The President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has urged Nigerians to ensure they vote a president who understands democracy and is capable of giving all ethnic nationalities a sense of belonging in 2019.
This was just as the Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has called on all the aspirants gunning for the presidential ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party to accept the outcome of the party primary election slated for October 6, 2018 and work for the success of the party.
Saraki gave the advice against the backdrop of the criticism that greeted the appointment of Yusuf Bichi as the Director General of the Department of State Services.
The critics hold the view that President Muhammadu Buhari was promoting nepotism with Bichi’s appointment.
He is from Kano State and was appointed as replacement for Bayelsa State born Matthew Seiyefa, who was in office in acting capacity.
Saraki said that democracy would have been a thing of the past in Nigeria but for the efforts of the National Assembly, which ensured its sustenance.
He made the remarks while meeting with delegates of the PDP on his presidential ambition at the Governor’s Office in Ado Ekiti on Saturday.
He said the country requires a president that could give the people a sense of belonging and also ensure “we have true democracy”.
The President of the Senate added that there must be restructuring so that States could maximise their potentials.
Saraki said: “We are at a cross road.
“We are seeing great danger with our democracy.
“That is why your state has had a terrible experience with the kind of democracy.
“If not for what we have been doing at the National Assembly to sustain and protect democracy, by now there will be nothing like democracy in Nigeria.
“So, it is important that we look for a courageous and capable president that we can be proud of.
“A president that will ensure that we have true democracy.
“Before now, we have been voting based on sentiment and ethnicity, so we need a leader that will allow you to reach your goal.
“It is time we restructure and have a state that would be able to maximise their potentials
“Let us look for someone who can understand how to rule and partner with investors for economic gain and that aspirant is me.”
Speaking during the meeting, Fayose, who revealed he was not supporting any particular aspirant, said he had cautioned his colleagues that they must allow the process to be credible.
He said: “Nigerians are waiting for PDP to liberate them and we must be united to be able to rescue them.”
Fayose, who threatened to back out of the primary election if the process is not credible, lamented that the future of the country had already been mortgaged, saying: “Somebody should tell Buhari to please go home and rest.”
He said that the last appointment President Buhari made into the DSS further confirmed that he is insensitive.
He said: “He is supposed to be the President of Nigeria.
“We never know we can get here.
“I am sure that you joined the APC (All Progressives Congress) because you thought that Nigeria will be better.
“Nigeria no longer has gear one to five, everything is now in reverse gear.”
Turning to Saraki, Fayose said: “Welcome to Jerusalem.
“The APC is the Egypt.”
In Saraki’s entourage were members of his Campaign Committee and National Assembly members.