Senator, according to close aides, was particularly said to have sheathed his political sword against his son, Bukola Saraki, over the outcome of the last elections because of the need for unity to quickly return to the family and the larger interest of Ilorin.

Vanguard further gathered that the fusion of ACPN and PDP, with the expected support of the people of Kwara North is expected to successfully over run the Igbominas, who would want to use the power of incumbency to ensure that their political interest in terms of patronage and appointments plus second term are taken care of.