By Lawrence Olaoye
Former Governor of Kwara State, Bukola Saraki, yesterday announced his decision to shelve his presidential ambition in the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2015 election in the interest of the country and the party.
The former Governor, who represents Kwara Central in the Senate, said “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, “party primaries in any healthy democracy, would always leave several contenders disappointed and, sometimes bitter, as there would be only one winner.
“The party would then invest so much energy and time afterwards managing and reconciling various interests. 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.”
The Senator recounted how he, alongside other progressives in the PDP, decided to leave the 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 at the overall detriment of the country and 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 said.
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