Date: 2010-10-02

The Kwara State governor and PDP Presidential Aspirant, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki has said his presidential bid was borne out of Clarion Calls from prominent Nigerians to offer himself to serve his fatherland at the federal level.

The PDP presidential hopeful, disclosed this at the weekend in Ilorin while speaking at the Dinner party organized as part of the 50th Independence Anniversary and Award for distinguished Nigerians who have contributed to the Development of the state.

Governor Saraki said, his aspiration for the president of this country and subsequent emergence was as a result of the calls from prominent Nigerians, who believe the Almighty Allah has given him the ability to reposition and move forward the country as encapsulate in Kwara State in the last seven and a half years of purposeful leadership.

While promising to bring his wealth of experience in the state to bear in the governance of the country if given the mandate, the aspirant stated that, the achievements recorded in the area of political stability in Kwara State was owing to the restoration of peace and harmony by his administration compared to what the state was prior to 2003.

The elated governor, who equally expressed determination to clinch the party ticket and give good account to himself as the Nigeria President described the state as the leading state in some of the policies notably the education reform embarked upon by his administration, which addressed among other things the examination malpractices and quite a number of other issues in the various sectors of the economy.

Governance, the presidential aspirant maintained, was about transparency and accountability, which his administration has shown by subjecting the State to fitch rating in 2008, as the first state to publicly subject herself to International scrutiny; and this was borne out of his determination to leave the state better than he met it.

In the same vein he recalled the Clean Bill of Health given to the state by EFCC on the floor of the National Assembly by the former chairman of the agency, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu after which the State subjected itself to fitch rating.

Saraki, who also recalled the achievements of his administration in the areas of road development, agriculture and agro-allied as well as energy through the completion of Ganmo power project with 15-20 regular hours of electricity supply, which has today placed the state among the few states in the country that can boast of regular power supply, thanked the people of the State for their support over the years which he said, had assisted him to make significant impact on their lives.

He then promise to bring significant development to Nigeria saying that from 2011 Insha Allah the country Nigeria would witness progressive march and positive transformation in all sectors of economy under his leadership.

Equally at the ceremony, 13 Eminent Kwarans including the Second Republic Senate leader, Dr Olusola Saraki and two non-indigenes were at the weekend honoured with merit awards by the Kwara State Government for their outstanding contributions to the development of the State.

The award ceremony, which witnessed the presentation of a ten million naira cheque by the Deputy Governor, Chief Joel Ogundeji on behalf of the 31-member state executive council to governor Bukola Saraki to offset his nomination fee for the PDP Presidential primaries, was part of activities lined up by the State Government to mark Nigeria’s 50th Independence Anniversary in the State.

The recipient, who received various merit awards in all spheres of disciplines included Chief Emmanuel Adesoye (OON), Dr Samuel Oloruntoba (OON), a former Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Samuel Afolayan (rtd), an industrialist, Chief Samuel Adedoyin (OFR), Late Sheikh Mohammed Kamaldeen (posthumous) and Engineer Lanre Shagaya.

Others are Justices Moddibo Alfa Belgore (GCON), a retired Chief Justice of Nigeria, Mustapha Akanbi, former Chairman of ICPC, Saidu Kawu (CON) and Late Justice Mahmud Belgore (posthumous), a popular home-based musician, Alhaji Aminu Jaigbade Alao as well as a famour footballer Ahaji Rasheed Yekini.

The two non-indigenes that made up the list included an Ilorin-based businessman, Mr Boniface Ifeanyi and the Late Chief Adolphus Okafor also a posthumous award.

Dr Bukola Saraki commended the efforts and foresight of our past heroes for their roles at securing freedom for the country on a platter of gold.

The governor, who also praised the Independence Anniversary committee for doing a good job, congratulated the entire Nigerians for being part of the gold Jubilee Celebration.

He also congratulated the award recipients especially the non-indigenes for their outstanding contributions to the growth and development of the State and urged them to sustain the tempo so that other wealthy individuals could be encouraged to take a cue from them.

While expressing appreciation to members of the State executive council for their support and the entire Kwarans for the opportunity given him to serve the State, Dr Saraki assured of turning around the economy if given the same opportunity to lead the country.


Mas’ud Adebimpe
Chief Press Secretary to the Kwara State Governor
02/10/2010