Saraki advocates courageous president, promises special status for Lagos
12 May 2022 |
3:02 am
Former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has stated that Nigeria needs a courageous leader, who would be ready to tackle the security and economic challenges facing the country.
Former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has stated that Nigeria needs a courageous leader, who would be ready to tackle the security and economic challenges facing the country.
Saraki stated this at a meeting with Lagos State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) delegates to solicit their votes ahead of the May 28 and 29 presidential primary election of the party.
According to him, Nigeria has never experienced the level of disunity and insecurity it is currently facing, noting that the people need a president that will unite the country for it to progress.
He said: “I believe that I am the bridge between the South and the North. We need a president that has the capacity; we need a president that has knowledge and experience. With utmost humility, either in PDP or All Progressives Congress (APC), none of the aspirants can boast of my kind of experience. I am a two-term governor, chairman of the Governors Forum and Senate President. These positions give one the experience in the executive level to provide leadership.”
Saraki stated that what gave rise to high level of unemployment and low investment is because the government uses lots of money to service debt, adding that Nigerians need a president that has the courage to take decisions irrespective of whose ox is being gored.
“You need a president that has courage because there are decisions that need to be taken, if we want this country to get better. I have shown throughout my career in the public sector that I can stand for what I believe in. I don’t run away from challenges, I am a solution provider, I set my target and I go out to achieve them.”
On the calls for “special status” for Lagos, Saraki, who described such status as a special priority, said that state would have special attention in the scheme of things if he is elected. He urged the delegates not to be deceived with any gratification, saying leadership that would make Nigeria better should be uppermost in their minds.
According to him, Nigeria needs a president that has the capacity, knowledge and experience to unite the people, adding that he is the best bridge between the North and the South. He said that he had the capacity to reconcile people like he did when he led PDP Reconciliation Committee, which brought peace to some state chapters of the party, which were bedevilled with crises.
Describing himself as a team player, Saraki said that as a senate president, he shared powers with his colleagues who had confidence in him. He promised to work on security, youth unemployment and economy, adding that efforts would be made to standardise the nation’s ports and build more.
“I have shown that I can stand for what I believe in. I do not run from challenges, I face them. I am a solution provider. Every office that I have occupied, I have left it better than I met it.
“I believe that given your support and I become president of Nigeria, I will leave Nigeria better than I met it. I will become a chief marketing officer to sell Nigeria,” he added.
The aspirant, who noted that youths and women would play key roles in his administration, recalled that as a former governor he ensured that every local government vice chairman was a woman while women occupied one third of the Assembly seats.
He promised that within 48 months of the inauguration of his administration, efforts would be made to increase the nation’s revenue through diversification, stoppage of fuel subsidy and borrowing for consumables. On zoning of the presidency, Saraki said that zoning was not the answer to Nigeria’s present situation, but leadership.
PDP Zonal Secretary, South West, Abdulrahman Owokoniran, noted that he was impressed by Saraki’s speech and urged Lagos State delegates to unite and support Saraki to help the PDP to win the state.
Also, the former Lagos PDP Chairman, Deji Doherty, said that Saraki remained a steadfast leader, who had special interest in Lagos State.
According to him, in terms of the economy, private sector, and others, Saraki has the capacity, youthfulness, experience and courage to rescue Nigeria.
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