Date: 2015-05-31

The Northern Professionals and Entrepreneurs Forum has announced its adoption of Senator Bukola Saraki (APC, Kwara) for the office of the Senate President of the incoming 8th National Assembly, saying that he represents a bridge between the older and younger generations.

The group, which is a platform for the aggregation of the interest of Nigerian professionals and entrepreneurs of Northern extraction, made the disclosure in a communique issued to journalists in Abuja yesterday after its extra-ordinary general meeting.

The forum therefore urged all professionals and entrepreneurs including well-meaning Nigerians to rally round Saraki's bid, describing him as the most qualified for the office among the contestants.

The communiqué quoted the President of the Forum, Alhaji Ibrahim Sabo Bakin Zuwo, as saying that: "as a forum, we conducted extensive analysis of the antecedents and pedigree of all Senators who put themselves forward for the Senate Presidency and the result of our analysis clearly shows that Sen. Saraki stands out as the most qualified. This made his adoption an easy choice for is." According to the communique, the Secretary-General of the Forum, Malam Abdulsalam Abubakar, also commenting on the matter, however urged the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Senators-elect to allow internal democracy prevail in the contest, saying that the choice of Saraki as the Senate President will give the country a rare opportunity of having a skilled technocrat and professional in that capacity. "The candidacy of Sen. Saraki gives is the rare opportunity of having a President of the Nigerian Senate who is a consummate politician, an experienced professional and a skilled technocrat with immense public and private sector administrative experience" Abubakar said.