Senator Saraki said yesterday that he had decided to drop his ambition because, according to him, Nigeria’s political climate for 2015 is very complicated and “this is the time for every patriotic politician to situate his personal ambition in the context of the country’s overall interest.”
According to him, he wanted to avoid a scenario where there would be rancour in reference to the party primaries. He acknowledged that there will always be just one winner and the losing contenders will be disappointed and this could lead to clashes of interest.
“I don’t think our party can afford too much internal rancour going into next year’s election. I, therefore, think some of us need to make the sacrifice and be part of the solution rather than part of the problem of the party,” said the senator regarded as one of the major masterminds of a major breakaway from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) earlier in the year.
Senator Saraki recounted how he, along with other progressives in the PDP, decided to leave the ruling party to join the APC when it was clear that PDP, especially at the national level, had become too invested in the personal ambition of one man to the detriment of the overall interest of the country and its democracy.
“I have always maintained that I did not leave the ruling party to join the opposition because of any personal interest. Anyone who understands Nigeria’s politics would know that it takes courage and self-sacrifice to do that. Therefore, whether it is on the issue of the party or all other issues that I have been pushing in my position as a senator of the Federal Republic, I have been driven primarily by my desire to see a better and more purposely governed country,” he stated.
According to him, Nigeria desperately needs change.
“We need to change the way the country is run; we need change in our security and the values we place on human life; we need to change the current disgraceful situation in security and corruption. And I believe only the APC can bring about this change and give our country the leadership it deserves.”
He noted, however, that APC can only live up to the aspirations of Nigerians for change if it is not derailed by too much acrimony from its primaries which is coming so close to the general elections.
“This is why some of us felt that we must make the necessary sacrifice and contribute to build a strong and united party that provides the only real alternative to the floundering government that has become so constipated on power and lost touch with the realities that ordinary Nigerians grapple with every day,” he said.
Senator Saraki further stated that he has had the opportunity to exchange ideas with other presidential aspirants, namely, General Muhammadu Buhari, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, and was convinced that they were committed to see that APC would to come up with a credible and acceptable candidate that will take the country on a different path.
A source close to Saraki said even though his endorsement is being courted by the other aspirants, in the spirit of playing a role to being part of the solution to ensuring a rancour-free presidential primary, the senator will not officially endorse any of the candidates immediately, but will work tirelessly to see that whoever emerges is acceptable to all.
Senator Saraki thanked his family, loyalists, followers and groups across the country who had urged him and supported him in the presidential race because of their belief that he had the necessary qualities and character to fix Nigeria, especially the teeming youths who might feel disappointed as a result of this sacrificial decision he had made and urged them all to continue to support the APC.
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