I’ll stand for Nigeria if elected as president – Saraki
Zainab Tanimu
Kaduna Northwest Nigeria
Former President of the Senate of Nigeria Bukola Abubakar Saraki, has vowed to stand for Nigeria if elected president come 2023 elections.
This declaration was made at the Peoples’Democratic party’s (PDP) Secretariat Kaduna on Sunday, May, 8th, 2023, when he came to seek support of delegates and party members for the realization of his presidential dream.
According to him, he stood for Nigeria when he was Senate President and will still stand for Nigeria if voted as President of federal republic of Nigeria.
Addressing delegates, “We all know either economically, politically socially, without the blessings of Kaduna state, nothing is going to happen. It is Almighty Allah that made it so and we cannot change that.
“I am here to formerly inform you, to seek your support that lnsha Allah 2023, through your efforts you will make me the next president of federal republic of Nigeria.
Nigeria he said is in a deplorable situation as such 2023 is not a time to choose anyhow president.
“Chairman, distinguish candidates, 2023 is not a time to choose just anybody as president. This country is in a very deplorable situation and nobody knows it than Kaduna state.
Speaking further, he lamented over the insecurity bedeviling the country as well as Kaduna state.
“We cannot continue like this as a country. This country needs somebody that is courageous, that can stand for Nigerians. This country needs someone that has shown that he will put Nigeria first before himself. I have done that and will always continue to put Nigeria first in my service to you.
“As a senate president, l stood for Nigeria. I was hunted, but l said no, l was going to stand for Nigeria. If l can do that as a senate president, with your support, Insha Allah l wil do it again as president of Nigeria. l will not stop until l end insecurity in Nigeria particularly in the north west. Insha Allah with your votes, we will have security back in this country.
“Our children will be able to go back to school. Those that know me, they know that l am full of energy, l will work and work until it happens.
This is not time for talk. This is time for action and l am going to do that with action.
Saraki also spoke on Uniting the country which he considers very key.
“I am a man that bring people together. I am a man that will unite Nigeria. I am a bridge between the north and the south. I am a bridge between the old and the young. We need somebody that is active to be able to move this country forward. I am a bridge also between all. Whether you are a Muslim or Christian, we are one Nigeria. Until we unite Nigeria, we cannot have progress. We need a man that is in Nigeria for all Nigerians so that we can unite it and move forward.
Economically, If elected, he promised to revive the textile industries in Kaduna that have gone comatose.
“My dear delegates, this is the time to find somebody who is not only respected here but across world internationally because we need that connection to make Nigeria work. You need a Nigeria that will continue to present education l will ensure that nobody anymore pays for medical services. This is doable, l will do it.
Senator Saraki appealing to delegates to shine their eyes in their choice of leadership said,
“This is the time to look for that president. Many people want it. Do they have the energy? Have they been courageous, are they friends of Nigeria? Is it now everybody is talking? What were they doing before? Were they standing for Nigeria before? Were they uniting Nigeria before? Once you look at that, there is one person you will find.Your own, Abubakar Bukola Saraki.
Speaking on behalf of the elders of the party, a one time Governor of Kaduna state, Alhaji Murtar Ramalan Yero said Kaduna has always been a boiling point of Nigerian politics thus described his visit as a step in the right direction.
While wishing him success in his outing, he said,
“our greatest challenge is that of security. We have a great challenge in Birnin Gwari. Birnin Gwari has a border with Zamfara, has a border with Kaduna, has a border with Niger. There are a lot of criminal activities going on there. Your Excellency, when Allah sees you through, we want you to collaborate with the people of Kaduna state so that we solve the challenge we have in Birnin Gwari so that we have permanent peace there.
“If we have peace in Birnin Gwari, we will have peace in Igabi, we will have peace in part of Katsina, we will have peace in part of Zamfara and we will have peace in part of Niger. These are areas we need greater attention.
In terms of the textile and the economy,
“we want you to look at the economy of Nigeria, the economy of northern Nigeria, the economy of Kaduna. We want you to support us in this direction so that people will have jobs. On behalf of the elders, we know you,we know your capability, we know what you can do and we know as one of the senate presidents that speaks for Nigeria and we know that when you become president, you will stand for Nigeria.
Yero assured him of their support, but that he should have it at the back of his mind that power belongs to God and He gives whoever He pleases.
Earlier in his speech, Kaduna state PDP party Chairman, Hon Felix Hyat commended the aspirant while assuring him of Kaduna state’s support.
He said there was never a time in the history of Nigeria a senate president stood for the country.
“We are happy to have you in our mist. Everybody knows that you don’t make noise but you achieve results.
Already, we have 101 delegates and still expecting more. He stated.
Senator Saraki was the 13th President of the Senate of Nigeria from 2015 to 2019 and Chair of the 8th Nigeria National Assembly.
