Being statement by Senator Bukola Saraki announcing the
suspension of his presidential ambition. This was adapted from
his Facebook page.



After months of wide but careful deliberations and
consultations with my family, friends, political associates and
supporters, today, I am announcing the suspension of my
Presidential Bid in the interest of our country and party. As it
stands, I have been deeply humbled by the spark that my
prospective candidacy has ignited among Nigerians across
Nigeria and abroad; Young people, youth groups, and
stakeholders from all geo-political zones have sought the
change that they wish to see. These young people by their
overwhelming support have not only encouraged my candidacy,
they have endorsed the change that they desperately crave.
As complicated as the political outlook of 2015 currently
seems, now is the time for well-meaning Nigerians from all
works of life to fall-in-line and become rank-and-file soldiers
in our struggle to reclaim our nation. I have always maintained
that I did not leave the ruling party for the opposition because
of any personal interest; Anyone who understands Nigerian
politics would know that it takes serious courage, rugged
doggedness 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,
the primal purpose that drives me is the desire to see a better
and more purposely governed Nigeria.
Fixing Nigeria cannot be done by any an individual effort,
because fixing Nigeria is an assignment that goes beyond the
power of any individual or party; it is beyond individual’s
ambition and zeal. Fixing a nation like Nigeria with daunting
challenges that have accumulated over the years, will take a
combined effort.

Due to this, I believe that as we move forward
to the next elections, now is the time “for every patriotic
Nigerian, particularly those in the political terrain to base their
ambitions and interest in the context of the country’s overall
interest.”
In any healthy democracy, several people will always compete.
Even at that, by virtue of the notion of completion, only one can
emerge at the end of the day. What this means is that several
others may be left disappointed. To my party-men and women,
to all our candidates competing for the highest office in the
land, we must remember that as we move on to take the lead in
this fight for the future of our great country, our party cannot
afford too much internal rancour going into next year’s election.


Therefore, some of us need to make personal sacrifice and be
part of the solution rather than parts of the problem of the party
– and in turn, the country.
This explains why some of us feel that we must make
necessary sacrifices and contribute immensely to building a
strong and united party that provides the only real alternative to
the floundering Government that has become too constipated
on power and lost touch with the realities that ordinary
Nigerians grapple with everyday.
Moving forward, we need to change the way the country is run;
we need change in our security and the values we place on
human life; we need to change the current disgraceful situation
in security and corruption. And I believe only the APC can bring
about this change and give our country the leadership that it
deserves.
But we must not stop here. To bring about this change, we
must knock on doors, and travel far and wide and spread the
ideology of a new Nigeria. We must let Nigerians know that as
we seek their mandate as a party and as politicians, they must
hold us accountable for the promises that we make during
election time. We must let them know that gone are the days of
politics-as-usual, empty-promises-as-usual and stomach
infrastructure instead of tangible and progressive change.
Because of this, we must chart a new course. As a party, we
must establish a CONTRACT WITH NIGERIA that sends a
message that change is coming, and change is ever-so-close…


But we, as the custodians of our own future, have to grab our
change by taking our collective destiny into our own hands at
the ballot box. I continue to stand committed to progressive
and successful Nigeria. I continue to remain committed to my
supporters, and thankful for their unwavering encouragement
over the last few months. I thank my family, loyalists, followers
and groups across the country such as Save Kwara Forum,
Members of New Nigeria Generation, ABS Vanguard, The Nigeria
Positive Change Group, All Progressive Youth Forum, Project
Nigeria first, Nigerians in Diaspora Group and others too
numerous to mention that have urged me to join the
presidential race because of their belief in my ability to fix this
country, I say do not be disappointed as a result of this
sacrificial decision i have taken in the interest of our country. I
thank the other Presidential aspirants and leaders on the
platform of the APC who have sat down with me to discuss
ways of moving this nation forward. All our candidates stand
head and shoulders over the leadership that we have today –
and I know that they too are dedicated to fixing Nigeria…


To reiterate and wrap up, as Nnamdi Azikiwe once said: “We
must do for ourselves what others hesitate to do for us.”
Because of this, I speak directly to every Nigerian when I say:
change is a joint effort. Change will not happen by shying away
from the ballot box. Change will only occur when we, as
Nigerians, decide – as one – that we want change, and nothing
will deter us from having it.
We must keep hope alive and be assured that who ever will
receive my support and endorsement will be someone who
believes in our aspiration, interest and yearning for a better
future for our teaming youth. I hereby reinstate my commitment
to the interest of the youths being protected and secured so
that at the end of the day, everyone will speak with one voice
that we will all be proud of. Thank you for your time.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=356675401176694&id=125341937643376&refid=8&_ft_=qid.6069410232807333414%3Amf_story_key.4832590048322037500&__tn__=%2As

Sai Buhari! I am waiting for Kwankwaso to do the same, then my personal campaign for Buhari will start.

Nice one from Saraki.
Indeed you've spoken well.
This is a welcome development.

It's our duty as Nigerians to make this change we envisage feasible.

Come 2015, APC is gonna occupy Aso rock.

Patent disappointment and Gnashing of teeth will naturally be the lot of TANoids after they must have read this release from ABS

Those who paid Babalawo,Fake Pastors like Ayo Oritsejafor and Dibias to cause confusion in the camp of APC have started seeing that God is more than them

NgeneUkwenu:
Sai Buhari! I am waiting for Kwankwaso to do the same, then my personal campaign for Buhari will start.

Kwakwanso is my choice but Buhari is not bad either. My mind tells me Buhari is in the race to stop Atiku in order for a younger guy like Kwakwanso to clinch the ticket. Kwakwanso is Obasanjo boy. Any of Obasanjo boys will always win a national election. There is something there that we don't know yet.

What is this slowpoke, thief, burglar, armed robber talking about. Saraki, just tell your rubbish to the gods. Who could the slowpoke have consulted as regard presidential ambition save the dullheads in Kwara state APC. For you Bukola Saraki, Nigeria's presidency is a tall dream that if it is being 'dashed out' can never be dashed out to your kind. To me, Saraki used style to pick raise from the contest. Kwara people have been waiting for your declaration to witness your 'shame at the village square'
Come 2015, your acclaimed kingdom of Kwara will be taken away from you as the Lord liveth. Bukola Saraki, you are a shame to civilisation and a disgrace to the world of educated folks in Nigeria. Ofcourse we now believe that your family do not belong to Kwara heritage, if u truly belong to Kwara, you would not have plundered it treacherously as you did. As you Bukola Saraki plundered Kwara, so shall you be plundered. As you Bukola Saraki made Kwarans poor and make them beg for food, and not able to stand tall in the comity of Nigerian states, so the coming generations of your own children shall also beg for food and not able to stand among their peers. In the coming generation of future Kwarans, your family's name shall be blouted out. The heavens approves of them as we have said them. Amen.