YORUBA HISTORY: Olusola Abubakar Saraki (1933 – 2012)
Entrepreneur & Politician
Olusola was born in Ilorin, his mother was originally from Iseyin in Oyo State and his paternal ancestors migrated to Abeokuta 200 years earlier.
Though the late colourful politician vehemently refuted this part of his family’s history, claiming his forebears are Fulanis that migrated from Mali.
He was educated at Eko Boys High School in Lagos and the University of London, he interned as a young doctor at St. George’s Hospital Medical School in London.
In the 1950s, Sola returned to Nigeria to work as Medical Officer for The General Hospital and Creek Hospital in Lagos.
He began his political career as an independent in 1964, losing his first election in Ilorin.
In 1979, he was elected as a Senator and became Senate Leader.
Olusola Saraki was one of the founding members of the Arewa Consultative Forum.
His children (Bukky and Gbemi) are one of the most influential politicians in Nigeria’s middlebelt today.
Olusola passed away in 2012. He was laid to rest in Ilorin.
Credit: Nigeria Nostalgia Project
Image 3: Olusola and a young Bukola Saraki
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