By Magnus Effiong
Former Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, has appealed to delegates in the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, primaries of next month, to give him full support as he strives to emerge the presidential candidate of the party.
Speaking in Calabar whie addressing delegates, the former Kwarra State governor said he was eminently qualified to lead the nation and that as the former number three citizen in the country, his experience and exposure have placed him in a better place to rescue the country.
He said many Nigerians had told him that as governor, he did well in all angles, saying he had been tested, tried and proven as the best for the job at this time of Nigeria’s history.
Describing 2023 as a defining moment and that he was out to rescue Nigeria from imminent collapse, Saraki said , “We need a president who can afford to hold everyone together. Never in the history of Nigeria has the country be divided, polarized and discriminated.
“Never in our history have we seen this level of insecurity, collapse of economy and unemployment. As Nigeria stands, we do not have the luxury of sentiment. As things stand, we cannot say I will vote for this man because we are from the same area, we profess same faith.
“Nigeria needs a president who is team player, a nationalist, bold with capacity to resuscitate the ailing economy and bring Nigeria back from the brink of being termed failed state. Nigeria now spends 80percent of its resources to service debt.
“Today the APC-led federal government is accounting for only 16 percent of our Gross Domestic Product. I understand the problem with Nigeria and shall lead from the front.”
The presidential hopeful further said that for anyone to succeed as president of Nigeria today, such a one must have the passion, vision and the brain to create wealth.
“To create wealth, you must have the knowledge, skill acquisition and entrepreneurship mentality. We must include youths in our government. The youths will be ministers in the administration I will head,” he submitted.
The former senate president promised to create jobs to fight unemployment and attract investor, adding “we can only complete projects like the envisaged deep seaport of investors are attracted to our country, and investors can only come when they have trust in the leadership of the country.”
He also explained how he was able to scuttle alleged efforts by the APC-led government at the centre, saying be survived because he was able to hold the people he led together.
“I held the people together to an extent that it was difficult for those who were against me to throw me out of office. I related very well with my people, I am talking about everyone that mattered at the Senate. We were like a one big family even across party lines,” he stated.
