TheCable

Senator Bukola Saraki, the immediate past governor of Kwara state, has dropped his 2015 presidential ambition.

Saraki announced his decision on Sunday, saying he decided to sacrifice his ambition in the interest of the party and the country.

He was a contender for the presidential ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2011 but defected to All Progressives Congress (APC) last year.

He recently endorsed his successor, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, for a second term in office.

“Party primaries in any healthy democracy would always leave several contenders disappointed and, sometimes bitter, as there would be only one winner,” he said.

“The party would then invest so much energy and time afterwards managing and reconciling various interests.

“I don’t think our party can afford too much internal rancour going into next year’s election. I therefore think some of us need to make the sacrifice and be part of the solution rather than part of the problem of the party.

“This is the time for every patriotic politician to situate his personal ambition in the context of the country’s overall interest.

“I have always maintained that I did not leave the ruling party to join the opposition because of any personal interest. Anyone who understands Nigeria’s politics would know that it takes courage and self-sacrifice to do that.

“Therefore, whether it is on the issue of the party or all other issues that I have been pushing in my position as a Senator of the Federal Republic, I have been driven primarily by my desire to see a better and more purposely governed country.”

Decrying the high rate of insecurity in the country, the lawmaker said APC can bring about laudable improvement and called on Nigerians to support the party.

“We need to change the way the country is run, we need change in our security and the values we place on human life, we need to change the current disgraceful situation in security and corruption,” he said.

“I believe only the APC can bring about this change and give our country the leadership it deserves.

“This is why some of us felt that we must make the necessary sacrifice and contribute to building a strong and united party that provides the only real alternative to the floundering government that has become so constipated on power and lost touch with the realities that ordinary Nigerians grapple with everyday.”

Former head of state, Muhammadu Buhari; former vice-president Atiku Abubakar; governor of Kano state, Rabiu Kwankwaso and publisher of Leadership Newspaper, Sam Nda-Isaiah are among those who have shown interest for vying for the highest office in the land under the platform of APC.