Buhari lauds Saraki over contributions to nation’s political development

By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari has hailed the second Republic Senate Leader, Dr Abubakar Olusola Saraki, describing him as a Nigerian statesman who participated in the evolution of the Nigerian political development.

Buhari said this yesterday while speaking at the 10th memorial anniversary for the second Republic Senate Leader and late strongman of Kwara politics, Dr Abubakar Olusola.

The memorial lecture was delivered by

a former Director of Kenyan Anti-corruption agency, Prof. Patrick Lumumba in Abuja.

The President, who was represented by the Governor of Borno State, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, noted that

the late Saraki participated in the evolution of the Nigerian political development by serving as a Senate Leader and a presidential aspirant of the then APP (All Progressives Party) which was one of the parties that made up the current All Progressives Congress, APC.

The President publicly disclosed that the

late Second Republic Senate Leader surely earned his (Buhari’s) respect and that of many other Nigerians.

According to Buhari, “Saraki was a Nigerian stateman who participated in the evolution of the Nigerian political development by serving as a Senate Leader and a presidential aspirant of the then APP which was one of the parties that formed APC (All Progressives Congress).

“He was one of them that earned the respect of many Nigerians and in particular President Muhammadu Buhari who has always been showing enormous regard for him.

“Equally, our presidential candidate, Ahmed Bola Tinubu and many others have, on many occasions, appreciated his contributions to our polity.

“My colleague governors and I have appreciated the contributions of the late Saraki. May Allah forgive and admit him in Jannatul Firdaus”, the representative of the President said.