By: Idris Hassan Kusogi.
In the world of politics, words are not just mere utterances they are weapons, tools of strategy, and the heartbeat of movements. But when wielded recklessly, they can become instruments of destruction. This is the case with Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, former Senate President and self-styled leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), whose recent statement, “THOSE WHO WANT TO LEAVE THE PDP SHOULD LEAVE NOW,” has once again exposed the very venom that has consistently corroded every political structure he claims to lead.
This is not the first time Saraki’s tongue has wreaked havoc. In fact, it has become his signature style dismissing dissenting voices, discouraging internal dialogue, and alienating fellow party stakeholders. This same arrogance led to the mass exodus of key political actors from the PDP in Kwara State, leaving behind an empty shell of a once-vibrant political institution. Men like Hon. Cook Olododo, Hon. Ope Saraki, Alh. Ajape Bibire, Hon. Zakari Mohammed, Mal. Bolaji Abdullahi, Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman (not a member of any political party, but he has detached himself from Saraki), Hon. Gbenga Makanjuola, Alh. Razaq Lawal, Engr. Dare Bankole, Olayinka Tejidini, Dr. Sadu Koroagba Alanamu, Alh. Musa Yeketi, Prince Tunji Moronfoye, Hon. Muyiwa Oladipo Kanu, Hon. Hassan Oyeleke, Hon. Wahabi Issa, Late Ahman Pategi, Hajia Aisha Ahman Pategi, Alh. Abubakar Sanni, Prince Haliru Dantsoho (Dan-iya), Hon. Jimoh Alao, Pham. Kale Ayo, Alh. Ahmed Adebayo Omi, Alh. Hassan Gegele, Hajia Bilikisu Oniyangi, Hajia Risikat Abdulahi, Kehinde Alex Bankole, Captain Popo-ola, and many other notable gladiators they left because they were pushed out by Saraki’s venomous words; “THOSE WHO WANT TO LEAVE THE PDP SHOULD LEAVE NOW”.
Today, he is repeating the same mistake on the national stage. With the defection of PDP leaders in Delta State, instead of rallying the troops or reaching out for reconciliation, Saraki chose to draw a line in the sand: “LET THEM GO.” These three words may be remembered as the phrase that finally collapsed the already wobbling PDP house of cards. While he speaks of rebuilding and repositioning, his words speak louder than any plan words that exclude, words that push people away, and words that carry no real vision for unity or progress.
The truth is clear: under Saraki’s influence, the PDP has become a revolving door, with more people leaving than coming in. His politics of exclusion and entitlement has destroyed party unity and morale. In Kwara, he built a one-man structure that treated loyalists like disposable pawns, leading to a total collapse of the party in the 2019 and 2023 elections. Now, he is setting the stage for history to repeat itself—this time at the national level.
Let us ask an uncomfortable but necessary question: Why does everything Saraki touches end up dead, broken, or dysfunctional? His track record doesn’t inspire confidence, rather it provokes pity. From his defection drama in 2014, to his controversial emergence as Senate President in 2015, to his failed presidential bid and subsequent struggles to lead the PDP in Kwara, Saraki’s political journey has been marred by ambition without cohesion, strategy without sustainability, and leadership without empathy.
Even worse, his statement reveals a man increasingly disconnected from political reality. In today’s volatile political climate, where unity and coalition building are key, Saraki is advocating for a politics of division. He speaks as if he owns the PDP, forgetting that no political party is the personal property of any man—no matter his lineage or legacy.
Some would say Saraki is cursed with political misfortune. In fact, whispers have long circulated about a supposed curse from his late father, the revered Dr. Olusola Saraki, who allegedly foresaw his son’s betrayal and warned that Bukola would one day be disgraced out of politics. Whether true or not, the signs are telling. Kwara PDP is a carcass, and the national PDP isn’t far behind. Wherever Saraki has held sway, prosperity has turned to poverty, unity has become division, and victory has transformed into serial defeat.
Let us be honest: PDP is in trouble. And the kind of rhetoric Saraki is championing will only deepen the crisis. His latest message doesn’t show a man ready to heal or lead—it shows a man venting, a man frustrated by reality, and a man who would rather rule over ashes than share power in a thriving system.
Instead of reflecting on why leaders are leaving the party, Saraki is quick to accuse and dismiss. Instead of asking why the PDP keeps bleeding from within, he is busy pointing fingers. But the people are watching. PDP members across the country are watching. Nigerians are watching. And the verdict is clear: Saraki has become a liability, not an asset.
His insistence that the party is “better off with fewer but loyal members” may soon become a self-fulfilling prophecy, because at this rate, there may be very few members left at all.
A party cannot win on loyalty alone. It needs structure, inclusiveness, strategy, and vision. But Saraki’s PDP has none of these. What it has instead is bitterness, disconnection, and a trail of political casualties from Ilorin to Abuja.
Yes, democracy is a marathon, not a sprint. But when the man holding the baton keeps tripping over his own ego, the entire team pays the price. PDP is paying that price today. And unless it breaks free from the venomous grip of leaders like Saraki, it may never recover.
So let it be known: the same mouth Saraki used to chase loyalists from Kwara PDP is now being used to finish off the party nationally. And unless something changes drastically—the PDP under his watch will continue its descent into irrelevance.
Let those who have ears, hear.
Idris Hassan Kusogi, writes from Patigi Local Government, Kwara State.