Date: 2010-12-09

As the race for the governorship candidate of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party  gathers momentum, the public have been inundated with a wide-spread rumour that a particular aspirant has been endorsed for the 2011 gubernatorial election in Kwara State by Governor Bukola Saraki.

Dr Saraki in a swift reaction has debunked the claim, describing it as an outright falsehood that has no iota of truth.

The governor, who made this clarification, also disclosed that he has not endorsed any aspirant for the gubernatorial race as the position is opened to all the aspirants who are bonafide citizens and loyal members of the Peoples Democratic Party in the State.

His words: "There is no iota of truth in the rumour circulating in the public domain that Governor Bukola Saraki has anointed or endorsed any of the aspirants for the 2011 gubernatorial race in the State, all aspirants would be accorded the same opportunity in the forthcoming party primaries".

According to him, all aspirants that informed him of their aspirations to run for the governorship race were all given the go ahead by him to test their popularity among their people.

Any aspirant who has so far signified interest to run, Saraki said, has the right as a citizen of the state and bonafide party member to aspire for the office of the number one citizen of the State.

He noted that the PDP as large as it is remains an indivisible family that would continue to provide good governance for the people of the State.

Saraki, however, disclosed further that all aspirants seeking to contest the governorship election and who have duly informed him of their aspiration were allowed and given free hands to go and test their popularity, stressing that citizens of the State remain the ultimate decider of who among the aspirants carries the banner.

As a democrat who believes in democratic process, Saraki maintained that he has not directly or indirectly given specific instruction or directive to any aspirant to obtain nomination form, noting that those who have done so did it out of their own free-will which has not in any way run contrary to the laws of the land or even the party as the case may be.

As the father for all, Dr Saraki promised to ensure that a level playing ground would be provided for all aspirants wishing to contest for one position or the other in the forthcoming general elections.

He therefore urged party members, supporters and all well wishers to continue to work together as a united family so that we can continue to consolidate on the gains of the purposeful leadership which the State has witnessed in the past seven and a half years and also prepare further in moving the State to the next level.

Mas’ud Adebimpe
Chief Press Secretary to the Kwara State Governor
09/12/2010