OEPHIUS:
There is a consensus that President Buhari’s administration has failed but what bothers the minds of millions of dissatisfied Nigerian citizens remain which politician can displace Buhari given his political base. There is no gainsaying that the Buhari government has shown its incompetence in handling issues. It is pertinent to note that at the celebrated meeting of Buhari with President Trump of the United States, he was reportedly dismissed as lifeless by Trump, a reference which is a bitter truth which summarizes the entire leadership of his administration. If the president of the United States, the leader of the free world and most powerful man in the world adjudged the president of Nigeria as lifeless, it calls for deep introspection and sober reflection.


Consequently, the two major political parties that would most likely produce the next president of Nigeria are the PDP and APC. In recent times the PDP has had its political fortunes enhanced by the defection of prominent members of APC who moved from the PDP prior to the 2015 elections. Comparatively, it has a pool of candidates who possess the leadership acumen to unseat Mr Buhari and has gone into a coalition known as the Coalition of Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) to wrestle power from the APC. It is no gainsaying to unambiguously propose that PDP has a better chance of winning the presidential election in 2019 than APC but its choice of presidential candidate is a crucial variable in this political permutation.


Without doubt in the PDP, the battle is between Saraki and Atiku; and for the PDP and APC, it is Saraki or Atiku versus Buhari. However, the Senate president embodies a fresh perspective to leadership, which is imperative at this juncture in the journey to development of Nigeria and set it on the path of progress. He has tagged his campaign #GrowNigeria. And I intend to advance the premise on which I believe Saraki appears most likely to be at the helm of affairs of Nigeria in 2019 with a victory in the presidential elections provided the PDP gives him the ticket.



At the level of state government politics, as a politician with conscience, he opposed his father’s decision for his sister Rukiyat to succeed him as governor. That singular act endeared him to the people of his state who rewarded him with their votes as he was elected a senator after serving two terms as governor. Dr Saraki is accorded recognition as the father of modern governance in Kwara State given his type of politics which is devoid of rancor and acrimony.
Based on a PPP model with 13 large scale Zimbabwean farmers, the Shonga Farms project was initiated and today is a major supplier to Nigerian Starch Mills Limited, WAMCO, Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) and Shoprite stores.


On education, HE Saraki established Kwara State University (KWASU) a state-owned university which did not exist despite Kwara being one of the oldest states in Nigeria. Saraki’s leadership envisioned an egalitarian Kwara state where citizens are educated to the highest level.
In furtherance of that grand goal, the Ilorin Aviation School is one of the laudable projects initiated and completed by his administration which afforded indigenes of the state to acquire high tech knowledge in aviation.


To be vindicated in his area of education as a medical doctor, he established Kwara Advanced Ultramodern Diagnosis Centre. On the nagging issue of electricity, the Ganmo Power Generation Plant, hundreds of ordinary power substations and some injection Substations were built.
On the national scene, the victory of the APC in the National Assembly and presidency brought yet another era of insight to the political enigma and colossus Saraki is. The election of the opposition to the presidency instead of unifying the opposition threw up a leadership tussle, which required a great deal of wisdom and maturity to handle.


He brought coalition politics into the senate where he made concession to the opposition party PDP, garnered their block votes, with some loyal APC senators, he was elected the Senate president. Nigerians were relieved. The PDP which was wallowing in bitter election defeat heaved a sigh of relief while the South East which was almost schemed out in this dispensation got a top position in Senator Ike Ekweremadu as Deputy Senate (PDP) and it helped quell dissenting voices. It is no gainsaying to call HE Saraki the unifier, a bridge builder and a man who radiates the true meaning of one Nigeria.


The 8th Senate under HE Saraki has been the most successful of the fourth republic with groundbreaking bills and amendments passed while working harmoniously with all and sundry to ensure that our democracy is protected.
The Senate under Saraki has passed over 200 bills in all facets of Nigeria as a country such as the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB) and Electoral Amendment Bill. Specifically, as at its 3rd anniversary, on June 9, 2015, it passed 213 bills, cleared 138 petitions from members of the public.


In all the consternations, which have simmered in recent times, he has emerged as the face of democracy recognized by world powers most recently, UK and European Union during the recent siege by Nigeria’s Secret Service on the National Assembly. After the recent siege on the Senate, he addressed a world press conference to assure the rest of the world that Nigeria is still committed to democracy and rule of law despite cynical forces that are bent on torpedoing progress.


Dr Saraki is the link between the old and the new generation. He best captures the aspirations of millennials and is an embodiment of modern governance. Nigerians are disillusioned with the current administration but what is missing is the linkage who will harness and galvanize the dreams of many most Nigerians to actualize a progressive country.


He was instrumental in ensuring the #NotTooYoungToRun bill which lowers the age for several elective positions was passed into law. He is Youth eccentric, one of his major trademarks.
The other two leading candidates, Atiku, PDP (71) and Buhari, APC (75) are septuagenarians and the desire for a paradigm shift for fresh leadership has never been more than today. Saraki will be 56 in 2019 and fits into the picture Nigerians desire.


One argument President Buhari’s supporters advance is Buhari’s experience but that experience is tainted by involvement in military juntas one of which he headed in the 80s which affected his views of democracy. In clear contrast, Dr Saraki is accomplished, having been a governor for 8 years, Senator for 8 years, Senate president for 3.5 years Rule of Law. Dr Saraki is his direct opposite who has continued to uphold the Rule of Law and advocates deepening democracy. Dr Saraki’s sterling leadership at the NASS gives credence.


Dr Saraki’s acceptability across the length and breadth of Nigeria, across geopolitical zones and ethnic groups as seen from his consultations with prominent personalities and visits to several states where the masses have trooped out to welcome him. Despite the barrage of attacks on his personality, ordinary Nigerians are aware of his contribution to advancing democracy and progress of the country.

Emma Ikumeh, a member of the PDP, writes from Abuja


http://thepunditng.com/the-only-candidate-that-can-save-pdp-from-defeat-is-dr-bukola-saraki/