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Tag: Saraki

  • Saraki hails Tinubu’s sacrifice

    Saraki hails Tinubu’s sacrifice

    Former governor of Kwara State Senator Bukola Saraki has hailed the sacrifice and contribution of former Lagos State Governor Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to the development of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and democracy in Nigeria.

    Dr. Saraki, a chieftain of the APC, welcomed the emergence of Prof. Yemi Osinbajo as the running mate of the presidential candidate of APC, General Muhammadu Buhari.

    Saraki, in an electronic mail, said: “The emergence of Professor Yemi Osinbajo – a Professor of law; a well-ranked academic; a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN); and a committed pastor of unquestionable integrity from South-West Nigeria further attests to the commitment of the All Progressives Congress to fairness and equality.

    “Most importantly, I would like to commend the National Leader of our party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for the sacrifice and contribution to the development of APC and democracy in Nigeria. No doubt, from his precedents as a forward-thinking Governor of Lagos State, and his profile as one of the foremost democrats in Nigeria, the people of the South-West and a large block of voters wanted Asiwaju as running mate to General Buhari.

    “Historically, the South-West is known not to pay attention to religion but competence when picking candidates for positions, but due to Tinubu’s belief in the Nigerian project, which he sees as bigger than any individual interest, he made it clear that we cannot ignore the current happenings around the country that require that as a party, we must take extra caution and be sensitive to every ethnicity and religion by picking a Christian candidate.

    “Despite what has been reported on the pages of some newspapers, some of us privy to the happenings behind closed doors attest to the leadership role of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which led to the emergence of Osinbajo, an erudite scholar and a dogged advocate of the people.

    “In the same spirit, I must also commend other leaders of the APC who have continuously made sacrifices in the interest of the party and Nigeria at large. Leaders like Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Alhaji Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and Owelle Rochas Okorocha who on Thursday December 11,2014 after the presidential primaries made similar sacrifices by pledging their support to General Buhari, contrary to speculations by naysayers that the APC would implode either after the primary or in the course of the nomination of its vice-presidential candidate. APC has, once again, demonstrated that national interests are paramount in the guiding principle of the party, as opposed to personal ambition.

    “I use this opportunity to congratulate all party stakeholders, most especially the presidential candidate for the success of the process in the selection of the Vice-Presidential candidate; this process has once again demonstrated to Nigerians the preparedness of APC to run an efficient and transperent government, putting to shame those that have said the party was made up of people with personal ambitions.”

  • ‘Saraki dynasty ’ll survive beyond 2015’

    ‘Saraki dynasty ’ll survive beyond 2015’

     Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed spoke with reporters in Lagos, shortly after the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential primaries on the potency of the Saraki dynasty, his achievements in the last three and half years, preparations for next elections and issues that will shape the contest. EMMANUEL OLADESU was there. 

    Were you surprised about the outcome of your party’s national convention?

    No, because I have looked at the APC as having come at a time that Nigeria needs to be rescued and the disposition of those who formed the APC has shown one clear thing: that we are all putting collective interest over and above self interest. So, to that extent, I saw everybody’s disposition for a free and fair election. I knew that with the way things were going and with the kind of feelers that we were getting across the country, I knew the exercise was going to be free and fair. I knew that people are very conscious of the problem that Nigeria is facing today and the most critical ones being insecurity and corruption. Truly, looking back into history, we judge people by what they have done. Of those people who came out to contest, Gen. Mohammadu Buhari has the highest credential in the areas of anti-corruption and to a large extent in tackling insecurity. So, by and large, I knew these would play a critical role in deciding who wins the contest and they were indeed critical. The emergence of Buhari is just in tandem with our mindset.

    Would fielding Buhari against President Jonathan again not constitute a serious gamble for the APC?

    We are not taking a gamble in the sense that if we consider the issues that are bothering Nigerians at the moment is insecurity. It is getting to frightening dimensions. Unfortunately, the progress made by the current leadership has not suggested that it is committed towards tackling the menace. We are all witnesses to different bombings in various parts of the country.

    Insurgency is not new to Nigeria and we are all witnesses as to how it was handled in the past. We saw how it was handled by Buhari when he was Head of State; he was able to manage the Chadians. We are also witnesses to his anti-corruption crusade, which unfortunately was not allowed to stay.

    So, for us, we think Nigerians will vote according to their conscience, particularly since the economy is not doing as much as it should. The areas that have propelled the current growth that we are talking about are the service sectors, but it is not touching the lives of the majority of Nigerians. Unfortunately, it has not been able to rejuvenate the middle class that the Obasanjo administration attempted to bring back. So, the disappearance of the middle class has put much more pressure on the current system such that more Nigerians feel the pain of deprivation now. Social deprivation, economic deprivation and security deprivation is truly felt now. I am sure that Nigerians will consider these factors, if we truly desire change. We need to do it differently from the way we are doing it now.

    We try to judge people by antecedence. He (Buhari) has done it before, he can do it again. Why are we so convinced about his desire and capacity to do it at his age? He did not accummulate wealth when he was at the helm of affairs and I don’t think he is interested in acummulating wealth now. He said it clearly that he doesn’t have money to give to anybody other than making himself available for service.

    How are you preparing to defend yourself, given the President’s assertion that the PDP would recover its stolen mandate in Kwara?

    The political system in Kwara had been hinged on a structure which has allowed us to play an inclusive system. The structure is largely built on contributions from every nook and cranny of the state. The choice of who gets nominated, the way and manner in which people get nominated and most importantly in driving the need of the people into an encapsulated desire for growth and development. I want to let you know that we have that structure in Kwara APC, which has always delivered. So, the next election is not going to be an exception because the same structure has delivered goods and services to the people, the same structure has allowed for inclusiveness, the same structure has allowed people who ordinarily would never have thought of ascending to levels of position — myself inclusive — to ascend into political offices. So, for us, this same structure is still at play and will continue to get itself running the affairs of Kwara. We are happy that the structure has a leadership in Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki who has strengthened the inclusive process of arriving at decisions that are generally acceptable to the majority of the people.

    So, we are using that structure alongside with our developmental programmes that we have outlined, especially taking the most critical area of Nigeria’s problems today, which is youth unemployment. We have recorded a lot of milestones in reducing youth unemployment. We have created programmes despite our lean resources to let youths see that they are the leaders of tomorrow. For instance, this has led us to setting up one of the best international vocational centres.

    We have also supported the health systems. We have not only raised infrastructure, we have also widened access through the community health insurance. I am happy to let you know that we received an award just recently in Paris, France, for having one of the most successful community health insurance schemes in the world, not just in Africa or Nigeria. The award was designed to be looked at from a broad perspective, not just a Kwara perspective. So, with all these on ground and with our understanding of our peoples’ needs, having been very close to them, we are truly positioned to carry on to the next level in terms of growth and development.

    So, for us, the 2015 election will usher us into a second term, God willing to broaden what we have been doing since 2011 in terms of infrastructure, human capital development and the economy.

    So, you don’t see the President’s assertion as a threat?

    We have never seen them as a threat because it is all about platforms and ability to deliver goods and services to the people which we have demonstrated. Those are just mere pronouncements. What really matters is the issue of being able to articulate resources and to meet the needs of the people which we are currently doing and which we hope to upscale, God willing in the second term.

    How have you been able to manage the successor–predecessor crisis in Kwara , to the extent that you and Senator Bukola Saraki have have maintained cordial relations? Is it true that the structure is established around a family?

    It is an inclusive process, which allows for inputs from all stakeholders. It is not taken as a family affair, as if restricted to a single family. The family is in 16 local governments of the state. So, when we refer to the structure as a family thing, it is for stakeholders. Bukola Saraki is an exceptional leader who has defined his leadership through inclusiveness, through strategic and methodical design of how he wants to see everybody’s inputs galvanised into a working process for the common interest. To that extent, he has approached governance from the normal way you expect to see good business run. Strategically, you look at your strengths, your weaknesses, your opportunities and your threats.

    Also, in getting any system to run it has to be given an inclusive outlook. Governance can be successful anywhere in the world if you allow for inclusive process; if you allow for stakeholders’ input. It is the same structure that Bukola Saraki ran his eight year government, which I was part and parcel of. I was positioned as the commissioner for finance and got the understanding of how resources are collated and they are methodically and optimally allocated to areas of need.

    Having been well positioned in that administration, it was only sensible for me to use that process to develop an upscale of service delivery to the people. And that is exactly what we are doing. We have never driven the system from an individual’s angle; we have always driven the system from a collective inclusive process. That is the secret of our relationship; people don’t seem to realise this. He is not a dictator; he is an inclusive person and he has allowed everybody to create inputs into evolving the process that will be suitable to everybody and on account of that, I have also imbibed that system to drive governance in Kwara. So, rather than seeing differences, we are seeing strength, we are seeing understanding in driving good governance, we are seeing understanding in delivering goods and services and we are seeing understanding in carrying everybody along as stakeholders.

  • Saraki, Aregbesola, Ajimobi hail Buhari’s emergence as APC presidential candidate

    Saraki, Aregbesola, Ajimobi hail Buhari’s emergence as APC presidential candidate

    Former governor of Kwara State, Senator Bukola Saraki, Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and his Oyo State counterpart, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, have hailed the election of of former Head of State, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, as the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    In separate statements yesterday, they described Buhari’s election as the culmination of a new dawn not just for the party but the country as a whole, noting that the election had raised the bar of internal democracy, transparency and fairness in the party.

    Saraki, a chieftain of the APC, described the primaries as a watershed in intra-party democracy.

    In an electronic mail, the senator representing Kwara Central added that the just concluded APC presidential primaries had it all—procedural integrity, free expression of the will of the people, fairness and competition.

    Said he: “For me, this reflects the fact that APC is in tune with what is missing in our democratic culture: tolerance and accommodation. The party has shown by this primary that we are in tune with the mood of the nation and the yearning for a more inclusive and less divisive leadership.

    “The APC delegates have by voting for and choosing Gen. Muhammadu Buhari as its flag bearer in the 2015 general election declared that it wants to change Nigeria. It has by so doing declared that it can no longer be business as usual.

    “Aside the uncommon level of transparency apparent throughout the convention, it is worth pointing out the level of sportsmanship and togetherness exhibited by all the contestants for the party’s premium ticket. It was one of the finest moments of our political party history.

    “It is not happenstance. Rather, it shows that it is easier for people to take a fall if they know that the fight was fair and the rules applied generally. The feeling of fairness and deference to the will of the people and loyalty to the party then follows.

    “Never in the annals of party presidential primaries in Nigeria has there been such infectious atmosphere of no-victor-no-vanquished. These eminently qualified Nigerians put aside personal loss and ambition for the greater vision of a changed Nigeria. This reflects the unflinching and collective resolve of the APC to see Nigeria rescued from the abyss this current administration has plunged her into.

    “You will agree with me that the quality of the ideas that were put forth in the various manifestos by our aspirants showed truly the APC is bringing change not for a few but change for all Nigerians to move us together, forward. The oneness in which our aspirants conducted themselves should tell every Nigerian that despite the naysayers’ predictions, the APC is united, strong and ready to reclaim the soul of our nation.

    “I call on all the aspirants who fought the good fight and the entire party leadership to rally behind our candidate, Gen. Buhari, so that we may give all Nigerians, irrespective of their language, religious creed, sex and place of birth, the people-oriented leadership that we need to get past these difficult times.”

    He called on all Nigerians, “especially those who have suffered under the failed years of President Jonathan; those who have not benefitted in anyway under the nepotistic programmes conducted by this government; those that do not want their children growing up in a failed Nigeria -where rampant insecurity and blatant corruption is the norm – to get in line and fall in place to help elect General Muhammadu Buhari as our next President.”

    Choice of Nigerians –Aregbesola

    Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, said that the emergence of the former Head of State is the best democratic pill to galvanise Nigerians towards the needed change.

    He said the former Head of State is not just the candidate of the APC but that of the entire Nigerians who have been yearning for a dramatic and total change.

    Aregbesola said the decision by all party men and women to elect the former head of state demonstrates the commitment to presenting a candidate who would not only win the presidential election but go ahead to rescue Nigeria from the present quagmire anti-democratic and anti-development elements had brought her into for more than a decade and a half.

    Aregbesola, in a statement signed by the Director, Bureau of Communication and Strategy in the Office of the Governor, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, was quoted as speaking shortly after the declaration of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari as the presidential candidate of the APC after a keenly contested primary held in Lagos.

    “We must congratulate Nigerians for the emergence of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari as the presidential candidate of our party. The excitements, commendations and jubilations that have greeted the election and consequently the announcement of Gen. Buhari are clear demonstrations of the fact that Nigerians have been anxious and now poised for an immediate change in Nigeria.

    “It is clear now that Nigerians are determined to jettison their religious, tribal, partisan and other mundane interests to rally support for our candidate. Gen Muhammadu Buhari, I can confidently say, is not just the candidate of the All Progressives Congress but the popular choice of entire Nigerians,” Aregbesola was quoted as saying.

    Reminding Nigerians of the urgent need to fix the country, Aregbesola said the outcome of the primary election itself confirmed that the APC has taken transparency, the fight against corruption and graft to a new height.

    “People have chosen the best man for the job regardless of all other less edifying considerations. Buhari represents the face of the required battle against corruption. He represents openness and commitment to good governance.

    “For those who consider the awful impact of corruption on our country, the choice of Gen Buhari would easily translate to the readiness of Nigerians to battle against the most debilitating scourge against the country’s growth,” Aregbesola said.

    Listing the challenges that lay before an APC government at the centre, Aregbesola reminded Nigerians that the 16 years of the Peoples Democratic Party at the centre has spelt economic doom, political complications and social morass.

    “We have witnessed the most horrendous crimes against the soul of this country. There has been a mindless rape of the country by a gang of looters who have made Nigeria a laughing stock in the comity of nations.

    “There is needless hunger in a country with many untapped opportunities. All the critical sectors have been bled to states of coma and what we have left as a country is a fractured entity gasping for breath.

    “With the election of General Muhammadu Buhari, Nigerians are assured that a new Nigeria is possible.”

    Election is proof of internal democracy —Ajimobi

    In a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media, Dr. Festus Adedayo, Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State congratulated the APC for the successful organisation of the presidential primary election, saying: “The emergence of Gen. Buhari as the presidential standard bearer of our great party in a free and fair primary election was a further attestation of the high regard which our party has for democratic process and internal democracy,’’ the governor said.

    Governor Ajimobi also noted that with the successful completion of the primary in a convivial atmosphere, APC was now set to take over power at the centre from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) through the ballot box and take the country to greater heights.

    The governor also commended the spirit of sportsmanship exhibited by other contestants by accepting the outcome of the primary in good faith and congratulating the eventual winner.

    Governor Ajimobi thanked the Chairman of the Convention Committee, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, and other members of the committee for being fair and just in the handling of the onerous assignment.

  • Saraki seeks UN funding on climate change

    Saraki seeks UN funding on climate change

    THE Chairman, Senate Committee on Environment & Ecology, Senator Bukola Saraki, has appealed to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for adequate funding to combat climate change in Nigeria.

    The lawmaker representing Kwara Central said areas requiring intervention in Nigeria include environmental sanitation, degradation, forestry, agriculture, power and other related climate change problems.

    Saraki, who was represented by the Clerk of the Committee, Fatai Jimoh, and his Senior Legislative Aide, Kingsley Amaku, spoke at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change also known as “Conference of Parties” in Lima, Peru.

    Special Assistant, Media and Advocacy to the senator, Bamikole Omishore, in a statement yesterday in Abuja, said Saraki promised to collaborate with his colleagues to establish a UNDP/National Assembly’s multi-sectoral committee that would seek additional funds to support the Federal Government efforts on the endemic problem of climate change.

    Saraki said the committee, if established, would ensure judicious allocation and utilisation of any grant released to the country.

  • Climate Change: Saraki tasks UN on adequate funding

    The Chairman Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology, Senator Bukola Saraki, has appealed to the United Nations Development Program for adequate funding to combat Climate Change in Nigeria.

    Areas requiring intervention in Nigeria, according to the lawmaker representing Kwara Central in the upper legislative chamber include environmental sanitation, degradation, forestry, agriculture, power and other related climate change problems in the country.

    Saraki represented by the Clerk of the Committee, Fatai Jimoh and his Senior Legislative Aide, Kingsley Amaku spoke at the UN framework convention on climate change otherwise known as Conference of Parties in Lima, Peru.

    The Special Assistant, Media and Advocacy to the Senator, Bamikole Omishore, in a statement in Abuja, said Saraki promised to collaborate with his colleagues in the National Assembly to establish a UNDP/NASS multi -sectoral committee on climate change that will seek for additional funds to support the Federal government’s efforts on the endemic problem of climate change in Nigeria.

    The committee, if established, Saraki said would ensure judicious allocation and utilization of any grant released to the country.

     

  • Saraki, Clinton, others for clean cookstoves summit

    Saraki, Clinton, others for clean cookstoves summit

    THE Senator representing Kwara Central Senatorial District and Chairman, Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology, Bukola Saraki, is set to join former United States’ (U.S.) Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton and other world leaders in New York  at the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves Future Summit to be hosted by the United Nations Foundation between November 20 and 21.

    Other members of the Clean Cookstove Alliance Leadership Council expected at the summit are the United Kingdom’s Under-Secretary of State, Lynne Featherstone; Norwegian Foreign Minister Børge Brende; Ghanaian Foreign Minister Hanna Tetteh; and U.S. Administrator for the Agency of International Development, Rajiv Shah.

    The Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves, according to a statement by the Special Assistant on Media and Advocacy to Saraki, Bamikole Omishore in Abuja,  “is a public-private partnership hosted by the United Nations Foundation to save lives, improve livelihoods, empower women, and protect the environment by creating a thriving global market for clean and efficient household cooking solutions”.

    The statement added that the Alliance’s 100 by 2020 goals envisaged 100 million households to adopt clean and efficient cookstoves and fuels by 2020.

    It noted that the alliance was working with its public, private and non-profit partners to help overcome the market barriers that currently impede the production, deployment, and use of clean cookstoves and fuels in developing countries.

  • This is not our Nigeria, says Saraki

    This is not our Nigeria, says Saraki

    Former Kwara State Governor Bukola Saraki has scored the Goodluck Jonathan-led administration low.

    Saraki, who spoke to reporters at the weekend in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, said: “This is not the Nigeria we all dream about.”

    He said any president who is incapable of ensuring the security of lives and property of the citizenry is imcompetent.

    “As a country if a scorecard says a government has not been able to provide security then honestly that government should be voted out.

    “I always say to people it is not about Jonathan, whoever is the president now if he is a Muslim, Christian; from the North or South and he is running a government like this then the person has to go.

    “If tomorrow, the president becomes “born-again” then it is a different ball game. But we must talk about issues on ground.

    “No matter how we want to paint it or gloss over, if all of us as Nigerians want to be truthful, we know that things are not going on well. We know that this is not the Nigeria we all dream about.

    “For some time now, some parts of Nigeria are under siege. You see Nigerians becoming refugees in neighbouring countries. Is that the Nigeria we dream about?

    “Or is it APC that is causing that? Before they tried to use religion and ethnicity but both Christian and Muslim towns and villages are being attacked. What are we doing? What is being done?

    “The level of insecurity and impunity is a thing that can be done and corrected. They are not things that we are fabricating. When you make comments they attack you, but that does not change the issue.

    “That is the way they operate. Address the issues and if you are not capable of doing them step aside.”

    The senator representing Kwara Central took a swipe at the National Planning Minister, Dr Abubakar Suleiman, for his criticisms of the Saraki’s dynasty.

    He urged the minister to face the business of governance instead of vilifying the Sarakis.

    His words: “We have ministers now that all they do is just to go on abusing us, instead of focusing on the issues.

    “I have not even heard the minister of national planning talk about the economy or the planning. All I hear is Saraki, Saraki and Saraki.”

  • Atiku, Saraki, doctors applaud WHO

    Atiku, Saraki, doctors applaud WHO

    Some stakeholders in the health sector on Monday described the World Health Organisation (WHO)’s declaration of Nigeria as Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) free country as commendable.

    Speaking  in separate interviews Dr Tope Ojo, the chairman, Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Lagos State chapter, said: “The declaration by WHO is highly commendable.

    “Our response to EVD outbreak was quite laudable, taking into consideration the fact that it took collaborative efforts on the part of the state and federal governments, partner agencies, and the public.

    “In spite of the strike we had then, we had many volunteers who worked to contain the disease. All of them are members of NMA.”

    Also speaking, Mr Avoseh Hodewu, the chairman, Lagos State House Committee on Health Services, said: “It is delightful to hear such positive and encouraging declaration from WHO.

    “For the WHO to declare Nigeria free of EVD is commendable. The past few months have been very turbulent because we were caught unawares.

    “Thank God for the Lagos State Government, Federal Government and other collaborations from agencies like WHO, UNICEF and Ebola Centre.

    Dr Sam Awolola, a medical researcher with the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), Lagos, said Nigerians should maintain the achievements recorded in containing EVD.

    “EVD and other related diseases are big concern to public health. So, in the area of hygiene, Nigerians should continue with the level of hygiene imbibed so far.

    “This hygiene practice will keep diseases away from our environments.

    “The Isolation Centres should be used for more research works on other related infections and contagious diseases,’’ he said.

    “We cannot say final ‘hurray’ now because we still need to keep monitoring and improving on all health standards to ensure that we do not have cause to deal with EVD again,’’ he said.

    In declaring the country EVD-free, WHO stated “The lines on the tabular situation reports, sent to WHO each day by its country office in Nigeria have now been full of zeros for 42 days.

    “This is a spectacular success story that shows that Ebola can be contained.

    “The story of how Nigeria ended what many believed to be potentially the most explosive Ebola outbreak imaginable is worth telling in detail.

    “Such a story can help the many other developing countries that are deeply worried by the prospect of an imported Ebola case and eager to improve their preparedness plans.

    “Many wealthy countries, with outstanding health systems, may have something to learn as well.

    Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar said despite Nigeria being declared an Ebola free nation, the country should not go to sleep yet until the last vestiges of the Ebola virus are destroyed.

    In a statement from his media office in Abuja, the former Vice President commended the successful eradication of The virus from the country, a feat he said, would change the negative perception of the country by the outside world.

    He said the Federal Government as well as the Lagos and Rivers States’ governments should be commended for this remarkable achievement in the face of the grimmest medical crisis that the country found itself.

    Atiku explained that the success is a clear indication that when leaders work together for the common good of the society, there was always a ray of hope for the nation and praised the medical personnel who participated in the battle to control the spread of the disease.

    Chairman Senate Committee on the Environment and Ecology, Senator Bukola Saraki in a statement in Abuja entitled :Proud to be a Nigerian. Together we defeated Ebola” said: “I join Nigerians all over the world to celebrate the World Health Organisation declaring our country ‘Ebola free’.

    “This is a significant achievement that must be celebrated by every Nigerian, regardless of what aisle of our numerous political divides that we stand on.

    “The way that we all came together to combat this disease makes me believe that together Nigeria stands as an unconquerable and indivisible nation.

    “We must all commend everyone that played a role in this victory, especially our healthcare workers that stood on the frontlines to halt the Ebola virus from spreading.

    “And as we do so, we must also remember the heroes – our dear and departed countrymen and women – who gave their lives in service of their nation, by maintaining the integrity of the medical profession.”

     

  • I’m for consensus candidate, says Saraki

    I’m for consensus candidate, says Saraki

    Former Kwara State Governor Bukola Saraki said yesterday that he suspended his bid for president in the overall interest of a better country and the success of the All Progressives Congress(APC).

    Saraki, in a statement in Abuja, said “we need to change the way the country is run”.

    Although he did not endorse any of the major aspirants that had indicated interest in the APC presidential ticket, there were indications that the suspension might be part of the moves to build a consensus on a candidate in the party.

    Dr. Saraki said: “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.”

    He added: “I have always maintained that I did not leave the ruling party 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 all other issues that I have been pushing in my position as a Senator of the Federal Republic, I have been driven primarily by my desire to see a better and more purposely governed country.

    “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 is coming so close to the general elections.”

    “We need to change the way the country is run, we need change in our security and the values we place on human life, we need to change the current disgraceful situation in security and corruption.

    “ And I believe only the APC can bring about this change and give our country the leadership it deserves.

    ”This is why some of us felt that we must make the necessary sacrifice and contribute to building a strong and united party that provides the only real alternative to the floundering government that has become so constipated on power and lost touch with the realities that ordinary Nigerians grapple with everyday.”

    Senator Saraki recalled how he, along with other progressives in the PDP decided to “leave the party to join the APC when it was clear that PDP, especially at the national level, had become too invested in the personal ambition of one man at the overall detriment of the country and its democracy”.

    A source close to the former governor said: “Senator Saraki has had the opportunity to discuss and exchange thoughts with other Presidential aspirants, namely, General Buhari, Alhaji Atiku and Governor Kwankwaso.

    “Senator Saraki stated he is convinced that they are committed to see that APC will be able to come up with a credible and acceptable candidate that will take our dear country on a different path.

    “ Senator Saraki said even though his endorsement was being courted by the other aspirants, in the spirit of playing a role to being part of the solution to ensuring a rancor, bitter free presidential primaries, he will not officially endorse any of the candidates immediately, but will work tirelessly to see that whoever emerges is acceptable by all”.

  • Saraki blames Fed Govt for Ilorin flood

    Saraki blames Fed Govt for Ilorin flood

    Chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology Senator Bukola Saraki has blamed the Federal Government for the flood in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.

    Saraki said its failure to complete the channellisation of the River Asa in Ilorin led to the loss of property worth millions of naira by residents loving on the river’s path.

    The contract for the channellisation of the river was awarded during the administration of the late President Umaru Yar’adua, but work did not begin until about three years ago.

    This year, flood has affected residents at the southern end of the river. Saraki, who visited some of the affected areas at the weekend, said his committee would invite the minister of Environment and the Ecological Fund Unit in the Presidency to shed light on the matter when the Senate reconvenes after the holidays.

    He said there was no excuse for not completing the project, urging the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to assist those displaced by the flood.

    Saraki said: “If the job was done according to the programme, we could have avoided the destruction of over 300 houses. The non-completion of the contract is responsible for the displacement of the occupants of the flooded houses and some people are responsible for that. Somebody must be held accountable; somebody must ensure that the contractors’ claim of paucity of fund is rectified. More funds should be released to the contractors.

    “We are lucky that no life was lost. The funds are available, so they should be made available to the contractors. This is the kind of thing that made us review the efficacy of the ecological funds. If necessary steps are not taken and flooding happens again, God forbid, lives might be lost. There is need for prompt action and the state government has written NEMA to ensure that relief materials are provided for the victims.

    “The people don’t care about who is at fault between the awarding ministry and the contractors, all they want is for the job to be done. Any further damage or loss of life will amount to recklessness on the part of those responsible for the project. NEMA and the Federal Government should compensate the victims. If the job was concluded on schedule, we would not witness what is happening today.”