Saraki bemoans Nigeria’s fragile unity, consults with Obasanjo, Ogun PDP delegates – Newstrends
Connect with us

Politics

Saraki bemoans Nigeria’s fragile unity, consults with Obasanjo, Ogun PDP delegates

Published

on

Former President of the Senate and presidential aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, Dr. Bukola Saraki, has declared that the development and progress of Nigeria were being hampered because of the country’s fragile unity.

Saraki spoke in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, when he addressed PDP delegates at the party’s state secretariat.

This comes ahead of the forthcoming presidential primaries of the party.

Saraki said Nigeria requires a leader who has both legislative and executive experiences and imbued with the capacity to unite the people for the country to move forward.

Saraki, who was former two-term Governor of Kwara State, had earlier held a closed-door meeting with former President Olusegun Obasanjo at his residence located within the expansive Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library complex in Abeokuta.

According to him, he is the only presidential aspirant with the energy and capacity to carry the workload of the office of the president among those jostling to succeed incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari.

He pointed out that only a president that is up and running can address the worsening insecurity, bad economy and disunity in the country.

Saraki said: “We need a president that will stand, that is bold and courageous.

READ ALSO:

“We all know four years as the Senate President, I stood for this country, I stood for what I believed was in the interest of this country.

“Let us find that person who has the energy because the work of a [resident is not part-time, especially now that the country is very bad.

“Nigeria needs a president that is up and running, not a president that will be giving instructions because when you give instructions and you don’t check, nothing will happen.

“You need somebody that has the energy to do it.

“I believe that I have that energy and capacity to do it.”

The former president of the Senate observed that Nigeria is in a very delicate situation now, adding that any wrong choice of leadership could spell doom for the country.

“We are in a very delicate state as a nation and we need somebody who has the experience, somebody who can unite us because without unity, we cannot go anywhere,” he added.

At the PDP secretariat, Saraki explained that a highly knowledgeable leader can address the much talked about restructuring of the country towards enabling it to overcome its challenges.

He bemoaned the rising rate of youth unemployment and wanton loss of lives occasioned by the daily activities of suspected bandits, kidnappers and insurgents in the country.

The PDP presidential aspirant recalled that under the Obasanjo administration, Nigeria was much safer, a feat he attributed to the strong and decisive nature of the country’s leadership then.

Saraki said: “We cannot say we want to vote based on sentiment.

“This country needs a president that has the capacity and knowledge, not a president that desires people to guide him on what to do.

“We need a president that can unite Nigeria because the unity of this country is very fragile now.

READ ALSO:

“There is nothing we can do without unity in this country.

“Let’s look for a leader that can unite Nigeria.

“When I was S.A. to President Obasanjo, you saw what Nigeria was, how investment was coming in.

“We need a courageous president, we need a president that understands medical services.

“If you elect me, I will ensure that primary health care is free for all.

“I am a man of words and actions.

“I have the capacity to do what could not be done for over a decade if given the chance to unite Nigeria.

“We need a president that is courageous and strong.

“You all know that my four years as Senate President, I stood for this country.”

Saraki assured that if elected as president, he would leverage on his experiences in the legislature and executive arm of government to successfully restructure the nation without contravening its Constitution.

EAGLE

Politics

Atiku, Obi, El-Rufai’s coalition can’t unseat Tinubu – Shekarau

Published

on

Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau

Atiku, Obi, El-Rufai’s coalition can’t unseat Tinubu – Shekarau

Former Kano State Governor, Ibrahim Shekarau, has cast doubt on the ability of a newly formed opposition coalition to unseat President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 elections.

Shekarau described the alliance, which includes former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi, and ex-Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, as a gathering of individuals with personal political ambitions rather than a structured and unified opposition front.

His remarks came just two days after the coalition’s formation was announced, with the stated goal of challenging Tinubu’s administration.

In a statement by his spokesperson, Dr. Sule Yau, Shekarau remarked, “This is just a gathering of certain individuals with political ambitions; none of them has officially consulted their party leadership.”

READ ALSO:

He further argued that a coalition featuring prominent figures does not necessarily equate to an effective political alliance.

“The coalition of opposition figures is a good development, as seen in their recent meeting under what they call an opposition alliance. However, none of the key figures involved represents their party leadership,” Shekarau stated.

Emphasizing the legal framework for political mergers, he pointed out that only registered parties could formally unite, making the recent gathering an informal arrangement rather than an officially recognized coalition.

 

Atiku, Obi, El-Rufai’s coalition can’t unseat Tinubu – Shekarau

Continue Reading

Politics

PDP gives condition to back Atiku, Obi, El-Rufai in 2027

Published

on

Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi

PDP gives condition to back Atiku, Obi, El-Rufai in 2027

Although the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) hasn’t made its official position known on the coalition being put together by some key leaders of the opposition to wrestle power from the ruling party at the federal level, All Progressives Congress (APC), and President Bola Tinubu ahead of 2027, Sunday Vanguard understands that the PDP may join forces with them on one condition: The process will not lead to its loss of identity.

The PDP was in power for 16 years before the APC dislodged it from the Presidential Villa in 2015 when then-incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan lost reelection to former President Buhari.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, had, last week, announced his decision to join the coalition with other members of opposition parties to challenge Tinubu in the 2027 elections.

Atiku was responding to a call by a former governor of Kaduna State, Mallam El-Rufai, to key members of opposition parties in the country to come together and fight Tinubu and APC in 2027.

El-Rufai had made the call while dumping the APC for the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

In his response, the former PDP presidential candidate confirmed that he, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 elections, Mr Peter Obi, and El-Rufai, among others, had kick-started a movement aimed at defeating Tinubu’s APC in the 2027 elections.

He spoke at a press conference organized by Nigeria’s key opposition leaders and political stakeholders to discuss the President’s controversial declaration of state of emergency in Rivers State.

When journalists asked whether the emerging coalition would be the major opposition force against the APC in 2027, Atiku did not mince words.
“Yes,” he declared.

Clarity

Sources within the PDP told Sunday Vanguard at the weekend that the party will expect the former presidential candidate to give clarity to his decision soon.

READ ALSO:

A member of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC), who spoke on condition of anonymity because the matter was “yet to be discussed at the official level,” said, “We expect him to shed more light on his decision as we proceed.

“For now, he is still a high ranking member of our party the PDP.

“We have been following his public statements and engagements and he hasn’t announced to anyone that he is leaving or has left our party.

“Yes, he left the party on two previous occasions over the past two decades -first to join Tinubu’s Action Congress (AC) to contest the 2007 presidential election; and in 2013 or thereabouts to join others to form the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“Note, however, that on each of these occasions he returned to the PDP.

“Now, whether he is planning to leave to join others or he wants others to come join us to beat the APC rigging machine in 2027, only he can explain. “For now, from my interactions with members of his team, one thing is clear, this time around, Atiku’s move is a strategic step towards unifying opposition forces against the ruling APC.

‘Significant shift’

“His announcement of the formation of a coalition signals a significant shift in Nigeria’s political landscape, as opposition leaders seek to present a united front against the current administration.

“The proposed coalition is expected to bring together key political parties and stakeholders, including prominent figures like Mr Peter Obi of the Labour Party.

“It’s worth noting that Atiku’s decision might not be universally accepted within the PDP, as some members may have different opinions on the best strategy to challenge the APC in 2027.

“Nevertheless, Atiku’s move demonstrates his commitment to opposing the current administration and his willingness to work with other opposition parties to achieve this goal.”

Identity

The party chieftain further explained that a majority of leaders and members of the PDP are resolute in their desire to ensure that the party retains its identity.

According to him, a former governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Sule Lamido, spoke the minds of most leaders and members of the PDP when he dismissed El-Rufai’s call to dump the party and join the SDP.

Lamido said in an interview, “The party we formed, the PDP, is the one that gave birth to El-Rufai. You’re not enough to make us leave the PDP.

“He (El-Rufai) once said that there are no elders in Nigerian politics, but now he is calling on us to join him in the SDP.”

Lamido equally questioned El-Rufai’s motive for dumping the APC for the SDP and his motivation for seeking power.

“Leadership is done with patience and vision, and doing things for the peace of the followers and the country as a whole”, he said.

While restating his loyalty to the PDP, Lamido said the party which he helped to form hasn’t done anything wrong to warrant him leaving to join another.

His views resonated with another leader and foundation member of the PDP, Chief Bode George, who has told whoever cares to listen that he is in the PDP to stay.

PDP gives condition to back Atiku, Obi, El-Rufai in 2027

Vanguard

Continue Reading

Politics

PDP crisis over secretary lingers despite Supreme Court ruling

Published

on

PDP crisis over secretary lingers despite Supreme Court ruling

The Supreme Court on Friday set aside the decision of the Court of Appeal, Enugu Division, delivered on 20 December 2024, which affirmed the removal of Senator Samuel Anyanwu as the National Secretary of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).  

In a unanimous judgment by a five-member panel, the apex court ruled that matters concerning the leadership or membership of a political party are internal affairs and should not be subject to judicial intervention. The court held that the Federal High Court lacked jurisdiction to hear the matter initially brought by Aniagwu Emmanuel.

READ ALSO:

However, the judgment, expected to bring an end to the crisis, has left the PDP leadership and members in disarray, as both parties in the suit—Anyanwu and Ude-Okoye—are claiming victory. The development threatens to disrupt the fragile peace the party has enjoyed since its organs unanimously endorsed Sunday Ude-Okoye following the High Court’s ruling in Enugu.

PDP crisis over secretary lingers despite Supreme Court ruling

Continue Reading

Trending