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Tag: Dr Bukola Saraki

  • Lawan: Why I want to be Senate President

    The race for the Senate Presidency in the next dispensation is on and it is official.

    After weeks of speculations, Senate Leader, Dr. Ahmed Lawan threw his hat into the ring yesterday and gave reasons why he is seeking the post and why he is more suited than anyone else to go for it.

    Lawan who represents Yobe North told journalists in Abuja that the Senate under his watch would work in partnership with the executive arm of government to make Nigeria better through legislative engineering.

    Flanked by some of his supporters in the Red Chambers, he said that his party, All Progressives Congress (APC), with its clear majority in the Senate, was poised to produce the Senate President.

    Lawan was the party’s favourite for the position in 2015 until an unlikely alliance between some members of APC and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) frustrated his emergence and instead made Dr. Bukola Saraki Senate President and Mr. Ike Ekweremadu of the PDP his deputy.

    He said yesterday that it was now imperative to make the Senate more productive and more focused in its legislative business.

    His words: “Just like in 2015 when we sought to lead the Senate, we have come to the conclusion that we have something to offer by leading the Senate and the entire National Assembly.

    “We are not under any illusions. We know that this requires a lot in terms of momentum and work we have to do to make Nigeria better through legislative interventions, also by working with other arms of the government.

    “You have known us for a long time. You know our strengths and weaknesses. We need to project what we want to offer. We need to tell Nigerians what we can do. We need everyone in this journey of four years we will embark on soon.

    Read also: Breaking: INEC adjourns collation of Sokoto rerun

    “I am asking for cooperation, support and understanding of everyone. We want to work for everyone to ensure that Nigeria is better and ensure that we receive the fairest deal from government.

    “By the grace of God, we make serious positive changes. Nigerians voted for change. They have renewed their commitment to APC this year. It means that Nigerians have faith in us. I thank Nigerians for keeping faith with us in this dispensation.

    “What we are doing is to reach out to our colleagues, either elected or outgoing. We are talking to them about our mission and why we are campaigning to lead the National Assembly.

    “We are telling them why we need to make the Senate more productive and more focused. APC senators are so critical. We are reaching out to senators from other political parties. We are going to be talking about it much later.

    “Let me say that we are senators who believe in party supremacy. We believe in the leadership of our party. The leadership we are seeking is that of the Senate and the National Assembly.”

    On how to avoid the June 9th, 2015 experience when Saraki emerged Senate president against the position of the APC that had majority in the Senate he said: “APC must have learnt its lessons.

    “The leadership of the party will do something differently. I am sure that our leaders will manage the huge success of APC. The party will find us very compliant and supportive.”

    Asked what Nigerians should expect from him if he emerges the Senate President, he said: “I believe in what my party does. The current President campaigned on security, anti-corruption and the economy.

    “We have remained consistent as a party and an administration. Our main task will be to support the President and the party to implement the campaign promises.

    “We want an economy that will ensure an all inclusive growth. Our main constituency as a progressive party is the ordinary people.

    “It doesn’t mean that the elite are not with them. But those who worked for our success are those ordinary people. It is crucial for our administration to come up with programmes that will make life better for us.

    “We will also support those in the private sector so they can create jobs. We have worked hard as a government in the last four years. We want to work harder going forward so that our youths can get jobs that will grow the economy.

    “We have social investment programmes. We will have some reforms in that sector so it can deliver well. Agriculture is one area we have worked on.

    “Today, Nigeria doesn’t import rice anymore. What that means is that, the billions of dollars spent on importation are now within this country. In every part of the country, we produce so much rice. That is wealth creation. Even though we have challenges in that area, we have done well.

    “We have areas of concerns in the security sector. We need to support the Executive to always ensure that we improve on it. When we came to government in 2015, so many parts of the country were under the control of Boko Haram insurgents. We want to see a situation where the security architecture of the country can be reformed.

    “I headed the security architecture ad-hoc committee in the Senate. We submitted our report. The report recommended reforms in our armed forces. It is not about giving money. We must have a structure that will utilise monies released prudently. Where the Executive feels they need intervention, we will legislate.

    “It is our mission to ensure that this administration continues to fight against corruption. Most of the things we are suffering in this country, it is because people have stolen public funds. When you are able to curtail the excesses in that regard, we will move forward. We should be proactive. We will legislate to ensure that it will be difficult for people to steal in the public and private sectors.

    “As a country, why can’t we have an anti-corruption court? We need to fast track legal processes and ensure that those found guilty of any corruption charges are jailed instead of waiting for up to 10 years. This gives the people the confidence to steal since they know that our anti-corruption laws are weak.

    “These are areas we will focus on. We will focus on our education. We will review it to conform to the current day reality. We will ensure that our graduates get a good deal. We will look at law reforms. Those that require total overhaul will get that.

    “We have to have a bipartisan chamber. We will disagree from time to time because of some issues. But because we are senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, we will remain united. I was in the opposition for 16 years before we became part of the party in government. Even as an opposition, we knew when to oppose and support the government.

    “Take for instance security. Is there any senator who will oppose the improvement on security? We will work to achieve the desired unity. There will be equity and fairness in the chamber. Once we unite around national interest, we will contribute meaningfully to governance.

    “We will do something to support the Executive. By the way, who said we will never disagree with the Executive? By design, we are meant to disagree. But when we disagree, we should sit down and look at issues. Every issue must be based on national interest.”

  • 2019 budget hopeless, says Saraki

    The President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki has described as hopeless the 2019 budget proposal presented by President Muhammadu Buhari to the National Assembly on Wednesday.

    “We all heard the 2019 budget. That is a budget that has no hope for anybody because when you look at the statistics and the figures, there is poverty. If you look at the figures based on revenues that are coming in, there is nothing left, so where is the future?” Saraki said.

    According to him, the budget proposal, as presented by President Buhari, failed to indicate how it will be funded.

    The President of the Senate handed down the damning verdict in Abuja on Thursday where the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democracy Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, was billed to address some Civil Society Organisations (CSOs).

    Saraki, who spoke in his capacity as the Director General of the PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation, also said Nigerians lived in a safer environment in 2015 than what obtained at present.

    Addressing the gathering of the CSOs, Saraki continued, “There must be an alternative and that is what we hope that by this evening, speaking to our candidate and vice presidential candidate, is not based on sentiments. We are not voting on sentiments we are voting on what is in it for you.

    “How is your life going to be better? Which party offers you a better future because we see you as those who are patriotic and committed? It’s not about what you will get today. It is about this great country. A lot of you have been making sacrifices over the years”.

    Saraki predicted that President Muhammadu Buhari will not attend the presidential debate billed to hold on January 19, 2019, saying however that any President seeking to lead the country should be able to come forward and tell the people what he wants to do for them.

    Speaking further, Saraki said, “This is an interactive session. I am not sure whether the other political parties will give you an opportunity like this to ask them questions.

    “I am told that one has debated and you already know the answer to that debate. On the second one, I am very sure he is not going to debate. So how do you assess somebody who is not ready to tell you what he is going to do?

    “Those days are gone, my good people. The future of this country, a country that leads the continent that is not the example we want to set for this continent.

    “The whole world is going in a direction, if you are seeking a position, you must come and tell people what you want to do, you must sit down and they will ask you questions and that is why we are here.

    “Today is your day, we will sit down and take questions. I hope at the end of this exercise, you will stand up and say yes, this is the team that will secure Nigeria; this is the team that will unite Nigeria; this is the team that will fight the poverty in town and bring a bright future”.

    Also speaking at the event, the vice presidential candidate of the PDP, Mr. Peter Obi, similarly faulted the 2019 budget proposal, saying, “When you look at the revenue, we will spend 60 percent to service debts. So what is left? And they will borrow more.

    “What they borrowed in 2016 and 2017 is the same PDP borrowed in 16 years. When you ask them they say they used it for capital projects”.

    Obi said the federal government under the All Progressives Congress (APC) has incurred more debts in three and half years that what the previous PDP administrations incurred in 16 years.

    He bemoaned the level of poverty in the country and queried  President Buhari for asking Nigerians to tighten their belts. According to him, the Nigerian people have no belts again to tighten, adding, “We now wake up everyday with a sense of helplessness”

    Obi blamed present administration for spurning warnings over the alarming rate of job losses and unemployment in the country, saying that the situation could only get worse because the government is not doing the right thing.

    Stating that the unemployment rate had jumped from 18.8 percent to 23 percent, the PDP vice presidential candidate said the country is on the negative side of most world indices on development indices.

    Obi promised that if the PDP gets elected in 2019, the party would be updating Nigerians with statistics on employment periodically.

     

  • 2019: It won’t be winner takes all, Atiku promises GNU

    The presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has declared that it won’t be a winner takes all affairs if he emerges victorious in the 2019 presidential election.

    Atiku said the PDP would run an all-inclusive government with the institution of a Government of National Unity (GNU), which according to him, will be drawn from membership of other political parties in the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP).

    Speaking Friday at a meeting with leaders of about 45 political parties that adopted him as sole candidate, Atiku said there will be no room for any cabal to operate under a government of national unity.

    Atiku said, “I want to commit myself to the continuation of the doctrine of government of national unity.

    “We believe as a political party in a government of national unity and there must be stability before you can do anything- implement your economic programme and implement your healthcare programme.

    “Right from the beginning, I have been a member of the PDP and I know we have always believed in a government of national unity. It takes a long time for a country as diverse as Nigeria to be united and stable even before we start talking about which ethnic group we come from or which religion we practice.

    “I want to assure you that as long as we are having a government of national unity, there will not be a cabal”

    He encouraged parties in the coalition to make public their decision to adopt him as sole candidate for the benefit of Nigerian voters.

    Also speaking at the meeting, President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki, said since his election in 2015, President Muhammadu Buhari has demonstrated a lack of capacity to find solution to the question of hunger and poverty ravaging the country.

    Saraki called on the parties in coalition to step up their campaign to ensure victory for Atiku.

    Saraki said, “The message everywhere we go is that this country must move forward and we have agreed that the existing President must give way because he is not leading us in the right direction.

    “We have met with Nigerians all over the country, the old, the not-too-old and the message is that the President cannot lead us the right way.

    “We must be part of the process to usher in a new direction. The most important thing is that we want a change, a new direction. We want a man that understands the issues.

    “We have been to three zones and there is a common message and that message is one of insecurity and hunger. Everywhere in this country, hunger and poverty are the issues.

    “So the challenge before us is how to bring back prosperity to this country. Unfortunately, our President today cannot do it. He cannot do it because he does not have the ability to do so.

    “Government alone cannot bring prosperity to this country because close to 80 percent of government revenue goes into personnel cost and servicing of debts. The remaining percentage cannot bring about development.

    “To bring development to this country today, you need an environment that encourages people to bring in investments. Nigerians are even afraid to bring their monies out and so they need somebody that they have the confidence will bring about the right environment for their business.

    “At the moment, the verdict is that this government and this President do not give that confidence and without that investment, we are going nowhere”.

    The chairman of the Coalition of United Political Parties, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, said 15 other parties have indicated interest in joining the 25 parties that have adopted Atiku as sole presidential candidate.

    According to him, consultations were still ongoing to ensure that other parties in the coalition officially write to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withdraw their presidential candidates.

    Oyinlola, who chairs the CUPP, is expected to coordinate events leading to the formalisation of the adoption of Atiku as consensus candidate and the official withdrawal of presidential candidates of other parties in the coalition.

     

     

  • Peaceful NASS, panacea for national progress-Saraki

    The President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, says peace in the National Assembly is necessary for the growth of the legislature and cordial relationship with other arms of government as well as ensuring national progress.

    Saraki made the remark on Monday in Abuja in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Sanni Onogu.

    According to Onigu, Saraki stated this in his speech as Chairman of the 10th year memorial activities in honour of former President of the Senate late Sen. Evan Enwerem in Abuja.

    He lauded Enwerem for laying a solid foundation for the National Assembly in 1999, saying that the 8th Senate had benefitted immensely from his legacy of peaceful and friendly disposition.

    Saraki said: “It is a lesson to all of us as leaders, today, that we can all use a dose of the Enwerem example when in the hot seat.

    “He worked with those who worked against his emergence as President of the Senate, won their respect and was able to turn many of them into dedicated friends.

    “The result of that cooperation and partnership is part of what we are benefiting from today in the 8th Senate which we strive, to the best of our ability to emulate.

    “Peace in the National Assembly is necessary for the growth of the legislature and for beneficial relationships with other arms of government as well as for national progress.

    “Looking back, I think the late Sen. Enwerem would be proud of how far the legislature has come in the Fourth Republic and its contribution to the growth of democracy in Nigeria.

    “We are proud of his contribution in laying the right foundation for us. We are standing on the shoulders of those who came before us and the late Sen. Evan Enwerem is notable among them.”

    He noted that the book thatbwas launched at the event in honour of Enwerem bore testimony to what he achieved, working across the political divide in 1999.

    “We are told that he made it clear, through his words and actions, that he would strive for an inclusive Senate and he worked for peace.

    “He collaborated with his colleagues across board, irrespective of party or political antecedents, putting the country’s interest first.

    Saraki expressed the hope that Sen. Enwerem’s legacy would live on and his ideas continued to be propagated to serve as a launch pad for the generation of new ideas that would enrich the society.(NAN)

  • Saraki canvases continental synergy against terrorism

    The President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki has canvased collective effort and united front by African countries to achieve desired outcome in the fight against terrorism.

    Stressing that collaborative efforts are essential to the campaign, Saraki urged African countries to be supportive of one another by sharing ideas and mechanisms for overcoming the hydra headed challenges plaguing the continent. 

    The President of the Senate spoke Thursday while delivering an address at the executive committee session of the African Parliamentary Union (APU) conference held at the ECOWAS secretariat, Abuja.

    “It is clear that, in order to achieve desired outcomes in the fight against terrorism and pursue growth and development, we must adopt both regional and Africa-wide strategies”, Saraki said.

    He observed that the economies of many African countries are not growing above the ballpark rate of three percent despite the exponential growth in populations on the continent.

    Stating that a huge population of youths on the continent look up to their governments to secure their future, Saraki charged the legislatures tackle the many hindrances to development and wellbeing of African peoples.

    He called for cooperation and collaboration between the executive and the legislature in the interest of the people through purposeful legislation.

    Saraki said, “On the cardinal points of corruption, good governance and terrorism, we as legislators should see to it that we provide the required support to the Executive, especially by way of strong and purposeful legislation. 

    “Ours is a key role, and we see the Executive coming together with us to review the laws as may be necessary, to meet new realities”.

  • Senate adjourns plenary session till November 6

     

    The Senate has adjourned plenary session till Nov. 6, to allow the various standing committees to embark on oversight of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

    The President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, announced the adjournment during plenary session on Wednesday.

    He said the Upper Chamber was embarking on recess to give lawmakers ample time to carry out thorough work.

    He added that the two-week recess would enable relevant committees to carry out oversight functions, especially on the implementation of the 2018 Budget and the recently approved Eurobond loan.

    Saraki said “the committees will still be meeting till Tuesday, Nov. 6. because the recess is only for plenary session.”

    The senate is proceeding on the two-week recess 16 days after it resumed from its annual recess that lasted for 10 weeks. 

    NAN

  • Senate stands down Electoral Bill consideration

    The Senate on Thursday stood down consideration of the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, 2018 for third reading and passage, until Tuesday.

    The bill, which was captured on the Order Paper, was stood down at plenary for more legislative work.

    Announcing the development, Leader of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, said “in view of the sensitive nature of the bill and its importance, it is vital to give the committee more time to do a thorough job.’’

    Read Also:Akpabio to Saraki: Senate leadership must change

    After his remarks on it, President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, put the issue to voice vote and the “`step down’’ was unanimously adopted.

    The bill scaled second reading on Oct. 10, a day after the Red Chamber resumed from recess.

    Ongoing process on the Bill is the fourth attempt by lawmakers to have it ready for assented of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Buhari had on Sept. 3, declined assent to the Bill, which was transmitted to him by the National Assembly on Aug. 3, for the third time.

    The Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Sen. Ita Enang, in a statement in Abuja, announced the president’s decline of assent to the Bill.

    He had explained that the president declined endorsement of the bill due to some drafting issues and the period fixed for political parties’ primaries, among others.

    In August, Enang had clarified that the bill, which was forwarded to the President on Aug. 3, was “alive and awaiting assent.’’

    The clarification was against the backdrop of media report that Buhari had again vetoed the bill forwarded to him for assent.

    But, Enang explained that the vetoed bill was the one sent to the President on June 27 and not the one passed by the Assembly on July 24, the day the lawmakers commenced their annual recess.

    In February, the president rejected the first Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2018 forwarded to him for assent and gave reasons.

    NAN

     

  • Omo-Agege says Saraki must quit Senate Presidency

    As the National Assembly prepare to resume plenary session tomorrow, Tuesday, Sen Ovie Omo-Agege (APC), has said that Dr Bukola Saraki should be ready to vacate the seat as Nigeria’s Senate President.

    Omo-Agege, who is representing Delta State Central Senatorial District, spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja.

    Saraki had, on July 31, defected from the All Progressive Congress (APC) to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), hinging his defection on unsuccessful efforts to ensure a harmonious existence in the APC.

    Read Also:PDP govs split over support for Tambuwal, Atiku, Saraki

    The APC National Working Committee (NWC) had queried Saraki, asking him to respond within 48 hours why disciplinary action should not to be taken against him for breaching Article 21 of the party’s convention.

    The allegations raised against him by the party included that ‘’you encouraged and facilitated by providing an enabling environment for the defection of some senators who are members of the APC to the other opposition parties”.

    The party called on Saraki to resign his position as the Senate President, insisting that he lacked the moral ground to retain the position after defecting to the PDP.

    However, the Senate president had stood his ground even as the National Assembly declared its annual recess which began July 24.

    Although the federal lawmakers were initially expected to resume Sept. 25, the resumption was postponed to Oct. 9.

    Mohammed Sani-Omolori, the Clerk of the Assembly, who announced the postponement in a statement on Sunday, Sept. 23, attributed the development to the primary elections of political parties.

    Sani-Omolori said members of the National Assembly were expected to resume by 10am on the new date.

    Meanwhile, Omo-Agege told NAN that the demand of the APC’s senators for Saraki’s removal was still standing.

    ‘’Our demand has not changed, in fact, that demand has been accentuated by the directive of the APC national leadership.

    ‘’We have all been enjoined as APC senators at a slightest opportunity to remove Saraki and once we are provided with that slightest opportunity, we will remove him and he knows that,” he said.

    According to him, the moment Saraki left the party, APC, to join the minority PDP, he lost the right, legal and moral, to occupy the office of the Senate President.

    ‘’Absolutely, he knows he cannot be; we are not shying away from that. Our position has always been consistent.

    ‘’This is not new neither is it news. We have made that clear, very clearly in the past.

    “Therefore, the position of Ovie Omo-Agege has the position of APC as a party,” he remarked.

    On whether the members, who were aggrieved by the outcome of the primaries at various states might affect their plan, the senator said: ‘’Well, that is something that we will need to address when we return on Tuesday.

    ‘’We will take an audit of where we are in terms of the numbers, in terms of those who are happy and those who are not happy.

    ‘’But you should understand one thing, just as you have people who are disgruntled in APC, you also have others who are disgruntled in PDP.”

    When asked if the aggrieved group had the number to remove Saraki, Omo-Agege said: ‘’of course, we have always had the number. We have the number.”

    On whether defection of members could affect their plan, he responded thus: ‘’Like I am telling you, as people are leaving APC to PDP, people are leaving PDP to APC.’’

    He said as soon as the APC lawmakers in the red chamber have the number, the deed would be done.

    ‘’I mean once the environment is conducive; that is, once we have the number, we take him out, as simple as that,” he said.

  • Police attack: Nobody can cow us, says PDP

    The national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described as dastardly, unwarranted and unprovoked, yesterday’s police tear-gassing of some of its leaders, including the President of the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, and some state governors.

    In a statement by the spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party said that no amount of attacks, aggression or acts of intimidation will deter it from confronting and dismantling the “rigging machinery” of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and coast to victory in 2019.

    The statement said: “The whole world was shocked when the police physically assaulted, fired teargas cannisters and violently dispersed our party leaders who were on a peaceful protest to the Force Headquarters, Abuja, over the use of police by the APC to rig elections, particularly the September 22, 2018 Osun State governorship election.

    “Acting on ‘orders from above’, the police assaulted our elected leaders, including our national chairman, Prince Uche Secondus; Senate President Bukola Saraki; Ekiti Governor, Chief Ayo Fayose; our presidential aspirants, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, Bar. Kabiru Tanimu and Mallam Sule Lamido, among others.

    “This unwarranted attack has left no one in doubt that our police have finally been turned into a militant wing of the APC, with direct orders to use force to repress opposition and turn our nation into a one party state.

    “It has also shown that the police, under President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, has officially declared war on the opposition and there is no way our safety is guaranteed under the current police leadership.

    “If the police, which ought to protect the people, the law and the democratic process, could show such violent aggression on notable leaders, then they can no longer be trusted with the welfare and safety of regular citizens.

    “One can only imagine the level of violence that is being daily unleashed on our citizens by the APC- controlled police.

    “It is completely reprehensible that the same APC leaders, including President Buhari, who were allowed to freely hold protests under the PDP administration, could now turn around to approve police brutality and aggression against the opposition.

    “We know that the essence of such attacks is to instil fear and siege mentality on the people so as to cow them to submission ahead of the 2019 general election.”

  • Saraki laments Nigeria’s precarious situation

    …says it’s at crossroads

     

    Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, on Monday lamented the precarious situation of Nigerians, saying they are not only at “crossroads,” but also “divided.”

    Saraki declared the situation is not unexpected, since the nation lacks visionary, youthful, dynamic and more importantly, energetic leader with digital knowledge unlike what obtains in America, Europe and Asia.

    Read Also:Most Kwara politicians are transit, says Saraki

    The Senate President, who made this known in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, when he visited the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) delegates in the state ahead of the party’s primary for the selection of Presidential candidate, submitted that Nigerians are suffering and not smiling because as a country, “we can’t give what we don’t have.”

    Saraki was accompanied by a Senator representing Kogi West, Dino Melaye, immediate past governor, Kogi State, Captain Idris Wada (retd), Alhaji Kawu Baraje, Chief Doyin Okupe, among others.

    He said Nigeria needs a leader who can unite the country, carry everyone along, stir the country to growth and development as well as provides security to the citizens.

    The PDP Presidential aspirant said given his track records, he represents the right leadership for this country and urged Nigerians to set sentiments aside and vote for someone that is capable of delivering quality governance to the people.

    “Today in Nigeria, we are at crossroads. The country is very divided.  We must unite the country and if we must unite the country, we need a President who everybody will feel a sense of belonging.

    “Today there is no sense of belonging for some parts of the country. We want a President that knows and represents Nigeria.

    “We want a President that every part of the world know, yes because without unity there can never be progress after we unite, then we move to progress and development.

    “Today, it is a new order all over the world in Asia, America and Europe. What are we seeing?  We are seeing people bringing in youthful, dynamic, energetic President and more importantly, digital President.

    “A lot of our people are suffering; we can give what we don’t have?  We need a visionary leader.  We all talk about the Asian Tigers but they did not become Asian Tiger by luck or by chance.

    “They became Asian Tigers because they had visionary leaders. It is time for us in Nigeria, not to vote with sentiments, but to vote for a man that is capable, that has the ability and that can perform.

    “My dear delegates, today, out of the aspirants that have come out, I believe that my track records have shown that I have the capacity, ability and can stand for the right thing.

    “When we talk about insecurity, sometimes it’s because there is no courageous leader to say this is right or this is wrong, this is unfair or that is fair.

    “It is time for us to have a leader that will stand for justice and make sure that everything is done the way it should be done. And today I believe that I represent the right leadership for this country.

    “They use to say only President can come from one part of the country. It is time for us (look for) who is the most capable, who has the ability, who has shown that everywhere he’s going, he is able to carry people along.  This is the time,” Saraki said.