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Tag: Bukola Saraki

  • APC will fix Nigeria, says Saraki

    APC will fix Nigeria, says Saraki

    Former governor of Kwara state, Senator Bukola Saraki has assured that the All Progressives Congress (APC) will fix Nigeria.

    He therefore urged the people to vote for the APC in the 2015 general elections.

    The Senator and a chieftain of the APC attributed the country’s travails to mismanagement of resources by the PDP federal government.
    He spoke in Ilorin, the state capital at a town hall meeting with members of the APC from Ilorin West and South local government areas.

    Senator Saraki who was received by large crowd of APC supporters assured that the APC government would address youth joblessness through job and wealth creations.
    He said he was confidence that the APC would continue to be more sensitive to the yearnings and aspirations of the people.
    He urged the people of the state to vote for continuity of good governance in the state and guard their vote jealously.
    Senator Saraki said that he embarked on ward and town hall meetings to feel the pulse of the people at the grassroots with a view to enhancing their well-being and assured that youth empowerment scheme would be unveiled within the next few weeks.
    The former governor announced a donation of N36 million as empowerment for women in the two local government areas.
    Speakers at the meeting applauded Senator Saraki for his commitment and passion towards the wellbeing of the down-trodden and pledged to vote for the APC in the forthcoming general elections
    They equally pleaded for more government patronages in their localities to further make democracy more meaningful to them
    Speaker of the state House of Assembly Razak Atunwa was on the senator’s entourage.

  • Bukola Saraki at 52

    His father was the issue in any political discussion on Kwara State, until he gracefully bowed to the great beyond. Today, Bukola Saraki, scion of the legendary political wizard popularly called Olooye, is still the issue in the politics of Kwara. His father was the issue because none of his opponents could muster half of what he did in terms of political support and followership; none of them could establish and nurture a strong, viable political structure that could determine the pendulum of electoral victory so easily and dramatically as he did in the second republic when by a mere overnight announcement, the vote swung against the ruling NPN and delivered a resounding victory to the hitherto opposition UPN.

    They said so many things against him while he was alive, even though many of those who abused him then are today singing his praises. They criticised his style of consensus politicking which ensured there were no bickering as he led them to the electoral battle-field because it denied them the opportunities of ‘eating’ from post-primaries conflict. They frowned at his penchant for choosing the ‘nobodies’; men and women who by virtue of their poor economic background would never have hoped to become state functionaries, to become officials of state simply because it denied them what they thought was theirs by virtue of their wealth and privileged exposures and opportunities.

    They accused him of abusing humanity because he had a large followership of men and women who understood his philosophy of structured empowerment; men and women whose lives were regularly touched by his deep heart of compassion which made him organise diverse philanthropic activities that gave him the nickname Agoro bogun bolu; the community leader who takes care of both the soldiers at the warfront and the entire populace besieged by enemy forces. None of his opponents could do half of what he did, none of them could give half of what he gave, even when they had in abundance, none of them could go with their followers to half the length he went with his own. None of them could stay with their followers for the length of time he spent with his own; none of them could give detailed attention to their followers as much as Olooye gave his own. He served his people for years without bringing any of his children to benefit from the system. Of course most of his opponents were ‘foreign’ politicians who only came home to paste posters during election time and go back after their losses. In the real sense of it, they had nobody they could call, ‘my people’, as Olooye used to refer to his followers. ý

    They accused the father, and now it is the son, labelled differently as they did his father. It is not  strange though, after all, the Yoruba have a saying that your enemy can never credit you with the killing of a great game. It is amusing but ridiculous. None of those in the opposition, including the failed ones, grants a media interview without mentioning the name, Saraki. None of them can tell of his manifesto without mentioning the federal lawmaker. None could speak to their constituents without telling them they must deal with Saraki. Saraki, is the issue. And yet they say they want to silence a man they keep talking about!

    Like some left his father because he chose the ‘nobodies’ against them, some have also left the son because he followed in the footsteps of his father. They left because of failed personal ambition. They left the same system that made them because they wanted to subdue others of lesser social status. They left because of greed and envy, inpatience and jealousy. Those who parted company with him did so not because of differences in ideology; no, they decided to leave his company because they cannot understand why those who were seen as having no hope to have their names mentioned among the greats of Ilorin, nay Kwara State, could suddenly be catapulted to limelight through the political structure he inherited from his father and which he has made unprecedentedly more inclusive.

    Today, like his father, Saraki  has organised, by popular consensus,  the most peaceful, rancour free primaries at all levels in the state throwing up the people based on equity and justice. It is the only state in Nigeria without the usual political acrimonies and mudslinging. No protest, no defection from the party.

    Yet, the opposition call him all sort of names to appear righteous before the ignorant among their followers and satisfy their paymasters in Abuja.  We say the ‘ignorant’ because we know there are many among their followers who know these emergency critics are fake and are only enduring them to take their own share of the free money they are spending. On the D-Day, they will come to their natural habitats; that we know for sure. It is already manifesting.

    None of them has done anything new to empower the people following them; whatever they are doing now is what Saraki, the father started and which Saraki, the son has continued doing unabated. And even at that, why did it have to take their breaking away for them to start helping people when all along that has been the mantra of their leader? In their days with him, they hid their wealth and pretended there was nothing on them but now that they have rebelled, they are spending money to entice the same people they had told they were poor by following Saraki.

    What do they take the people for? Fools? Do they think they will not ask questions as to where they suddenly got the money “they are sharing”? Kwarans  know the truth. They know the opposition lied to them and are still deceiving them simply because they want their votes.

    Some of them are making their political debut but already imposing their dummies and children at the expense of those who have laboured hard for heir party, yet they accused Saraki of imposition. He never imposed his children who are as qualified, if not more qualified, on the people. What do they take the people for? Money mongers? Okay, time will tell.

    There are many issues to face instead of abusing Bukola Saraki. The Ilorin-Kabba Road is there. Ajase-Ipo/Offa road is there. The abandoned/ half done Asa Dam channelization is there. The dwindling financial fortunes of our country under an apparently inept administration is there. And of course, the over 250 kidnapped girls, not to talk of several others who have since been abducted since the start of the ‘419’ ceasefire, are still in the hands of our enemies. Shouldn’t their plight be a matter for discourse on the politics of 2015?

    As you celebrate yet another birthday today, I facilitate with you, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki, political strategist plenipotentiary and worthy ambassador of Kwara State, for being a man of the moment. Congratulations and happy birthday, Distinguished Senator.

    • Oba writes from Iloriný

  • APC’s presidential primaries will be rancor-free – Saraki

    APC’s presidential primaries will be rancor-free – Saraki

    A member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential screening committee, Senator Bukola Saraki, on Monday assured that the party’s presidential primaries slated for Wednesday will be rancor-free.

    Saraki, who is a former governor of Kwara State, told reporters in Ilorin, shortly before his emergence as the senatorial candidate of the APC in Kwara central, that collective interest of the nation is uppermost in the minds of all the party’s presidential aspirants.

    He said: “We won’t have rancour during the APC presidential primaries. Some of us are part of the screening committee. We have a chat with the aspirants and they have all signed an undertaking that who emerges as far it is free and fair, they will support him.

    “It will be a free and fair. More importantly, it is the commitment that everybody has now, bigger picture and collective interest is paramount. What is important is for us to be part of the solution to Nigeria’s problems. I am sure any of the aspirants that loses out on Wednesday will see himself as part of the solution to the country’s problems. I don’t have any doubt at all that we will have a rancour-free primaries.”

    On the state of the nation, Saraki, who was once a presidential adviser on budget, said “for the Presidency to tell Nigerians that everything is fine, I don’t know who they are deceiving. It is not fine and it cannot be fine.”

    He also hinted that the proposed oil price benchmark of 65 dollars would still need to be reviewed when the Senate reconvenes to consider the 2015 budget estimates.

     

  • Saraki cautions FG against naira devaluation

    Saraki cautions FG against naira devaluation

    …says it would inflict hardship on Nigerians

    Former Kwara State governor, Senator Bukola Saraki, has cautioned the Federal Government against going ahead with its proposed plan to devalue the naira.

    Speaking in a telephone interview with The Nation yesterday, the ex-governor said the policy would not only inflict untold hardship on Nigerians, but have adverse effect on the social and political stability of the country.

    Saraki, who is a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the lawmaker representing Kwara Central in the Senate, added that rather than devalue the nation’s currency, the Federal Government should, without delay, introduce measures aimed at plugging the loopholes in its revenue generation mechanisms.

    Obviously exasperated by the government’s insistence in going ahead with the devaluation policy, Saraki declared: “The Federal Government must not devalue the naira. It is a hydra-headed that would not serve the nation and the people any good.”

    The lawmaker also described $78 oil price benchmark for the 2015 budget as unrealistic, Saraki, who is Chairman, Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology, challenged the Federal Government to give full disclosure of the state of the nation’s economy, even as he declared that the nation’s revenue base is caving in under the stress of falling price of oil in the international market.

    Rather than devaluing the naira, Saraki challenged the Federal Government to stop massive crude oil theft, halt payment of subsidy on kerosene and granting of pioneer status to some oil companies, which has denied the nation revenue, as well as the controversial oil SWAP project of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

    He added, “This is not the time to paint over the rust, discussions and the choices we make now must be based on economics not politics. The current position to put the benchmark for oil price at $78 is inconsistent with the economic trend and attitude of the managers of our economy, which has shown in the past to be very wary of over optimistic benchmark assumptions setting rather for the more prudent conservative base. We have a problem in our hands, but not one that cannot be surmounted with the right political will.”

    The senator also advised the government not to inflict further hardship on Nigerians, saying, “Before Nigerians are called upon to make sacrifices, government must show the will to tackle the monumental revenue leakages in our finances.”

     

     

     

     

    “For instance, there is the vexed issue of the kerosene subsidy, which is costing the economy over N300b annually. At this stage of our fiscal situation, this presents a good opportunity to exit the scheme to fund other critical sectors that can augment the revenue base. What the government is planning to do is to generate more revenue as the 2015 elections approaches and not based on sound economic principles.”

     

     

  • Saraki condemns Yobe attack

    …Seeks necessary action against Boko Haram

    The Chairman Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology, Senator Bukola Saraki, on Monday decried an early morning attack on a school in Yobe State that killed 47 students.

    Saraki, who is representing Kwara Central in the upper chamber, said by attacking the innocent pupils, Boko Haram is seeking to break the cords that bind the nation together.

    The former governor in a statement in Abuja, accused President Goodluck Jonathan of focusing his energy on how to remain in power beyond 2015 rather than fixing the country.

    He called on the President to take all necessary action to end the insurgency, saying the Presidency has been too silent on the Boko Haram insurgency.

    He said, “My heart goes out to the families of the students affected by the bomb blast on an assembly ground in Yobe State this morning.

    “These children are the future of Nigeria, and again we have witnessed the fact that by attacking the young and innocent in our society, Boko Haram is seeking to break our united Nigerian spirit through their evil and cowardly acts. This shall not stand.

    “In the past few weeks, we have seen for ourselves how Boko Haram has rampaged through the North East of Nigeria – going as far as being audacious enough to tempt our sovereignty by hoisting up a dark flag to signify conquest.

    “Our men and women on the frontlines have performed valianty, with many of them giving their lives in the struggle to ensure that the evil of Boko Haram does not spread across the country.

    “Amid this rampage, Nigerians have stood together to support those that fight on our behalf, but we are at a loss when it comes to what united direction we must take as a nation to combat these recent developments because the Presidency has been silent on this insecurity for far too long. We deserve better.

    “We deserve better because against the backdrop of the insurgency, amid the abductions of the Chibok girls, President Jonathan has been focusing more energy on trying to keep himself in power beyond 2015, than in trying to fix Nigeria for Nigerians.”

  • I averted Governors and Senators’ crisis in 2011- Saraki

    I averted Governors and Senators’ crisis in 2011- Saraki

    Former Kwara State governor, Senator Bukola Saraki, on Friday said he averted the same crisis currently going on between governors of the Peoples Democratic Party and their Senators in 2011.

    The former governor said he used his position then as the chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, his experience and relationship to nip the same crisis at the bud.

    The Senator representing Kwara Central at the National Assembly said this while addressing reporters in Ilorin, the Kwara State, Friday.

    Saraki, who is the Chairman, Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology, said President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election bid has made him incapable of confronting the governors.

    He said, “Because of the selfish interest of President Goodluck Jonathan in seeking re-election, he cannot look at the governors and tell them point blank what he wants. What I disagree with is that because the issue pertains to PDP, it is being made very important.

    “I sympathise with their struggle, because in fairness I think it does help a bit. That again re-emphasizes that every politics is local. You cannot sit in Abuja and not play your local politics back at home.

    “You say the governors are emperors, the system gives those powers to the governors. It is something that should have been addressed, because some of us saw it coming.”

    He continued: “The crisis between the state governors of the PDP and their Senators is an internal affair of their party and it shouldn’t have been allowed to affect running of the upper chamber of the National Assembly.

    “I sympathise with my colleagues from the PDP because of where they find themselves. But some of us had told many of them before now that this is going to happen. Some of us do things that people in this country don’t appreciate until after they have left the scene. I know and you can go and check the record, personally what I did to prevent this situation in 2011. It was the same situation. I was the chairman Nigeria Governors’ Forum then.

    “The PDP went for delegate election and by the time they finished the exercise, no Senator was coming back. The late president Umaru Musa Yar’Adua called me at that time to talk to the governors and save the situation. This same problem,I moved in and summoned an emergency meeting of all the governors.

    “We worked till very late, practically begging some. I used my position, relationship and experience to get final agreement with the governors at that time to ensure that one Senator in each of the PDP states come back. I used my relationship with them and the respect they have for me and we got the deal. It was the deal that brought back some of  the Senators then.”

     

     

  • Why Amaechi, Saraki are haunted

    Why Amaechi, Saraki are haunted

    Former Governor of Kwara State Senator Bukola Saraki has said both the Rivers Sate Governor, Chibuike Amaechi and himself as well as other like-minded people, were persecuted by the powers-that-be for their stance on fairness, equity and justice in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Saraki, who is a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), spoke at the weekend in Ilorin, the state capital, while addressing members of APC at its monthly meeting.

    He noted that at the height of the PDP crisis, the same powers-that-be persuaded and lobbied his group not to leave the PDP.

    The former governor added that notwithstanding the persuasion, the group stood its ground and refused to accede to the entreaties since they were pursing the cause of the masses.

    A source at the meeting quoted Saraki as saying: “When we are on the right path and when I have people like you that always assist in prayers, no amount of victimisation can stop us.

    “You see that decision I took was not for selfish ambition; it was because of you; my people and we will continue to fight your cause.

    “That is how we were brought up to assist the downtrodden and fight the cause of commoners. That is what our late father lived and died for. He was the architect and advocate of peace and a great philanthropist. And we will not derail from doing what we inherited from him.”

    The senator representing Kwara Central added that happenings in the country were vindicating him and his group as evidenced in the dwindling federal allocation to states, saying it was parts of what “we were fighting against.”

    “Everyone is lamenting the situation even as some PDP governors are regretting, but they told us they cannot say that in public. They told us that they found it difficult to pay salaries of their workers let alone embarking on other developmental projects,” he said.

    Aligning with Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed on the federal presence in the state, he alleged that President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration has done nothing in the state to deserve the people’s votes.

    He said: “I challenge them to point to any of their projects here in Kwara. During my tenure, we rehabilitated Chikanda/Kosubosu road and the late President Umar Yar’Adua approved the repayment before his demise, but President Jonathan has refused to pay.”

    He stressed that the APC remained the only party that can rescue the country from its near total collapse.

    He urged those still remaining in the PDP fold to join the APC, adding that the party’s doors remained open.

  • We are being vilified for saying the truth – Saraki

    We are being vilified for saying the truth – Saraki

    Former governor of Kwara State, Senator Bukola Saraki, has said that himself and the Rivers State Governor Chibuike Amaechi were being persecuted by the powers-that-be for their stance on fairness, equity and justice in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    He added that at the height of the PDP crisis the same powers-that-be persuaded and lobbied his group not to quit the party.

    Saraki, who is a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), revealed this at the weekend in Ilorin, the state capital, while addressing members of APC during its monthly meeting.

    He added that notwithstanding the persuasion, members of the then nPDP stood their ground as they were pursing the cause of the masses.

    A source at the meeting quoted Saraki as saying: “When we are on the right path and when I have people like you that always assist in prayers, no amount of victimization can stop us. You see that decision I took was not for selfish ambition, it was because of you my people and we will continue to fight your cause.

    “That is how we were brought up to assist the downtrodden and fight the cause of commoners. That is what out late father lived and died for. He was the architect and advocate of peace and a great philanthropist. And we will not derail from doing what we inherited from him.”

    The senator representing Kwara central added that recent happenings in the country are vindicating him and his group as evidenced in the dwindling federal allocation to the states of the federation, saying it was parts of what “we were fighting against.”

    “Everyone is lamenting the situation even as some PDP governors are regretting, but they told us they cannot say that in the public. They told us that they found it difficult to pay salaries of their workers not to talk of embarking on other developmental projects.”

    Aligning with Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed on the federal presence in the state, he added that President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration has done nothing in the state to deserve the peoples’ votes.

    He said, “I challenge them to point to any of their projects here in Kwara. During my tenure, we rehabilitated Chikanda/Kosubosu Road and the late President Umaru Yar’Adua approved the repayment before his demise, but President Jonathan has refused to pay.”

    He said that APC remains the only party that could rescue the country from its near total collapse.

  • APC presidential ticket: I’m not backing any candidate, says Saraki

    APC presidential ticket: I’m not backing any candidate, says Saraki

    Senator Bukola Saraki yesterday said he is not backing any All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential aspirant.

    He said he was only out to ensure that the process of picking the presidential candidate unites the party.

    Saraki, who spoke exclusively with our correspondent on the phone in Abuja, debunked reports that he had stepped down for another aspirant.

    He said: “I am not backing any candidate. I have not decided who I am backing or not. When the time comes, we will know as a party which direction to go. At the appropriate time, I will make an announcement. What I am presently concerned about is the process. I believe the process should be such that will unite the party and give us the opportunity to provide the needed change in the country.”

    The former Kwara State governor said his statement on Sunday was explicit on the need for a rancour-free primary.

    He said: “I don’t know where they got the report from that I am supporting a candidate. I did not say that in my statement.”

    In the statement, he said he was suspending his presidential ambition in the interest of the nation and the APC.

    It reads: “I am stepping down my ambition because Nigeria’s political outlook for 2015 is very complicated and this is the time for every patriotic politician to situate his personal ambition in the context of the country’s overall interest.

    ”I don’t think our party can afford too much internal rancour going into next year’s election. I therefore think some of us need to make the sacrifice and be part of the solution, rather than part of the problem of the party. I have always maintained that I did not leave the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to join the opposition because of any personal interest. Anyone who understands Nigeria’s politics would know that it takes courage and self-sacrifice to do that.

    “Therefore, whether it is on the issue of the party or other issues that I have been pushing in my position as a Senator, I have been driven primarily by my desire to see a better and more purposely governed country.”

    He said it was imperative to close ranks in the APC and avoid rancorous primaries to defeat the PDP, adding: “Party primaries in any healthy democracy would always leave several contenders disappointed and, sometimes bitter, as there would be only one winner. “The party would then invest so much energy and time afterwards managing and reconciling various interests. APC can only live up to the aspirations of Nigerians for change if it is not derailed by too much acrimony from its primaries, which are coming so close to the general elections.”

  • Saraki pulls out of APC presidential contest

    Saraki pulls out of APC presidential contest

    Former Kwara state governor and chieftain of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki has dropped his ambition to fly the party’s Presidential in the 2015 presidential election.
    Senator Saraki said he was suspending his presidential ambition in the interest of the country and the party.

    He said this was the time for all well meaning Nigerians to fall in line and become rank and file soldiers in the struggle to reclaim Nigeria.
    The Senator who announced his decision to suspend his presidential ambition on Sunday on his Twitter handle said that the issue of fixing Nigeria cannot be done by any individual effort.
    According to him, fixing Nigeria is an assignment that goes beyond the power of any individual or party and beyond individual’s ambition and zeal.

    “Fixing a nation like Nigeria with daunting challenges that have accumulated over the years, will take a combined effort. Due to this, I believe that as we move forward to the next elections, now is the time for every patriotic Nigerian, particularly those in the political terrain to base their ambitions and interest in the context of the country’s overall interest.”
    He said: “After months of wide but careful deliberations and consultations with my family, friends, political associates and supporters, today, I am announcing the suspension of my Presidential Bid in the interest of our country and party.
    “As it stands, I have been deeply humbled by the spark that my prospective candidacy has ignited among Nigerians across Nigeria and abroad. Young people, youth groups, and stakeholders from all geo-political zones have sought the change that they wish to see.
    “These young people by their overwhelming support have not only encouraged my candidacy, they have endorsed the change that they desperately crave. As complicated as the political outlook of 2015 currently seems, now is the time for well-meaning Nigerians from all works of life to fall-in-line and become rank-and-file soldiers in our struggle to reclaim our nation.
    “I have always maintained that I did not leave the ruling party for the opposition because of any personal interest. Anyone who understands Nigerian politics would know that it takes serious courage, rugged doggedness and self-sacrifice to do that.
    “Therefore, whether it is on the issue of the party or all other issues that I have been pushing in my position as a Senator of the Federal Republic, the primal purpose that drives me is the desire to see a better and more purposely governed Nigeria.”