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Abubakar Bukola Saraki (born 19 December 1962) is a Nigerian politician who served as the 13th President of the Nigerian Senate from 2015 to 2019.
A medical doctor by training, he also served as the Executive Governor of Kwara State from 2003 to 2011. He was elected to the Nigerian Senate in 2011 to represent the Kwara Central Senatorial District. Bukola Saraki is a two-time PDP Presidential Candidate, having contested the party’s primaries in 2018 and 2022.
Former President of the Nigerian Senate
Bukola Saraki |
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 Bukola Saraki: History ‧ Biography ‧ Photos |
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| Wiki Events & About Data | |
| Real name: | Abubakar Bukola Saraki |
| Stage Name: | Bukola Saraki |
| Born: | December 19, 1962 (age 61) |
| Place of birth: | London, United Kingdom |
| State of origin: | Kwara State |
| Nationality: | Nigerian |
| Education: | King’s College, Cheltenham College, University of London |
| Height: | 1.61 meters |
| Parents: | Olusola Saraki, Florence Saraki |
| Siblings: | Gbemisola Saraki, Laolu Saraki |
| Couple: | Saraki Toys |
| Girlfriend • Partner: | Do not have |
| Children: | Tosin Saraki, Seni Saraki, Teniola Saraki, Teniayo Saraki |
| Job: | Politician • Doctor |
| Net asset value: | 2 billion dollars (USD) |
Early life
Bukola Saraki was born into the prominent Saraki family of Kwara State in the North Central part of Nigeria. He was the first son and son of Chief Olusola Saraki and Mrs. Florence Saraki. He grew up with his siblings, Gbemisola Saraki and Laolu Saraki.
He was born on 19 December 1962 in London, United Kingdom. He spent his formative years in Lagos and the United Kingdom. As a young man, he often spent his holidays at his family’s country house in Kwara State. He comes from a Muslim family and was raised in the same faith, which he still practices today. Saraki’s Muslim name is Abubakar.
Bukola Saraki’s father was a Senator in the Second Republic of Nigeria and served as the Leader of the Senate in the National Assembly. He was also a medical doctor. He has a younger sister named Gbemisola Saraki, who is a respected politician.
Education
Bukola Saraki attended an elite preparatory school in Lagos State for his primary education. He then attended King’s CollegeLagos, graduated in 1978 with excellent results.
After graduating from King’s, he attended the prestigious Cheltenham Collegea public boarding school in the United Kingdom. He attended the school from 1979 to 1981.
He was then admitted to the London Hospital College of Medicine. University of LondonHe studied at medical school from 1982 to 1987, earning a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery.
Career
After completing his undergraduate studies, Bukola Saraki began his career in the medical field. He was a physician at Rush Green Hospital in Essex from 1988 to 1989. He then returned to Nigeria to join the family business, serving as a Director of Société Générale Bank (Nig) Ltd from 1990 to 2000.
Saraki entered public service in 2000 when he was appointed Special Assistant on Budget to President Olusegun Obasanjo. In 2003, he ran for Governor of Kwara State on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), defeating incumbent Governor Mohammed Lawal of the All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP). He was sworn in on 29 May 2003 and re-elected in 2007. He served as Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) during his tenure.
After completing 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-time Senator, he was appointed Chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology and a member of the Senate Committee on Capital Markets and Finance. Prior to the 2015 elections, Saraki joined the newly formed opposition party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), which defeated the incumbent PDP in the Presidential elections.
Re-elected to the Senate in 2015, Saraki was elected unopposed as Senate President on 9 June 2015, with the support of both PDP and APC Senators. His deputy, Senator Ike Ekweremadu of the PDP, was also elected after a fierce contest. On 31 July 2018, Saraki returned to the PDP and contested the 2018 PDP Presidential Primary for the 2019 Elections but lost to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar. He was later appointed as Atiku Abubakar’s Presidential Campaign Director General for the 2019 Presidential Elections, which the PDP lost to incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari of the APC.
Bukola Saraki lost his re-election bid for the Kwara Central Senatorial Seat in 2019 to Dr. Ibrahim Yahaya Oloriegbe, with Saraki winning 68,994 votes to Oloriegbe’s 123,808 votes. In January 2022, Saraki announced his intention to contest for the Presidential seat under the PDP. However, in the PDP Primary Election held in May 2022, he finished third behind Nyesom Wike, who won 237 votes, and the winner Atiku Abubakar, who received 371 votes.
Social Media
Bukola Saraki is one of the few Nigerian politicians with a large social media following. He has over 674k followers on Instagram, over 3.1m followers on Twitter and over 809k followers on Facebook.
- IG Username: @bukolasaraki
- Twitter Username: @bukolasaraki
- Facebook Manager: Abubakar Bukola Saraki
Personal life
Bukola Saraki is married to Toyin Saraki (née Ojora). The couple has four children, one son and three daughters. Saraki’s children are Tosin Saraki, Seni Saraki, Teniola Saraki and Teniayo Saraki. Teniola and Teniayo Saraki are twins. Saraki’s son, Seni, is an entrepreneur. Seni Saraki is the Founder and CEO of Local Profile and Editor-in-Chief of Native magazine.
Saraki comes from a prominent and wealthy family. He is a shareholder in some of Nigeria’s leading companies. He owns valuable real estate in Nigeria, Europe and North America. During his tenure as Governor, he was appointed Turaki of the Fulani Emirate of Ilorin. Years later, the Emirate of Ilorin appointed him as Waziri (or Prime Minister) of Ilorin. This title was previously held by his father, Olusola Saraki. He was the first serving Governor to receive the Order of the Niger (CON) in 2010.
Net asset value
Bukola Saraki amassed a large fortune from business investments and income as a civil servant.
His net worth is estimated at around US$2 billion.
