Date: 2011-04-17

Kwara State Governor, Dr Bukola Saraki has observed that with the smooth conduct of the National Assembly and Presidential elections, Nigeria has demonstrated that it can conduct credible elections like anywhere else in the world.

He also disclosed that the success story of the two elections held so far was a clear manifestation that Nigeria was truly ready for democracy.

Dr Saraki made the observation, weekend, at Share during an interaction with newsmen at the Eight-day Fidau prayers for the later mother of the PDP gubernatorial candidate in the State, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed.

The governor, who joined other eminent dignitaries from all walks of life to honour the PDP gubernatorial candidate, thanked the entire people of the State for their support and commitment to the party in the National Assembly and Presidential elections.

He therefore expressed hope that Nigerians would repeat the same feat by conducting themselves in an orderly manner to achieve credibility in the conduct of the gubernatorial and State House of Assembly elections, which is the last lap of the nation’s electoral process.

Reacting to the victory of the PDP in the Presidential election in the State, the governor said it was in fulfillment of his promise at the Metropolitan Square to deliver the State for the party’s candidate, Dr Goodluck Jonathan.

"It is a good victory for PDP in Kwara. I made a promise that as a party man, I would work very hard to deliver our candidate, Goodluck Jonathan and we have done that", Saraki said.

Also speaking, the National Secretary of the PDP, Alhaji Kawu Baraje expressed satisfaction with the conduct of last Saturday’s presidential election in the State, saying the victory of the party in the State was a welcome development.

Alhaji Baraje, who is also the Chairman, Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), described the presidential election as one of the best elections to be conducted in Nigeria and generally adjudged to be fair and credible.

While commending INEC for this wonderful feat, he advised politicians to exhibit the spirit of sportsmanship by accepting defeat gallant whenever they lose elections, pointing out that election is not about winning all the time.

"Whoever has lost out in an election including the presidential election should accept defeat gallantly as this is the only way that Nigeria could forge ahead", Baraje advised.


Mas’ud Adebimpe
Chief Press Secretary to the Kwara State Governor
17/04/2011