2023: Zoning not solution to Nigeria’s problems – Saraki

Former Senate President Bukola Saraki, on Monday evening wooed Lagos PDP delegates for their votes, ahead of the party’s May 28 and May 29 presidential primary election, telling them that zoning is not the solution to Nigeria’s problems.

Mr Saraki, who along with team, met PDP leaders at Ikeja, said if elected as the next president, Lagos would be given special attention as an investment destination in Nigeria.

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 zoning was not the answer to Nigeria’s present situation, but leadership.
The ex-Kwara governor added that Nigeria needed a president with action and courage to stand and take some very bold decisions to reposition the nation.

“Please, let me appeal to you, I am your own. Let us work together to ensure that we win at the federal (level) and win at the state,” said Mr Saraki. “There is nobody among all the aspirants that has the same history and closeness to Lagos state as myself. Do not leave your own to go look for someone outside. Together we can make this country better. My interest will be your interest. I want to appeal, don’t share your delegate votes, this is my own state. I beg you.”

On the calls for special status for Lagos, Mr Saraki, who described such status as a special priority, explained that the state would have special attention in the scheme of things if is elected.

He urged the delegates not to be deceived by any gratification, saying leadership that will make Nigeria better should be uppermost.

According to him, Nigeria needs a president that has the capacity, knowledge and experience to unite the people, and that he is the best bridge between the North and the South.

He also mentioned that he had the capacity to reconcile people like he did when he led the PDP Reconciliatory Committee which brought peace to some state chapters of the party.

Mr Saraki, who noted that none of the presidential aspirants in PDP and APC had his kind of experience as a former two-term governor, chairman of the Governors’ Forum, Senate president, asserted that he had the experience to provide leadership that the nation needed.

Describing himself as a team player, Saraki said that as 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,” he told the delegates. “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.”

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 one third of the assembly seats were occupied by women.

(NAN)