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Tag: Bukola Saraki

  • Ondo Poll: Saraki Demands Free, Fair Process, Canvasses support for Jegede

    Ondo Poll: Saraki Demands Free, Fair Process, Canvasses support for Jegede

    Immediate past Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security officials and the electorate that will participate in next Saturday’s governorship election in Ondo State to ensure that the peaceful, credible, free and fair process witnessed during a similar election in nearby Edo State is not only sustained but improved upon.

    Saraki, in a statement issued from his Media Office in Abuja today, advised the INEC and security officials to quickly do a comprehensive review of how it achieved the commendable process in Edo State and ensure that nothing less than that is repeated in Ondo State.

    “These isolated polls as we have in Ondo State next Saturday and the last one in Edo State give us the opportunity to perfect the electoral system. We must continue to improve on the system with every one of these out-of-season elections so that the next general elections will perhaps be the best the country has witnessed in the last 60 years.

    “It is a good omen that the election is coming a few days after the 60th Independence Anniversary. INEC, security officials and all individuals involved in the October 10 election in Ondo State must present a credible poll to all Nigerians as part of the Independence Anniversary gifts.

    “From the Edo experience, we have seen that when the process is free and fair, the post-election contestation and the tension they usually generate are easily eliminated. The sides that do not win will be graceful in defeat while the one that is victorious will be magnanimous in victory. This is how we can build our democracy and make the system work for the benefit of the people.

    “So, INEC should replicate the transparent process we saw in Edo State in which results were transmitted electronically from polling stations to the collation centers and it was possible for all interested parties to monitor the returns as they come in”, Saraki stated.

    He further urged the registered voters in Ondo State to vote for the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Eyitayo Jegede (SAN) who he described as experienced, mature, committed and brilliant professional that has the ability to think out of the box in finding solutions to the socio-economic problems confronting the state. 

    “I appeal to the people of Ondo State to vote for Jegede because he will faithfully fulfill all the promises he made to the people and implement the lofty programmes of the PDP. Let me also state that it is not too late for candidates of the other parties who share the same programmes, policies and plans with the PDP to drop out of the race and team up with our candidate for maximum victory and the resultant formation of an all inclusive government”, he stated.

  • Jonathan, Saraki Congratulate Obaseki, Describe Re-election as Opportunity to Deliver Campaign Promises

    Jonathan, Saraki Congratulate Obaseki, Describe Re-election as Opportunity to Deliver Campaign Promises

    A former Nigerian president, Goodluck Jonathan, and a former senate president, Bukola Saraki, have congratulated Godwin Obaseki over his re-election as Edo State Governor.

    Jonathan, in his congratulatory message, tasked the re-elected governor to rise above partisan politics and govern for the good people of Edo State, irrespective of party leaning.

    The former president also commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for overseeing a process that allowed the votes of the good people of Edo to count.

    “I congratulate His Excellency Godwin Obaseki on his re-election as Edo State Governor and the INEC Nigeria for overseeing a process that allowed the votes of the good people of Edo to count.

    “Democracy can only be consolidated to promote good governance in our nation and continent when our elections become credible, transparent and truly represent the wish of the voters.

    “Democracy is about the good of all the people and not for winners and losers.

    “As the election has been contested and won, I urge His excellency to rise above partisan politics and govern for the good of Edo people, irrespective of party leaning.

    “This is the way to deepen our democracy and bring development to the people,” Jonathan said.

    Saraki, on his part, congratulated Obaseki who he described as “friend and brother” on his re-election as Edo State Governor.

    The former senate president called on Obaseki to see his re-election as an opportunity to deliver on his campaign promises and to continually work to actualise the wishes and aspirations of Edo people.

    “The result of Edo gubernatorial election represents the true wish of the people who stood firmly behind their governor against power mongers who were determined to foist their choice on the people. It represents the will of the people to vote in free, fair, credible and peaceful elections.

    “The people of Edo State who had sleepless nights in order to protect their votes, those who rejected the cash being thrown around to buy their votes and the intimidation to force them to compromise their belief, deserve our praise. Therefore, my congratulations go to all the people of Edo State.

    “Let me give kudos to the leaders and governors in our party, PDP, for working together to achieve this victory. PDP leaders and members in Edo State who whole-heartedly accepted Governor Obaseki since he joined the party and co-operated with him to bring about this victory deserve to be appreciated.

    “The result of the just concluded election also represents the fact that our people actually desire to be governed by a truly democratic government headed by those they genuinely voted for. It represents the fact that our security and electoral officials can conduct free and fair elections if they have the right atmosphere. We are happy that throughout this election we did not see the military brutalising the people or security officials supervising the snatching of ballot boxes and vandalisation of votes. Thus, the military and other security agencies deserve commendation for this successful poll.

    “We also saw how INEC officials maturely handled the complaints of APC agent who sought to create confusion at the state collation centre when Orihomwon Local Government result was about to be declared. INEC and its officials deserve to be commended for their neutrality in this election.

    “We can see that the result represents realistic figures from one local government area to the other. No case of outlandish figures being reeled out. That is also a sign of some level of credibility in the process. It is for the above reasons that I have to commend President Muhammadu Buhari for keeping the military out of this election and for giving the instructions that led to the apparent neutrality of members of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other security officials in the entire process.

    “Edo election result is a victory for our country, her people and democracy. We have shown that the glory of the country is more valuable to the citizens than the wish of a tiny power clique,” he said.

    Idowu Sowunmi

  • Tinubu, Saraki mourn death of first Lawyer in Northern Nigeria

    Tinubu, Saraki mourn death of first Lawyer in Northern Nigeria

    National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has described the death of the first lawyer in Northern Nigeria, AbdulGaniyu Folorunsho AbdulRasaq a.k.a AGF, as the end of an important era in this country.

    He described late lawyer as a nationalist in its true definition and a pan-Nigerian in all its adoring flavours.

    Late AbdulRazaq, the father of Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulrRasaq, died in the early hours of Saturday in Abuja.

    He passed away less than four months to his 93rd birthday.

    He was Nigeria’s Ambassador to Cote d’Ivoire and also served as the first Kwara State Commissioner for Finance after the state was created in 1967.

    Late AbdulGaniyu Folorunsho AbdulRasaq a.k.a AGF.

    Tinubu, in an emotional condolence statement he personally signed, said: “The passing at 93 of the iconic patriot and elder statesman, Alhaji AbdulGaniyu Folorunsho Abdulrasaq, popularly known as AGF, signifies the end of another era in the annals of this country.”

    According to him, “The likes of AGF were the proverbial hewers of wood and drawers of water who laboured hard for the strong foundation upon which our dear country was erected.

    “He was there in the thick of all the nationalistic struggles and negotiations during the transition from colonial era to an independent Nigeria.

    “A nationalist in its true definition and a pan-Nigerian in all its adoring flavours, Papa Abdulrasaq did a lot for this country. He was an educationist who founded the first privately-owned secondary school, Ilorin College in Ilorin, now known as Ilorin Government High School, in the old Ilorin Province.

    “He was an active player during the nascent post-independence period of the 1960’s, helping to stitch together the multi-interest and diverse expectations of the peoples of this country.

    “AGF gave his very best to our country as a top legal practitioner, indeed the first lawyer to emerge from the Northern part of Nigeria, who also rose to become the Chairman, Council of Body of Benchers.

    “He was also many more in his unparalleled service to the country: a technocrat whose era as President, Nigeria Stock Exchange, helped to bolster the competitiveness of our stock exchange sector; a politician who was the first National Legal Adviser of the Northern Peoples Congress (NPC); Minister of State for Railway; a diplomat who was Nigeria’s Ambassador to Cote D’viore (Ivory Coast), and a foremost community leader, the Mutawalli of Ilorin Emirate and Tafida of Zaazau (Zaria).

    “The departure of the highly revered AGF, the father of Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq, has left a huge vacuum in our national life.

    “I commiserate with Governor Abdlurasaq, I mourn with his brother, Alhaji Alimi Abdulrasaq, and their other siblings. My condolences also to Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, and the good people of Ilorin and Kwara State over the demise of their most illustrious son.

    “I hope and pray that Munificent Allah grant them the strength and fortitude only He can provide in order to live after Papa’s passing. May Almighty Allah also reward Papa of his good deeds, forgive his shortcoming and admit him to Aljanna Firdaus.”

    Similarly, former Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki has described the death of Alhaji AbdulGaniyu Folorunsho Abdul-razaq, Mutawalli of Ilorin as a loss of one of the statesmen produced by Kwara State.

    Saraki in a statement released in Abuja noted that the late senior advocate who died at the age of 93 had lived a good life and contributed his own quota to the development of Kwara State and Nigeria in general.

    “The late AGF as he was fondly called by people who knew him will be sorely missed and I believe he did his best in the service of our people in Kwara State and Nigeria as a lawyer, politician, diplomat and President of the Nigerian Stock Exchange”, Saraki noted.

    Saraki who is the Waziri of Ilorin commiserated with Dr. Alimi Abdulrazaq and his siblings, the entire family of the deceased, the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, the entire Ilorin Emirate and the people of Kwara State. He also prayed that Almighty Allah forgive the sins of the late Abdulrazaq and grant him a place in Aljannah Firdaus.

    Announcing the death of his father on Saturday, a former Executive Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Alimi AbdulRasaq, said: “With total submission to the will of the Almighty Allah, the AbdulRazaqs of Ilorin Emirate of Kwara State hereby announce the passing of their patriarch and statesman Alhaji AbdulGaniyu Folorunsho Abdul-Razaq SAN (OFR) at the age of 93 in Abuja. He was born in 1927.

    ”The Mutawali of Ilorin and Tafida of Zazzau (Zaria), who was Chairman of the Nigerian Body of Benchers, died peacefully at about 2am on Saturday July 25th, 2020 (the 4th day of Dhul-Hijjah 1441 AH.)

    “The first lawyer from the Northern Region is survived by his 90-year-old wife, Alhaja Raliat AbdulRazaq, illustrious children, including incumbent Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, and grandchildren.

    ”Arrangement for his interment will be announced by the family shortly.”

    By Idowu Sowunmi &Tobiloba Kolawole

  • Saraki welcomes Obaseki to PDP, says Oshiomhole has met his Waterloo

    Saraki welcomes Obaseki to PDP, says Oshiomhole has met his Waterloo

    Former Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has welcomed the Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki into the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and congratulated him for taking a good step in the right direction.

    In a statement issued in Abuja, Saraki noted that the bigger commendation and appreciation should go to the leaders of the Edo State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the various levels for the sense of sacrifice, patriotism and devotion to the progress of the party demonstrated by them in the process of welcoming Obaseki into its fold.

    “I also thank Obaseki’s colleagues, the PDP Governors, for their role and for ensuring that while bringing him into the party, they carried along the local chapter and refrain from just unilaterally taking decisions without the input of the leaders of the party in Edo State. The process our Governors adopted in working with the local chapter to bring in the Governor is a better approach than the system in many of the other parties where the National Working Committee (NWC) would simply just give him a membership card.

    “That is why my appeal will, at this point, go to all of us, the leaders and stakeholders, who gave assurances that agreement will be honoured, we need to ensure that the NWC of our party plays its own supervisory role by making sure that those agreements entered into by the Governor and the local chapter should be kept, particularly since I am very sure they are all lawful and in the interest of peace and development of the state. That is the only way to keep our integrity intact.

    “At this point, it will be odd if I fail to comment on the situation that led to the change of party by Governor Obaseki. While I have kept my cool and ignored all the verbal attacks directed at me by the suspended chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, I have always known that a day like this would come when his masquerade will dance naked in the market.

    “The truth is always constant and no matter how far falsehood travels, the truth will catch up with it one day. Oshiomhole can fool people for a long time but he cannot fool the people all the time. What is happening to him now is a moment of truth. This same man who was garrulously proclaiming the end of the political career of some other people is now about to meet his Waterloo.

    “He has continued to use his mouth to divide his party and I believe there is a lesson for all politicians to learn from the fate of the suspended APC chairman. No autocrat can successfully pretend to be a Democrat. The true character of a man will come out one day”, he said.

    Saraki further stated that all lovers of democracy should be interested in the emergence of a healthy and strong party system and organisation which would provide viable platforms for people to aspire and provide quality leadership to the country.