By Akinwale Kasali
Former Senate President, Bukola Saraki is optimistic that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, will wrestle power from the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, at the 2023 Presidential Election.
The former Kwara State Governor appreciated the opposition Party’s members for coming together despite their challenges for the success of the Party’s recent Convention.
Saraki said that the PDP has demonstrated the capacity and leadership qualities to deliver the country from its various challenges with the way its leaders reconciled to hold the party’s National Convention.
He made this statement during the 9th memorial prayer for his late father, Dr Olusola Saraki, himself, a former Senate Leader, held at the family’s Ilofa GRA, residence, in Ilorin, the Kwara State Capital.
He stressed that it was expedient to note that the party that cannot manage itself cannot rule the country.
Reacting to the controversy generated by the passage of Direct Primary for political parties by the National Assembly, the former Senate President said although Nigerians are not fully prepared for the system, yet it must not be allowed to scuttle the electoral bill.
Saraki added that effort should rather be directed at ensuring that President Muhammadu Buhari assents to the electoral bill for Nigerians to benefit from its other parts, especially at the present state in the annals of Nation. The country must come first before personal ambition.
“Direct Primaries is best for political parties if properly done. But I am sure Nigerians are not prepared for it becuas their is still a lot of work to be done.
“But now the the National Assembly has passed it, we should make the best out of the situation rather than allowing the controversy one item to throw away the other good parts of the bill.
“What is important, is for the President to assent to it and enable Nigerians benefit from the other parts”.
He applauded the PDP on its performance at the recent election in Anambra where the party came second, Saraki noting that the exercise was a success for Nigeria and democracy.
“The Anambra election was a success story for Nigeria becuase many of us were sceptical that it would hold.
“But it not only held, it was peaceful and credible and we commend INEC for bringing in technology which we have advocated to improve our electoral process.
“Yes, there were still some works that needed to be done, no doubt, but we can improve on that for the next election to be better. People can now say we are having elections that is closer to best practices. That election was a good day for democracy and Nigeria and we thank the security agencies also”, he added.
He further noted that what is important now is Nigeria and not personal ambition of anybody.
He said “The party that cannot manage itself cannot rule the country”.
Dignitaries that graced the event were his sister, the Minister for Transportation, State, Senato Gbemisola Saraki, Senator Rafiu Ibrahim, former Acting National Chairman of PDP, Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje, former Minister of Transportation, Bio Ibrahim, former Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Dr Ali Ahmad and the National Legal Adviser of the PDP, Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN) among others.
