PDP will produce president in 2019, says Saraki

Bukola Saraki

Group gives him seven-day ultimatum to declare for presidency
Senate President Abubakar Bukola Saraki yesterday said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would win the 2019 general election and produce a new president for the country.

He stated this in Ilorin, Kwara State capital, while addressing ward and local council delegates from the old and new members of the PDP in the state during a harmonisation meeting held at the Government House Banquet Hall.

Saraki, who said confidently that ‘the future is better and brighter than the past,’ promised to ensure cohesion between the old and new party members in the state.

He assured the delegates that he would only support the best and the most popular candidates among the people.

Besides, he warned party elders and other structures against dropping his name in the contest.

“In 2019, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will produce the president. If we emerge victorious at the federal level, all of us will be the beneficiaries. In the state, with your support, we will win the state too. All of you here are the key players in Kwara politics. With unity of purpose, no party can contest with you.

“We are here to unite all of us under the party we belong to today. I am assuring all members that there will be equity, internal democracy and justice. It is not going to be winners take all. As far as I am concerned, everybody here today belongs to our political structure. There is nothing like old or new Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). We have all become one PDP.

“I am very sure that the future is bigger and brighter than the past. I want all of us to be united for the progress and development of Kwara State. Where we are today as far as I am concerned, all of you belong to me. As per the politics of the state, nobody can wrest the power from us if we are united. By the grace of us in the forthcoming elections, we will emerge victorious both at the federal and state levels.

“We will ensure that we work as one party, because we have always worked together before. We will see that all the wards and local councils’ popular candidates emerge based on their popularity and acceptability. I want to emphasis it that I don’t have any anointed candidate at all levels. I don’t have candidates for state Assembly, it is the person you want in your constituency that I will okay. Don’t allow anybody to deceive you that I have endorsed any candidate.

“I implore party leaders and elders not to drop my name to impose unpopular candidates. I don’t have candidate for the National Assembly. All of us will collectively choose who becomes the next governor. There will be equity, internal democracy and justice.

“We will ensure that there is no faction but one PDP.”

Meanwhile, a newly-formed pressure group, the Draft Saraki Movement (DSM), yesterday gave Saraki a seven-day ultimatum to contest the 2019 presidential election.

It also said his refusal to decline or heed the call will mean a great disservice to the populace.

In a communique issued in Abuja and signed by its National Co-ordinator and Secretary, Abdallah Maiyaki Anas and Ephraim Egbuojah Japheth respectively, the movement stated that given Saraki’s pedigree and sacrifice in standing with the Nigerian people despite all forms of intimidation, his wealth of experience in public service will turnaround the act of governance in the country.

The group said the uncommon leadership qualities exhibited by Saraki had not only endeared him to the Nigerian electorate, but gave hope to the common man.