Breaking: 2019: Saraki declares for president♦ as Tambuwal picks nomination form

By Steve Oko

As political intrigues and realignments ahead of the 2019 polls get under way,  the Senate President Bukola Saraki,  Thursday in Abuja declared his interest to run for the presidency.

This is as Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State also Thursday picked his nomination, and expression of interest froms for the number one position in the country.

The group said it had only invited Saraki and other chieftains of the PDP to a town hall meeting as part of efforts to ensure that youths are given some concessions ahead of the 2019 general elections.

It said it was shocked when Saraki seized the opportunity to declare his presidential bid thereby compromising its  programme .

It later said in a statement that : “Whilst addressing participants at the town hall, Senator Saraki declared his intention to run for the office of the President in the 2019 elections.

“The movement wishes to express its disappointment with Senator Saraki for usurping a platform designed for young aspirants to dialogue with party leadership to advance his personal political ambition. We strongly condemn this act by the President of the Senate.”

“The movement restates its commitment to sustain its engagement with political parties to ensure youth candidacy and democratic party primaries.

“As noted earlier, the movement reaffirms its identity as a non-partisan citizen-led movement dedicated to the defence of democracy, political inclusion and transformative leadership.”

Meanwhile,  Saraki has promised to provide the needed leadership to navigate Nigeria out of the woods if voted into power as President in 2019.

He said APC had disappointed Nigerians and promised to united the country if given the opportunity.

On the other hand Tambuwal had while picking his Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms in Abuja okayed consensus candidate for PDP. 

He told journalists that the consensus option is part of the democratic process even as he noted that there is nothing wrong should the aspirants rally behind one of them to fly the ticket of the party. 

His words : “I can’t say there is no need for consensus; it is part of democratic process. If there is a possibility of it, why not? If it is not possible, then, we all go for the primaries. 

“But I believe that PDP of today is capable of organising free, fair, credible and transparent primaries.” 

The former Speaker House of Representatives said he had the capacity to sack President Muhammadu Buhari from Aso Rock in 2019.

“I believe you need to check back my political antecedents. I have always been confronted with this kind of hostile environment. 

“You remember how I emerged as Speaker of House of Representatives and how I remained there as Speaker. So I am not discouraged by whatever may come up as a challenge from this administration”.

Tambuwal who identified Nigeria’s major challenge as insecurity promised to tackle headlong the menace of killer herdsmen if elected. 

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