The Nigerian Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki has revealed one of the real reasons why he left the All Progressives Congress (APC) during his presidential campaign in Oyo state.
According to Saraki, although Nigerians voted Buhari into power overwhelmingly, there were being shortchanged because the government has been hijacked by a few people who have constituted themselves as cabals in the presidency.
Saraki who is also hoping to get the presidential ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to contest for the presidency next year spoke at a gathering of PDP delegates in Oyo state where he solicited for their support in the parties primaries slated for September 26 while he was in the company of Senator Rafiu Ibrahim, Senator Abiodun Olujinmi, Captain Idris Wada, Dr Doyin Okupe and Muhammed Wakil.
Read: Oyo State Government Shuts Down Obasanjo Farms, Others over Tax Evasion
The Senate President also alleged that every influential world leader who visited Nigeria left within a few hours because they were convinced that President Buhari did not understand their mission or contribute to the discussion as expected.
He then went further to elaborate that Nigeria’s progress was largely hindered because Nigerians voted for leaders based on religion, language and ethnicity rather than based on merit and capacity of such leaders.
According to Saraki;
“Over the years, we have made mistakes in electing people based on sentiment. Yes, it is time we corrected it. We will correct it because we are capable. Over the years, we have voted for people based on religion, the language they speak and where they came from in Nigeria. We need people who have the courage, capacity, ability and determination.
I have shown over the years, particularly in the recent years that one has the opportunity of leadership, that I have the capacity to take Nigeria forward. The countries that have done well did so not by bringing leaders by chance but because they looked for capable leaders. It is time to pick such a leader.
The President we have now does not understand leadership. We have endured him for more than three years but it is the same thing. Nigerians voted for him (Buhari) but a cabal is ruling the country. That is not what democracy means. This time, let us look for who can do it. In Nigeria today, we do not have unity. What we need in the present world is a digital President.
When your president sits with world presidents, he should be able to understand what they are saying. That is why presidents who have visited the country did not stay more than a few hours. But when they know that their host understands them, they will stay longer and explore investment opportunities in Nigeria.”
He then proceeded to massage the ego of the delegates by informing them that he considered Oyo State his home because his paternal grandmother was from Iseyin area of the state, adding that the state’s priorities would be protected if he became the President.
He then went back to the reason for the gathering, stating that for Nigeria to take 80 million people out of poverty, Nigerians must vote for a credible leader with drive, vision and focus in 2019.